ROBIN MCKELLE & THE FLYTONES - HEART OF MEMPHIS
For her
new album Heart of Memphis Robin McKelle immersed herself in the spirit of
Memphis. The City is like a place of pilgrimage for any soul, blues, or rhythm
and blues fan. Despite the time that has gone by and the museums being built in
place of the legendary recording studios, the spirit of the city that, in its
heyday, represented one of the best eras of American popular music has not
disappeared. “I wanted to capture the Memphis sound in the recording process
and the goal was to write the music and arrangements with that sound in mind.”
says Robin McKelle. Except of “Please
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “Forgetting you”, Robin McKelle wrote eleven
of the thirteen titles of Heart Of Memphis. “I really love writing,” she says.
“It’s important to continue to create new sounds and push ourselves into unknown
places. That’s what artists are put on this earth for, taking risks and
chances. Memphis soul is different from the Motown sound because has more raw
emotion and being in the south it’s also influenced by country music. It’s more
‘in your face’ than the Motown. I have a natural gritty sound or rasp in my
voice so this sound suits me well.” Together
with her loyal Flytones and helped by her bass player and musical partner Derek
Nievergelt, Robin McKelle created amazing and authentic soul music songs. ~
Okeh Records
DONALD EDWARDS - EVOLUTION OF AN INFLUENCED MIND
The
title's a bit obtuse, but it also really gets at the vibe of the record, too –
a great progression of individualistic jazz – inspired by previous generations,
but voiced in a really fresh way by this combo led by drummer Donald Edwards!
The approach is more open and varied than usual for a session on the Criss
Cross label – from the initial spiritual passage of "American Drum Call To
Mama", to David Gilmore's guitar atmospherics on "Niecee", to
the richness of the album's original compositions. Gilmore's sense of color and
phrasing really balance wonderfully with the tenor of Walter Smith – and Orrin
Evans' piano is at its most melodically complex as well. The record opens up in
so many ways, but still also finds plenty of room to swing, too – on titles that
include "The Dream", "Dock's House", "The Essential
Passion", "Nightmare Of Fun", and "Culmination For
Now". ~ Dusty Groove
BRUCE BARTH - DAYBREAK
Sparkling
piano from Bruce Barth – set up nicely in a group that also features Steve
Nelson on vibes and Terell Stafford on trumpet and flugelhorn! Both players
bring in some darker edges that round out the sound nicely – mixing with
Barth's lyrical lines on keys, which dance magically to rhythmic accompaniment
from Vincente Archer on bass and Montez Coleman on drums. Nelson's especially
expressive here – and although he drops out for three of the album's ten
tracks, he still really helps shape the overall vibe of the record. Titles
include "Vamonos", "Moon Shadows", "Brasilia", "Daybreak",
"Triste", "Tuesday's Blues", and "In The Still Of The
Night". ~ Dusty Groove
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