Fantastic work from Ledisi – an artist we've loved for almost 25 years, and who maybe sounds better here than she has in the last decade! There's this back to basics approach that maybe recalls some of her self-released albums at the start – but mixed with the maturity in all the years she's learned as both a songwriter and a singer – the sort of vocalist who should be right up there in the soul music pantheon right next to Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan! Robert Glasper helped a bit on the record – but as usual, Ledisi is the key driving force behind the set – making her equally skilled in the studio as she is on record. Titles include "WKND", "Without You", "Stone", "Wake Up", "What Kinda Love Is That", "Now Or Never", "Stay Gone", "Anything For You", and "Next Time". ~ Dusty Groove
A stunner of a set from legendary trumpeter Charles Tolliver – and a record that shows that he's lost none of his brilliance since the years of his 70s recordings for the Strata East label! The format here is a bit like those – long tracks by a small group, with an outward appearance of familiarity – but a clearly resonant sense of individuality right from the very first note! All tracks are originals by Charles, and have that soaring quality that's always made him one of the most righteous talents in jazz – working with a group here that features Jesse Davis on alto, Keith Brown on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Lenny White on drums. The group's also joined by the great Binker Moses on tenor on two tracks – and titles include "Suspicion", "Copasetic", "Emperor March", and "Blue Soul". ~ Dusty Groove
Fantastic work from this very hip duo – two excellent funky talents on their own, somehow sounding even better in the company of each other! The tunes are lean, and almost have a sound library funk vibe – very hip, with a mixture of watery guitar lines, funkier riffs, sweet-stepping basslines and keyboards, and the right touch of acoustic percussion at the core to snap the groove in a perfect way! The record's one of the most understated that Shawn Lee has given us in years – and we mean that in a good way – and Panfilov's ear for unusual production modes really helps the whole thing sound amazing. Titles include "Belt Buckle", "Deep Sea Oddities", "Synthpathy For The Devil", "Voodoo You Love", "Sigmund Jahn Bossa", "Aquaria", and "Volkwagenesque". ~ Dusty Groove
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