Thursday, April 25, 2019

New Music Releases: Rahsaan Patterson – Heroes And Gods; Lasperanza - Seeds; Carlton Jumel Smith – 1634 Lexington


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.


No comments:

Post a Comment