The shining stars of contemporary soul music, Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators, re-emerge with their much anticipated album Tortured Soul on the Timmion Records label. The new album presents a new personal sound for the group, that was first heard in 2005 with their debut album Keep Reachin' Up. Keep Reachin' Up drew praise from the media and audiences around the globe. The first single, If This Ain't Love, became a dance floor hit from New York clubs to the UK's northern soul circles. The second hit single, Feeling Free, was chosen as the Track Of The Year by the renowed music connoisseur Gilles Peterson in his Worldwide Awards in 2006. Keep Reachin' Up was also listed among the Urban Albums Of The Year by Mojo magazine. Naturally, this new album has all the qualities that made their cardinal album a worldwide smash; the raw production techniques of Didier Selin, Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators' unique songwriting and self-styled musicianship, and the sultry stylings of Pekka Kuusisto's string arrangements. Several tracks also feature horn arrangements and playing by the multi-talented jazz musician, Jimi Tenor. An equally new turn is the dusky sound of these raw tracks, which could be compared to the era when Motown stepped from their 1960s pop sound to more progressive times.
The guys that once brought jazz to the dance floor have now arrived at their seventh album. Out of Office is a record with a whole new groove: the sound, though still jazzy and dance-able, has become deeper and darker. This new record takes unexpected turns and fresh brass-sounds create an atmosphere that's bigger and darker, "nearly cinematic". Out of Office sounds unrestricted, more nonchalant, and is sturdier than their previous work, even rock influences are clearly audible. ~ Amazon.com
LIONEL BELMONDO TRIO - PLAYS EUROPEAN STANDARDS
After the success of the Hymne au Soleil trilogy, which earned him several Victoires du Jazz, Lionel Belmondo has opted for the more intimate trio format for his latest project, entitled European Standards. On it, Belmondo reimagines classical music - European ''standards'' - much like American jazz musicians did in the past with popular music. A storyteller born with sturdy lungs and the most charming of Southern French accents, Belmondo gives us Schubert's ''Serenade,'' Chopin's ''Prelude'' and Wagner's ''Song to the Evening Star,'' as well as several of his own compositions. This is an organic album from an extraordinarily talented saxophonist, one who favors realistic, natural and totally acoustic sounds and jazz without a safety net: no frills, no effects. ~ Amazon.com
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