New Releases: Total Reggae Summer Vibes; Andre Solomko - Le Polaroid; Leah Williams - Run On

TOTAL REGGAE SUMMER VIBES (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

This edition to the Total Reggae series delivers cool vibes for the hot summer nights. Forty tracks of pure Jamaican reggae and dancehall including classic hits and unsung gems. Total Reggae: Summer Vibes is packed with 40 proved and tested Summer Vibes, hits songs ‘The Tide Is High’, ‘Oh Carolina’, ‘Mr Lover Man’, hit artists Shaggy, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, and many more. Includes Carl Malcolm ‘Fattie Bum Bum’ as featured in this year’s Paddy Power TV advertising campaign plus Sister Nancy ‘Bam Bam’ as featured in the brand new Reebok campaign with Miranda Kerr. Very attractive priced double CD set with 40 big summer hits. Real value for money. Includes also 8-page booklet with comprehensive liner notes by reggae expert Harry Wise.  Includes: Everything I Own – Ken Boothe;. Money In My Pocket – Dennis Brown; Uptown Top Ranking – Althea & Donna; Fattie Bum Bum – Carl Malcolm; Dat – Pluto; O.K. Fred – Errol Dunkley; Pass The Kouchie  - The Mighty Diamonds; Cottage In Negril – Tyrone Taylor; Stop That Train – Clint Eastwood & General Saint; Hello Darling – Tippa Irie and many others. ~ Groove Attack

ANDRE SOLOMKO - LE POLAROID

Andre Solomko is an artist who was born a few decades late – the kind of talent who would have been right at home in the CTI scene of the 70s – where he no doubt would have risen to great fame for his music! Yet we're also more than happy to have him working strong here in the 21st Century – where he's got a great ear for the kind of laidback electric jazz groove that few folks make this well anymore – a sort of spacious take on keyboard funk that features lots of Fender Rhodes, mellotron, clavichord, and other vintage instruments – mixed with some sweet sax solos from the leader, plus some occasional vocals from a few different female singers. There's a warm glow that pervades the whole record – like some of the best Japanese/American fusion projects of the 70s – and although the sound is tight, it's also laidback and never commercial at all. A real treasure through and through – with tracks that include "Teasing You", "Living In A Paper House", "Parafraser", "Last Day At Home/Melancolie", "Le Polaroid", and "Afternoon With Stiina". (Nice heavy vinyl and cover!)  ~ Dusty Groove

LEAH WILLIAMS - RUN ON

Run On is artist Leah Williams' second solo project. This 12-track sophomore release features her signature lush harmonies, jazz-influenced vocals, and captivating musical arrangements. The title track "Run On" features a gritty vocal with a message that encourages and uplifts. Other stellar tracks includes the smooth jazz homage to George Benson "Come Away," the sultry "Tall & Fine" featuring poet Brooke Campbell, and the haunting fantasy "Fairy Tales", plus “I Am Free,” “Spend My Life,” “To All My Sistas,” “All That I Want,” “Not In Service,” I Wonder,” “My Shining Hour,” and “What Is Love (Interlude).” ~ CD Universe