NEW RELEASES: BROOKLYN SOUL BISCUITS, SHIRLEY NANETTE, THE PLANET D NONET FEATURING MICHAEL RAY

BROOKLYN SOUL BISCUITS - SOUL BISCUITS

A sweet little set from the legendary Randy Muller – best known for his famous funky work in Brass Construction and Skyy, but an artist who's still going strong all these many years later! Brooklyn Soul Biscuits have a great mix of old school funk and contemporary beats – fused together with the tightness we've always loved from Muller, who has a key ear for making everything come down right into the groove. Vocals are by Randy himself, whose raspy style fits right in alongside the basslines – and the set also features leads on a few tracks from female singer Lydia Caesar. Some of the best numbers echo the horn leads of Muller's older work – and titles include "Off The Ground", "Come As U Are", "The Worm", "Cornbread", "We Got Soul", "Funky Like That", "Beautiful Day", and "Bring Me Down". ~ Dusty Groove

SHIRLEY NANETTE - NEVER COMING BACK

A gem of a female soul album from the 70s recorded in Texas by singer Shirley Nanette, but issued on a tiny label and never circulated at the time! The music here is all handled by guitarist Hanc Swarn – who'd worked with Earl Grant, and helped create that cool syncopated groove that made Grant a favorite with the steppers – a style that's expanded here into some funkier 70s modes, which really let's Nanette's vocals soar! Shirley's hardly the rootsy singer you'd expect from the Texas scene – as she's sometimes got this poise and class that almost rivals Nancy Wilson or Marlena Shaw, but can also hit these badass modes when the tunes get funkier too. The set's great – way more than just another rarity, and the kind of overlooked 70s gem we'd rank right up there with lost indie soul treasures by Mike James Kirkland or Penny Goodwin. Titles include "Give & Take", "Limelight", "Tropic Of Love", "I'm So Glad", "Heaven On Earth", "People Are Thinking", and "Yours Truly Love". ~ Dusty Groove

THE PLANET D NONET FEATURING MICHAEL RAY - RAYS OF THE SUN

We first learned to dig the Planet D Nonet from their Sun Ra tribute album of a few years back – and this time around they've got Arkestra legend Michael Ray on trumpet with the group, on a whole lineup of famous tunes from the Sun Ra songbook! The approach here echoes the older modes of Ra's Arkestra, but also refines things too – going for a soaring, soulful approach that really gets the most out of these compositions, which could sometimes be obscured on looser, more freewheeling Arkestra takes. The group features Joshua James on soprano sax, bass clarinet, and baritone; Justin Jozwiak on alto and flute, Daniel Bennette on tenor and clarinet, James O'Donnell on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Michael Malis on keyboards – and although the main focus is instrumental, the group also vocalizes at times, in true Arkestra fashion. Titles include "Where Pathways Meet", "Island In The Sun", "Rocket Number Nine", "That's How I Feel", "They'll Come Back", and "Angels & Demons At Play". ~ Dusty Groove