New Music Releases: Soul Togetherness 2019; Gabriele Poso; Stephen Riley

Soul Togetherness 2019 (Various Artists)

Expansion’s most successful and longest running compilation series returns with its 2019 collection. It’s the 20th edition. The concept remains the same, the tracks better than ever, fifteen must-have modern soul room gems taken from the year’s biggest dance floor spins on the soul scene. While tracks here have topped UK soul charts, many have not been available in all formats. Once again, attention is paid to the ‘flow’ of the 15 gems chosen here from uplifting new soul, shuffling boogie beats, rare groove/80s revival sounds, Brit soul, and R&B played at modern soul events. Participants this year include Lukas Setto with a signature song for 2019 for the first time here on CD and LP alongside other new artists Laville, DCR, The Terri Green Project, SolatiMusic. New music too from Shaila Prospere (first time CD/vinyl), Tre Williams, veteran artists Angie Stone (first time on vinyl), Glenn Jones (also first time on CD/vinyl), Rockie Robbins and Raheem Devaughn. There’s a superb new cover of the Inner Life track “Make It Last Forever” from Steal Vybe, a 70s revival tune from Steve ‘Doc’ Willoughby.

Gabriele Poso – Batik

Future Afro-Latin jazz house from Italian master percussionist, multi-instrumentalist and composer Gabriele Poso. Featuring guest vocalists Nailah Porter, Nina Rodriguez, Quetzal Guerrero & Sofia Rollo. Following a long-term collaborative partnership with Osunlade / Yoruba Records, as well as albums on BBE and Agogo Records, on ‘Batik’ Poso further develops and matures his sound – exploring his extensive roots in Afro-Cuban percussion, while delving into the realms of jazz and soulful house.  Tracks include: “Batik”, “Black Sand”, “Equitoreal”, “Xango”, “Suite For Tambores”, “Africa Linda”, “Sokere”, “Kumave”, and “Lime Tree”.     

Stephen Riley - Oleo

Magnificent long-blown solos from tenorist Stephen Riley – on an album named after a Sonny Rollins tune, and which definitely carries a bit of the Rollins approach in its sound! Yet the album's also got plenty of Riley's strengths in the mix, too – that great raspy sound he can get on the tenor, which also echoes a bit of Ben Webster, but with more contemporary phrasing – matched in the frontline by the trumpet of Joe Magnarelli, who we always love in an open date like this – with just the bass of Jay Anderson and drums of Adam Nussbaum for support. The lack of piano allows for plenty of structural freedom on the tunes – and titles include "Oleo", "Minority", "Doxy", "Valse Hot", "Lazy Bird", "On Green Dolphin Street", and "St Thomas". ~ Dusty Groove