ALICE SOYER –
SKY ON EARTH
The
remarkable French singer, composer and pianist Alice Soyer may be new to Smooth
Jazz audiences, but two legends of the genre – Bob James and David Sanborn –
help her make a seamless, sensual and soulful arrival on her English language
debut SKY ON EARTH. A few years ago, James loved her French song “Geste Humain”
and chose to record an instrumental version with Sanborn on their dual album
Quartette Humaine. The famed musicians put their familiar stamps on a few
songs, but the focus is on Soyer’s exquisitely expressive vocals on a mix of
vibrant up-tempo originals and lush ballads influenced by her background as a
classical pianist and love for jazz and pop. Listening to Sky On EarthKY ON EARTH will
make your heart soar! ~ smoothjazz.com
RUBY RUSHTON
– TRUDI’S SONGBOOK VOLUME 1
Ruby Rushton
is the name of the group, not an individual member – and it's also a name
that's sure to be at the top of your list once you hear this incredible debut!
The album's got this fantastic blend of funky and spiritual grooves – all
played with a quality that's soulful, but effortless – almost vintage, but
never trying to sound forced or copycat at all – just this easy-flowing groove
that's incredible, and which kind of gives the record an instant classic sound
from the very first note! Edward Cawthorne is the ersatz leader – as he wrote
and arranged the whole set – but his work on flute and saxes is just one part
of the album's wonderful groove, which also includes trumpet from Nick Walters,
keyboards from Aidan Shepherd, bass from Fergus Ireland, drums from Eddie Hick,
and percussion from Joseph Deenmamode – a lineup who seem to be tied together
in soul and spirit right from the start. The London-based group are rock-solid
throughout – hitting territory that's maybe more soulful than some of the
spiritual currents of the Gondwana Records scene a few years before, but with
an equal sort of depth. Titles include "Trudi's Mood",
"Moonlight Woman", "Prayer For Yusef", "Where Are You
Now", "Elephant & Castle", and "The Camel's Back".
~ Dusty Groove
SHARON
MUSGRAVE - SHA’S ARCHIVES
Sharon
Musgrave waited a number of years between records, but that time really seems
to be well-spent – as the singer comes across here with a mature, focused sound
that's even deeper than the last time around! The groove is mostly mellow –
never too forced, and with just the right acoustic currents in the music to
match the warmth of Sharon's vocals – in a way that makes the songs slide along
very well together, and makes the album a nicely cohesive whole. Drummer Peter
Grimmer co-wrote and produced the album with Musgrave – and titles include
"Drag Me", "Pull It Up A Notch", "Triumph Of
Brian", "Favourite", "Blue Nile", "Sha's
Archive", and "New Horizon". ~ Dusty Groove
1 comment:
Love the new CD by Sharon Musgrave...
#comfortable #newmusic #FUNKy 😂...
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