SoulMusic Records has compiled the first-ever box set of the music of the legendary Phyllis Hyman, who created a wonderful legacy of recordings over close to twenty-years that continues to resonate today with her dedicated global audience and beyond. Creatively traversing the soul/R&B and jazz genres from the mid-‘70s until her passing in the mid-‘90s ,with her instantly recognizable and distinctive vocal style, Phyllis developed a solid cadre of discerning music buyers with albums for Buddah, Arista and Philadelphia International Records, collated here along with a number of bonus tracks and guest appearances for a total of (113) tracks. Appropriately named ‘The Deluxe Collection,” this 9CD box has been lovingly created by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan in cooperation with Glenda Gracia, manager & executrix of the Phyllis Hyman estate, who contributes a moving up-close-and-personal essay. Renowned writer Janine Coveney provides a heartfelt tribute with an overview of Phyllis’ music; while SoulMusic Records’ Michael Lewis offers his thoughts on Phyllis’ compelling live performances. In a beautifully-designed box with artwork by Roger Williams along with stellar mastering from Nick Robbins, “Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection” is a fitting celebration of Phyllis Hyman’s contribution through music.
Musical gems drawing from George’s three Elektra albums, ‘Thief In The Night’, ‘George Duke’ and ‘Night After Night’ and his six Warner Brothers albums, ‘Snapshot’, ‘The Muir Woods Suite’, ‘Illusions’, ‘Is Love Enough?’, ‘After Hours’ and ‘Cool’; plus a non-album “B” cut, ‘Guilty (Part 2)’ making its worldwide CD debut. George Duke’s diverse musical history included stints with Jean-Luc Ponty, Al Jarreau, Frank Zappa (as a member of The Mothers Of Invention for a year), Cannonball Adderley and Billy Cobham – began a seven-year tenure with Epic Records, the focus of the SoulMusic Records’ 2016 anthology, ‘Shine On’ (SMCR-5140D). ‘No Rhyme, No Reason’ picks up where that 2CD set left off with handpicked cuts that reflect George Duke’s multi-faceted mastery in Jazz, Funk, Soul and Pop and includes five US R&B charted singles and confirms his place as a staple artist in the world of Smooth Jazz. This sumptuous collection, created by SoulMusic.com founder David Nathan with invaluable project support from renowned US music journalist A Scott Galloway, features extensive notes by acclaimed UK writer Charles Waring with 2022 quotes from musicians Paul Jackson Jr, Byron Miller and Everette Harp who all worked with George for many years.
Two albums from the premier song stylist from the late ‘70s, ‘This Mother’s Daughter’ remains one of the most soulful records cut by Nancy Wilson during her Capitol tenure. Helmed by producer Eugene McDaniels, it’s filled with subtle but ingenious jazz-funk flourishes. Includes the R&B charted singles, “Now” and “In My Loneliness (When We Were One)”; 1977’s “I’ve Never Been To Me” resumes Nancy’s association with producer Gene Page and includes the US R&B 45, “I’ve Never Been To Me,” later covered by Motown artist Charlene. This 2-CD set, with stellar liner notes by renowned writer Kevin Goins, was originally reissued on SoulMusic Records in 2012 and is being re-released through popular demand.
An all-instrumentals set of tracks from the Jazz Is Dead duo of Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad – but one that also has some ties to their previous projects as well! The set features some material written with Jean Carne, who doesn't sing at all – and some written with Lonnie Liston Smith, who does play Fender Rhodes on a number of tracks – making a great return to the format of the series, after his own volume! And speaking of Fender Rhodes, Adrian Younge plays plenty of that great instrument – as well as Hammond B3, flute and saxes, and even some monophonic synth and electric sitar – all of which makes for a mighty nice, wide array of instrumental flavors! Titles include "Black Rainbows", "The Summertime", "Cosmic Changes", "Black Love", "People Of The Sun", "Come As You Are", "Visions", and "Love Brings Happiness". ~ Dusty Groove
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