Yearly Archives: 2011

It’s one thing to have a prolific voice on the bass but in the case of the multi-talented Esperanza Spalding, she can equally captivate you with her vocal chops as well. That is readily apparent on her release “Esperanza”, a sparkling project that fuses Latin, Brazilian and World music rhythms in a jazz formula. Esperanza arrived at Berklee college with much fanfare and soon became one of their youngest teachers there. However the desire to record a project with her personal stamp clearly outweighed the classroom and it’s easy to see why. Her disc opens with the melancholy “Ponta De Areia”, a tune originally penned by Milton Nascimento. The original version was a folk flavored tune but Spalding transforms it into a dreamy melodic gem. “I Adore You” is energetic Latin jazz piece that showcases her scatting prowess over a gorgeous piano melody. “Cuerpo Y Alma” (Body And Soul) finds Esperanza swinging in a bebop 5/4 beat while singing in Spanish with impressive results. With a recording as strong as this, the buzz surrounding Esperanza clearly has merit. It will be exciting to watch her career evolve and experience the fruits of her recordings along the way.

Various Artists: Worldwide Family Vol.1 [Brownswood Recordings]

Chances are, if you’re reading this then you’re like many of the World Wide Family members. You rely on taste masters like Gilles Peterson to showcase the hidden gems you would otherwise miss out on. Well Vol.1 of the World Wide family mixtape series provides just that, twenty seven tracks ranging from house to soul to dub step to quench your thirst for progressive new music. Instead of Gilles doing the heavy lifting, the job has been placed in the capable hands of world renowned DJ’s Lefto and Simbad. Lefto compiled the mixup for disc 1and serenades us with a slice of electronica with “Meeting Point” by Damage Is Done. The Brass Roots funky horn cover of Inner City’s “Good Life” was easily one of my favorite singles of 2010. Not to be outdone, Simbad serves up some equally hot joints on disc 2 with the rhythmic jazz of Afrikan Sciences and Kebbi’s “5 Spot”. Seiji’s “The King” is a tasty house track with wicked drumbeats that ignite instant toe tapping. There are many more tunes that you’ll want to add to your rotation so treat yourself and purchase now. Who knows? By the time you’re done Vol.2 could be on the way. That would be good news indeed.

Opolopo: Voltage Controlled Feelings [Tokyo Dawn Records]

With his third full length release “Voltage Controlled Feelings”, Swedish producer Opolopo has crafted a record that captures the spirit of the boogie and the power of the funk with impressive results. Opolopo’s childhood influences, ranging from Herbie Hancock, Earth, Wind & Fire to Kraftwerk has figured prominently in all of his recordings. In addition he gained valuable experience as a youth traveling with his Father, a keyboard player himself. One thing I can count on from an Opolopo tune is that his songs, although they’re listed in the dance category are all drenched in the sauce of soul and jazz that makes them stand out from the rest. As the case with previous Opolopo releases, “Voltage Controlled Feelings” contains an array of talented vocalists to add spice to his creative compositions. Among the highlights are “Reversed”, mid-tempo tune with a clever melody and deep bass line that features vocalists Amalia and Blacktop. “Our World featuring Erik Rico” is an electro funk jam with catchy synth arrangements. “Waiting” is an energetic electro dance track with an infectious groove that features Farah on vocals. There are also plenty of tasty treats to cool down to like the mellow madness of “The Singularity” and the laid back soul 0f “Take It Slow” with Sacha Williamson. With so many selections here to enjoy it’s easy to see why the remix services of Opolopo are in high demand. Hopefully he doesn’t spread himself too thin so he can continue to create high quality recordings such as this one that provide immediate satisfaction.

Space Invadas: Soul:Fi [BBE Records]

If you haven’t had this conversation yet, you will one day explain to your kids or somebody else’s kid that music didn’t always require a drum machine to make beats, or a sample wasn’t necessary to capture the right hook or feature the right voice. The days of lo-fi recordings are from another place in time but when played today you can’t help but get lifted by the raw soul seeping into your veins. It has been a daunting task to bridge the gap from the old to the new but the Space Invadas are more than capable of filling that role. Producer Ashley Anderson, aka Katalyst and vocalist Steve Spacek are on a mission to bring you soul music in its purest form and suffice to say, you’ll gladly come along for the ride. Their debut, “Soul Fi” starts out by transporting you to a time when soul music was the norm and not the exception. Upon arrival, you’re treated to “Imaginist”, a funky track that merges a fierce rhythm guitar groove and lush strings that serves as the canvas for Spacek’s falsetto voice. “Super Sweet” is another uptempo foot stomper that finds vocalists Fantine and Spacek playfully flirting with one another over a wicked bass groove and drum beat. “Ready Or Not” is an midtempo gem that utilizes The Delfonics sample of the same name that was so successful for the Fugees mid nineties hit. Spacek sprinkles his voice over the rhythm section and transforms the track into his own. On “Way We Feel”, The Space Invadas bring the pace down to a slow burn and create a sultry slow jam reminiscent of Love Unlimited classics. Indeed “Soul Fi” has all the ingredients of a soul classic and would serve as the antidote for any party in need of a funk injection. This is certainly one of the best early full length releases of 2011.

Skymark: The Sound Of Silence [Modern Sun Records]

There’s nothing like a jolt of some twisted psychedelic soul that just takes your mind on a natural high. That’s the feeling one might have after listening to "The Sound Of Silence" by Skymark. Skymark, who is also a member of dj collective Soul Sociedad has crafted an album filled with irresistible hip-hop beats, jazzy grooves and warped out synth arrangements that grab your attention with vice grip intensity. Among the highlights are “Understand” and “There You Go”, both of which feature the deep voice of rapper/singer Black Spade. The latter of those two is a neck snapping organ grinding beat treat worthy of repeated listens. “Ancestral Summer” sparkles with cosmic Fender Rhodes reminiscent of early Lonnie Liston Smith classics. The cosmic vibes and the thick mellow beats are augmented by the talented singer Ovasoul 7. “Pleasure Remix” is a bit lighter than most of the tracks here but no less exotic and entertaining. Joseph Junior sprinkles his velvet voice on the track to add additional coloring to this musical canvas. As gifted as these vocalists are, these compositions stand on their own as hypnotic and imaginative slices of future soul that should propel this disc to one of the highlights of the year. Highly Recommended.

The Apples: Kings [Freestyle Records]

The latest release by The nine piece ensemble known as The Apples is a testament on how the spirit of the funk fuses two worlds into one musical stew. The two main ingredients of this stew is Fred Wesley, he of the infamous JB’s and legendary funk pioneer trombonist who opens the first half of the disc. The second half features vocalist/percussionist Shlomo Bar, the Godfather of Israeli world music. Wesley provides the intro on the track “Howlin’ With Fred” with a funky riff that leads into a fierce groove laid down by the rhythm section. The title track provides more energetic funk improvisation by Wesley and the band and is augmented by DJ Todres turntable wizardry. Shlomo takes center stage on “Batash (Alwoojdi)”, a rhythmic Middle Eastern flavored tune highlighted by his vocal phrasing and percussion work on the darbuka. Shlomo also performs on “Banana Jam”, a musical gumbo filled with Afrobeat rhythms, wicked grooves and spirited horn arrangements. The band produced and arranged all tracks and each one stands on its own. It also helps that they kept the tracklist amount to eight tunes. At no time are you worn down by the amount of tunes or the lack of quality. That said “Kings” is an example of what happens when musical cultures collide and you surround it with talented musicians. The result is an engaging recording that is worthy of repeated listens

Danay Suarez: Havana Cultura Sessions [Brownswood Recordings]

One of the pleasant surprises that emerged from Gilles Peterson’s Havana Cultura compilation was the discovery of singer/rapper Danay Suarez. The talented vocalist easily glides from hip-hop to rnb to jazz and her soprano voice is a delight to behold. One wondered what a treat it would be if she had a project all her own and fortunately someone was listening. Produced by Roberto Fonseca and his Band, this live session in Havana’s EGREM studios showcases her superb vocal phrasing in a jazz forum. On the twenty two minute opener “Ser O No Ser”, Danay swings effortlessly and flows over the gorgeous melodies created by the ultra talented Fonseca on piano. Fonseca and his band play with fire and intensity, seamlessly changing tempo from a slow burn to a spirited fever pitch filled with improvisation of the highest order. On “En Lo Profundo” (In The Depth), is a spirited rumba flavored tune that kicks off with a shimmering timbales and percussions that create haunting rhythms as though they were a wakeup call to the ancestors. Fonseca and his band create plenty of space for Danay’s vocals to soar. The other two tracks are also equally enjoyable, in particular “Hay Un Lugar”, a beautiful ballad. All in all a virtuoso performance by Danay Suarez and a wonderful record that provides a snapshot into the world of Cuban jazz. A four track EP doesn’t get any better than this. Let’s hope the long player is coming soon.

Various Artists: G.I. Disco [BBE Records]

What is G.I. Disco? It’s the duo of Kallie Kuts & Daniel Best, two aspiring DJ’s that resided near the US Army bases in Berlin Germany. The American GI’s brought along with them the 80”s club music that was so prominent in the clubs back in the states. Some of hottest music of that period made its way into the clubs of West Germany and West Berlin and would make an impact that is quite evident decades later. Some of the tracks on hand here like “I.O.U.” by Freeze and “Touch Me” by Fonda Rae were synth heavy club classics that came on strong after the end of the Disco era. “100%” by Caprice is typical of those tunes by a one hit wonder that stuck in your head but couldn’t identify if your life depended on it. Other notable tracks include “Another Man”, the 1984 hit by Barbara Mason, “Rumors” by The Timex Social Club and “Do It To The Music” by Raw Silk. This is a strong collection of music that captured the 80’s funk, soul and dance scene. Not to mention the musical seeds that were planted on the German music culture.

Diplomats of Solid Sound: What goes around [Record Kicks]

Hailing from Iowa City, Iowa, The Diplomats of Solid Sound return with the follow up to the 2008 release “Diplomats of Solid Sound featuring The Diplomats”. “What Goes Around” features eleven tracks of old school soul filled with hip twisting grooves and a funky horn section. Among the highlights are “Promise Of A Brand New Day”, a rock ‘n roll inspired tune armed with vocals by the Diplomettes. “Gimme One More Chance” lays down a nice groove that is augmented by a lush string section. “Bailout” is a funky instrumental that features some impressive work by Nate Basinger on the Hammond B3 Organ. With the album remixed by Adam Gibbons of Lack Of Afro, you sound quality is top notch. Overall this is a solid (no pun intended) release by Iowa based band that will delight those enamored with the vintage soul sound.

Incognito: Transatlantic RPM [Dome Records]

Incognito has been blessing us with jazzy flavored soulful dance tracks for over thirty years and on their latest release “Transatlantic RPM”, One has to admire Bluey’s taste in musicians across the pond for he has recruited an all star line-up to add some additional flavor to his signature sound. You can’t go wrong when you open the set with the incomparable Chaka Khan. While she does a fine job covering the Boz Scaggs classic “Low Down”, she sounds superb alongside Mario Biondi on “The Song”. “Gotta” features a softer side of Poet/Singer Ursula Rucker that is soothing to the eardrums. Of course an Incognito album wouldn’t be complete without the beautiful voice of Maysa and she shines on “Your Sun My Sky”. The rhythm section stretches out and lays down a nice groove on “Expresso Madureira” and “Can’t Get Enough” is an infectious dance track. When you think of the pinnacle of Incognito albums, “Positivity” and “100 Degrees and Rising” come to mind. I’m not ready to add this one to that list but it’s certainly their strongest release since “Adventures In Black Sunshine”. Long time fans and newcomers will certainly this one throughout.

Eric Lau: Makin Sounds [Kilawatt Music]

After listening to Eric Lau’s latest release, “Makin Sounds”, I couldn’t help but think that somewhere there was a vocalist or a rapper who wishes their vocals were sprinkled over his trademark mid-tempo soulful grooves. Although the disc plays like a collection of snippets as only one tune, the mellow bouncy “Cruise Control” exceeds three minutes. However there is still much to savor amongst this twenty track disc. “Home Run” is armed with a rugged beat laced with samples of Buster Rhymes. “Dreamsville” is aptly titled with a laidback rhythm guitar providing a bluesy groove. “Noma” is a standout track that serves as the perfect canvas for Ben Hadwen’s colorful flute phrasing. This is an enjoyable release that will serve as a nice appetizer as we await the new projects this talented producer has in store for us.

Nick Rosen: Into The Sky [Porter Records]

Twenty three year old multi instrumentalist Nick Rosen’s debut “Into The Sky” is a dreamy collection of atmospheric soundscapes that are deeply melodic and spiritually uplifting. Rosen co-produced several tracks with Miquel Atwood-Ferguson, with whom he’s worked with as a member of the Build An Ark ensemble. Their chemistry shines on tunes like “Ancestral Echoes” on which Atwood-Ferguson begins with a simple yet enchanting piano melody before accompanied by his ensemble to build a rich aural mesmeric sound. Atwood-Ferguson’s playing on violin is equally engaging. The performances on “African Sun” are also joyful and equally moving, Rosen’s playing on acoustic bass provides warmth and will certainly strum your heartstrings. The disc also brings together a host of innovative musicians that leave their mark on each arrangement. Cellist Peter Jacobson, French horn Danielle Ondarza and vocalist Mia Doi Todd all put their stamp on this disc. This is a wonderful record, If you like the stylistic string compositions of Build An Ark that echo peace and hope then you’ll certainly enjoy this.

Various Artists: Soulshaker Vol. 7 [Record Kicks]

The good folks at Record Kicks have done it again by assembling some of the hottest funky treats past and present from both sides of the pond. Indeed, Vol. 7 turns up the heat right from the outset with "His Voice", armed with a smoking rhythm section and the voice of Elder William Smith will move your hips and leave your soul feeling sanctified. In addition to the funk, we’re serenaded with "Rags To Riches", a wicked Afro funk tune from The Liberators that features vocals from Roxie Ray from Dojo Cuts. "Tonic Stride" is a deep soul groover from Detroit based Third Coast Kings that is worthy of repeated listens. Other honorable mentions include "Sookie Sookie" by The Hi Fly Orchestra and "Let Me Take You Higher" by Roy Ellis and The Teenagers. The Soulshaker compilations have been consistent with delivering essential soul and funk recordings and this one is no exception.