Rahsaan Patterson – Heroes And Gods
Singer, songwriter and actor Rahsaan Patterson’s career
started at the age of 10 in the role of “the Kid” on the long-running TV show
Kids Incorporated, along with other future stars Fergie, Martika, and Shanice.
His critically acclaimed debut album on MCA sparked a passionate following over
a series of excellent albums, Urban AC radio hits, touring and contributions to
soundtracks such as Brown Sugarand Steve Harvey’s “Sign of Things to Come”
compilation. Heroes & Godsis Rahsaan’s highly-anticipated new studio album;
it marks a return to his classic “neo-soul” sound his fans crave. Standout
tracks include infectious mid-tempo “Catch Me When I Fall,” the classic soul
balladry of “Sent From Heaven” and the innovative title track.
Lasperanza - Seeds
Lasperanza is the brainchild of UK producer/musician Rico
Garofalo. Since beginning his career as a sax player he has always dreamed of
creating an album on which he would reimagine and reconfigure some of his
favourite soul/jazz songs from the Seventies and Eighties. Seeds is the result.
“I wanted to change the arrangements, either from a rhythmic or harmonic aspect,
while always keeping a soul/jazz flavour. Give the songs a new lease of life
rather than just a fresh lick of paint.” Lead single “It Should Have Been You”,
featuring vocalist Izzy Chase, is a sultry mid-tempo reinvention of a Gwen
Guthrie disco era tune. Influential US website soultracks.com enthuses: “Gwen
Guthrie fans will likely appreciate such a refreshing and unexpected cover that
is steeped in quality instrumentation, tasteful vocals, and overall musicality.”
Other songs newly reimagined for 2019 include “Early Morning Love” (Lou Rawls),
“Under The Moon And Over The Sky” (Angela Bofill), “Working Day and Night”
(Michael Jackson), “Give Me The Night” (George Benson), “Kilimanjaro” (Letta
Mbulu) and “In The Mood” (Tyrone Davis). Eight UK vocalists – and one American
– are featured on the album, which is receiving strong advance airplay and very
favourable critical reaction from Jazz FM, BBC RadioLondon, Mi-Soul, Solar
Radio, Echoes magazine, Holland’s Sublime FM and Italy’s Radio Milano International.
Carlton Jumel Smith – 1634 Lexington
After hitting hard in the soul circles with his deep Timmion
debut single “I Can’t Love You No More” and following it with “This Is What
Love Looks Like”, Carlton Jumel Smith is back at it with an album full of
contemporary soul gold. The material mined here is none other than the vintage
groove troves of classic 1970’s r&b, something the Cold Diamond & Mink
crew brews up effortlessly. The songwriting and expression by Carlton carry
strong echoes of Curtom productions, Memphis soul and naturally Motown. We’re
talking about musical traditions he’s incorporated into his expression since
witnessing James Brown at the Apollo as an 8-year old. Opening up with the dance floor ready testimony “Woman You
Made Me”, Carlton sets the mood up good, whereas “Remember Me” delivers a
devastating Chi-Town-styled group harmony groover. Fans of Menahan Street Band
will get a kick out of the moody “Help Me (Save Me From Myself)”, which is
followed by the beautiful deep “Ain’t That Love”, carried by an intimate folk
guitar lick. The album’s b-side sequences the otherworldly shuffler “You Gonna
Need Me” with Carlton’s rehash of his mid-Millennium release “I’d Better”,
swapping its programmed modern soul for a more organic form. On his album Carlton Jumel Smith explores different shades
of the golden era of soul music, and it would be hard to find anyone doing it
as fresh in 2019. You know those front to back soul album classics you treasure
in your collection? This will stand up with the best of them.
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