Spring
NYC Soul (Various Artists)
New York
label Spring, and its Event and Posse subsidiaries, were very active from 1967
up to the late 80s. They specialised in the city’s black music and tried most
variations, including soul, gospel, disco, show tunes, funk, harmony and later
electro and rap. Here on the collection you will find the most soulful tracks
that have so far not appeared on Kent CDs and have found six completed
recordings that were previously unreleased. Two of these are ballads, one of
which is Maxine Weldon’s stunning version of Ray Godfrey’s song ‘I’m The Other
Half Of You’ and there is a new unknown, sweet soul song from one-time Tavares
member Victor Tavares. Ray Godfrey features heavily with two unissued dance
tracks – the Joe Simon-covered ‘I Love You More Than Anything’ and the
previously unheard song ‘Hold On’. The Determinations’ opener ‘Save The Best
For Me’ is another of his great songs, previously only on a rare LP. Other 70s
dancers come from Ronnie Walker, Act I and the Joneses. More ballads are
provided by Joe Simon, Leroy Randolph and, surprisingly, the Fatback Band. 60s
uptempo soul comes from Prince Harold, Little Eva Harris and Richard Barbary. The
offerings of the Internationals, US and Vernon Brown are harder to categorise;
quirky and worthy but in their own individual styles. The great songwriter
Phillip Mitchell went funky on his “Jody” song ‘If We Get Caught (I Don’t Know
You)’ as did Phil Flowers with his heavy guitar-infused ‘Kill The Monster’.
Philly girls the Equations sing the poppy and catchy ‘Boiling Like Water’,
Jackie Verdell gives us gospel in a modern soul setting and C-Brand take us
into the 80s with their two-stepper ‘Plenty Of Love’. This is a catholic
selection for lovers of soul through its most interesting eras.
Torcuato Mariano - Escola Brasileira
Veteran
guitarist, producer and composer Torcuato Mariano was born in Argentina but has
been living in Brazil, working with many of its top jazz musicians since the
late 70s. He celebrates 25 years as a recording artist with ESCOLA BRASILEIRA –
literally “Brazilian School” - a dynamically textured, rhythmically eclectic
romp through a multitude of that culture’s sophisticated and exotic
jazz-related styles. Backed by lush strings and horns, Mariano surrounds his
snappy playing with guest performances by Brazilian greats, singer-songwriter
Djavan, pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano, bandolinist Hamilton de Holanda and
harmonica player Gabriel Grossi. Also featured is renowned American vocalist
Toni Scruggs. ~ smoothjazz.com
Jim
Richter - Breezy Day
Getting back
to making music full time after years where other priorities took precedence,
guitarist, keyboardist and composer Jim Richter taps back into his rock/blues
roots with a mix of deep soulfulness, playful buoyancy and fiery intensity on
his new album BREEZY DAY. Hitting all the infectious yet artsy-cool sweet spots
of Steely Dan and Larry Carlton, he offers dreamy ballads, funk jams, island
delights and bluesy grit – in addition to playful titles that pay homage to
Bill Evans and Weather Report. ~ smoothjazz.com
Veteran
trumpeter John Bailey imagines a world inherited from a President Dizzy
Gillespie administration on his celebratory second album. ~ smoothjazz.com
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