NEW RELEASES: ALICE SOYER – SKY ON EARTH; RUBY RUSHTON – TRUDI’S SONGBOOK VOLUME 1; SHARON MUSGRAVE - SHA’S ARCHIVES

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