KANDACE
SPRINGS – SOUL EYES
The debut of
a great singer on Blue Note – and one who plays her own piano and Fender Rhodes
as well! Kandace Springs has a gentle style that's part soul, and part jazz –
as expressive as the former at most moments, but with a lot of jazz-based
phrasing in the instrumentation, which underscores the message in her music in
a really wonderful way! Light keyboard currents step nicely through more acoustic
instrumentation – all with a laidback flow that's the perfect pace for the
singer at her best. Terence Blanchard plays guest trumpet on two tracks – and
titles include "Soul Eyes", "I Thought It Would Be Easier",
"Place To Hide", "Novocaine Heart", "Rain
Falling", "Too Good To Last", "Fall Guy",
"Neither Old Nor Young", and "The World Is A Ghetto".
(Special bonus – these copies come with an autographed booklet from Kandace!) ~
Dusty Groove
MASSIMO
GUERRA XTET – JAZZ MINE
A really
warm, well-crafted set from Italian trumpeter Massimo Guerra – just the kind of
record we've come to expect from other jazz labels from his scene, but quite a
surprise from the mostly-soul Irma label! The set's totally straight – and done
in a way that really lets Guerra show off his talent for songwriting – as most
of the tracks on the album are his own, and handled by a shifting array of
small groups that work well with the leader's lyrical bent. Other players
include Enrico Nisati on piano, Davide Grottelli on tenor, and Carlo Micheli on
baritone – and the rhythms really benefit from warm basslines by Piero
Simoncini, whose playing holds the record together in a wonderful way. Titles
include "Morgan Beat", "Last Day Of Spring", "Tango 4
Clemetina", "Tres Palabras", and "Jazz Mine". ~ Dusty
Groove
DURAND JONES
& THE INDICATIONS
Easily one
of the best deep soul albums we've heard in years – new work by a singer who
hails from Indiana, but who's able to give the best from Memphis and Muscle
Shoals a real run for their money! Durand Jones isn't one of these cats who's
trying to fake it with a few retro touches – and instead, he gets right to the
heart of the matter, right from the very first note – with a deep vocal
approach that's rivaled by a rare few in the contemporary scene – maybe Lee
Fields (and maybe that's it!) The vocals are perfect – never forced or cliched,
and really right on the money – and the Indications do a great job, too – with
these lean backings that never overwhelm, yet really help keep things funky.
Hats off to drummer Aaron Frazier and guitarist Blake Rhein, who wrote most of
the songs on the record with Jones – and titles include "Make A
Change", "Can't Keep My Cool", "Groovy Babe",
"Giving Up", "Now I'm Gone", and "Is It Any
Wonder". ~ Dusty Groove
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