Tuesday, May 10, 2016

NEW MUSIC: KANDACE SPRINGS – SOUL EYES; GREG DEAN - THE GREG DEAN PROJECT: LES MCCANN TRIO - LIVE IN PARIS 28 JUILLLET 1961

KANDACE SPRINGS – SOUL EYES

Singer-pianist Kandace Springs will release her debut album Soul Eyes on June 24. Produced by Grammy-winner Larry Klein (Lizz Wright, Melody Gardot, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock), the album touches upon soul & pop while channeling her jazz influences as well as her Nashville upbringing. Kandace counts Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack & Norah Jones as her heroes, but as evidenced by Soul Eyes, she mimics none of them. Fans who pre-order the download will receive "Soul Eyes" featuring Terence Blanchard. Includes: Talk To Me; Soul Eyes (feat. Terence Blanchard); Place To Hide; Thought It Would Be Easier; Novocaine Heart; Neither Old Nor Young; Too Good To Last (feat. Terence Blanchard); Fall Guy; The World Is A Ghetto; Leavin'; and Rain Falling.

GREG DEAN - THE GREG DEAN PROJECT

A hell of a soulful record from composer/arranger Greg Dean – a real up-and-coming star on the contemporary soul underground – getting help here from an equally great array of other talents – including an amazing array of singers that includes Gordon Chambers, Eric Roberson, Jarrod Lawson, Carol Riddick, Chantae Cann, and Aaron Marcellus! We've loved individual records by most of those artists, and they come together wonderfully here in a great collaborative spirit – singing Greg's songs, alongside his own work on piano – given some great focus by music director Shedrick Mitchell on a number of tracks, who also plays some wicked Fender Rhodes! The blend of soulful vocals and warmly jazzy currents is better here than on most releases we've heard in years – and Dean's got a really fresh approach to songwriting that really sets this record apart from the pack. Titles include "Unconditional Love", "Like Rain", "That Would Be All", "New York Six Train", "Pitter Patter", "Grass Ain't Greener", and "Sacrificed Queen". ~ Dusty Groove

LES MCCANN TRIO - LIVE IN PARIS 28 JUILLLET 1961

A really great live set from the legendary Les McCann – recorded in Paris at the start of the 60s, and with a much grittier feel than some of his studio records of the time! The tracks are often long, and quite freewheeling – and you really get a sense of what a charismatic presence Les had on the bandstand – as he not only plays with all of the soulful fire you'd expect, but sometimes sings, and also verbalizes with these grunts and calls that really open things up along with his groove! Lyrical lines soar out alongside that heavy left hand groove that made McCann so great – and the trio features his classic lineup with Ron Jefferson on drums and the amazing Herbie Lewis on bass – the latter of whom seems to get a lot more exposure here than on most other recordings! Titles include "Vacushna", "A Little 3/4 Time For God & Co", "Out Of This World", "Oh Them Golden Gaters", "Deed I Do", "Doreen Don't Cry", "Come On & Get That Church", "The Truth", and "I Am Love". ~ Dusty Groove


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