New Music Releases: Luxury Soul 2020, Juewett Bostick, Phaze II

Luxury Soul 2020 – Various Artists

The leading independent soul label Expansion Records commences each year with one of the label’s most anticipated collections, “Luxury Soul”.  The success of the series comes down to the quality of tracks sourced from independent soul music artists, often unsigned or with recordings previously unissued or on limited release elsewhere.  Included on this unique collection is an exclusive Glenn Jones track “Better Man”, first time on CD releases by Tyra Levone, Alex Puddu featuring Breakwater’s lead singer Gene Robinson Jr, St. Paul (formerly of The Time), Tompi (produced by Incognito), Blue Soul Ten, Paul Johnson and Incognito themselves with “Jakarta Dreams”. The Rockie Robbins version of “Together” is from 1979, Halo’s “Let Me Do It” another ‘rare groove’ to accompany the contemporary soul by an impressive array of artists.

Juewett Bostick - Shades of Blu

True to the fascinating, multi-faceted title concept of his latest album Shades Of Blu, masterful guitarist Juewett Bostick – whose fluid, funky axe has backed recording royalty including Grover Washington Jr., Nancy Wilson, and Barry White – soulfully blends his cool, urban jazz style with elements of the classic blues & jazz as well as neo soul jazz. Bridging beloved traditions with current musical innovations, Bostic creates a rich, colorful sonic world featuring female vocals, exotic vocal textures, spoken word conversations, state-of-the-art technology and global rhythms. These caress a blend of buoyant originals and re-imagined classics by Jimi Hendrix, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley. ~ smoothjazz.com

Phaze II - No Cover Charge

Phaze II’s fifth and latest album boasts the clever title No Cover Charge, but their kind of finely honed, supremely cool eclectic magic is worth any price! Now well into their third decade lighting the jazz, funk, Latin and R&B fires in their hometown of Washington, DC, the six-piece super-ensemble Phaze II – onetime winners of the Capital Jazz Challenge Competition - alternates their flow between silky, seductive cool, fiery, wild energy storms and infectious, easy grooving mid-tempo tunes. They balance their more muscular, rocking offerings with dreamier pieces clearly and designed to melt the heart.  ~ smoothjazz.com