"Ready To Roll" is soulful RnB with a touch of jazz from the Portland Oregon based trumpeter. Newton has performed with a number of artists and recently toured with Jill Scott. The disc features some tasty vocals on a number of tracks.. "Make Me Yours" is sweet mid-tempo RnB that features vocalist Ashley Jayy. "You Gotta Move" is a slow burning funk treat that’s produced by Donyea Goodman. "Peace & Love" is soulful RnB that features rising star Jarrod Lawson and Tony Ozier. "Dunk Funk" and "Stanky’s Revenge Part Doo" are straight up jam sessions with heavy grooves, funky wah wah guitar rhythms and blistering horn riffs. Although Newton is a respected Jazz Trumpeter there’s little in the way of jazz featured here. There’s plenty of soulful vocals and tight arrangements to ensure you’ll have a funky good time.

Reg Dancy

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"You Changed", the second release from Woodstock NY native Lindsey Webster is an impressive collection of sophisticated soul. Webster displays perfect pitch and sultry vocals over twelve well crafted compositions "Fool Me Once" the opening track’s displays her crystal clear voice over a smokey jazz arrangement. "I Found You" and "Lost One" are lush romantic ballads. The finale is "Universe", a seductive jazzy tune augmented by a soaring electric guitar solo and wraps up with an engaging piano solo. This is an elegant and sincere recording brought to life by a small combo of talented musicians providing plenty of space for Webster’s vocals to soar. Now is the time to get familiar if you haven’t already.

Reg Dancy

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Quarter Street, the debut lp of the Melbourne Australia based collective is packed with classic Latin jazz and dance rhythms. Lead singer Sergio Bolero’s powerful voice soars over an array of blistering compositions backed by an exciting ensemble. There’s plenty of party tracks here starting with "Fantasia" laced with a thundering piano melody and funky horns. "Libre Soy" has a simmering groove complete with fiery percussion, a tasty trombone solo and finishes off with scorching keys. "De Cualquier Manera" rides along on a mid tempo groove and piano melody. This is a joyous listen that will transport you to that vibrant era of 1960-70 Latin Jazz and boogaloo that flowed throughout Spanish Harlem. We’re already looking forward to future recordings from this talented group.

Reg Dancy

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"Never Satisfied" is the anthology from Atlanta singer guitarist Richard Marks. Marks may not be a household name outside Atlanta Georgia however this collection reveals a talented soul singer/songwriter and guitarist as well. Over twenty one tracks Marks and his display the type of raw RnB soul arrangements reminiscent of the Stax house band sound as well as other influences. "Funky Fingers" is a funky organ flavored instrumental. The title track is driving funk with tasty guitar licks and horns. Marks voice isn’t powerful but effective. "Speak Now" is a slow burning ballad with sweet backing vocals. If not for the fact that this was unreleased material you could’ve strip off five or six songs to make a stronger record. That being said, "Never Satisfied" provides some sparkling moments of hot buttered soul that will delight raw soul enthusiasts. .

Reg Dancy

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"Grow Slow", the aptly titled new release from DJ Vadim and Ghanaian native Sena has been brewing for several years. Their chance meeting in 2005 at a festival in Hungary led to a blistering appearance on Vadim’s 2007 critically acclaimed release "Soundcatcher". Sena has since built an enormous following complete with two solo albums of her own and sold out shows as well. So the time felt right to finally collaborate on a full length lp and there’s much to be excited about here. "Work Hard" is an infectious up-tempo tune with well placed synths, African funk and South London beats. The title track kicks off with a tasty rhodes riff before settling into a mid-tempo funky groove. "Morning Light" is a mellow burner filled with fat beats and wicked guitar licks. As one has come to expect from a Vadim recording, the sound system is superb and the arrangements are tailored to bring out the best in his artist. Overall "Grow Slow" packs a punch and keeps on hitting you with rough and rugged grooves and powerful vocals. If you haven’t already taken notice of this emerging talent, it’s time to get familiar.

Reg Dancy

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Guitarist Alex Puddu, Italian native and Copenhagen resident for over thirty years delivers a touch of Latin Soul with his latest release. "Soultiger" will conjure images of Spanish Harlem 1960 through 1970. This was a vibrant period where a new generation of Latin musicians were being influenced by Soul RnB and Caribbean rhythms This melting pot of rhythms would later become known as Boogaloo. One of the prominent members of this emerging new genre was legendary vocalist Joe Bataan, who appears on three tracks here. Indeed "Soultiger" attempts to captures the spirit of the Boogaloo and there are moments of success, The title track is a light boogie funk tune with percolating vibes and percussion. Joe Bataan’s ageless vocals shine the ballad "Love Talk". "I Want You" kicks off with s simmering bass groove followed by warm keys, tasty vibes and sultry vocals from Maja Muhlack. For a thorough venture into the world Latin Afro soul, do check out the earlier recordings of Joe Bataan and Joe Cuba but "Soultiger" is a good place to start.

Reg Dancy

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Brian May aka Beam Up captures the spirit of experimental Dub with the release of "Innerstand". This release features an array of great vocal performances that compliment May’s rough and rugged riddims. One of those vocalists is UK resident Terrence Alfonso Bowry. "I Must Be Dreaming", one of five tracks he appears on is filled with classic deep dub grooves, reverbs and monster bass. "No Chains" a traditional roots reggae tune with funky horns features the booming vocals of Jornick Joelick. "Dive" is a touch of spacey dub that features the blissful vocals of Katya Tasheva. The sound system throughout "Innerstand" is incredible and the arrangements are first rate. It’s just the kind of record that will satisfy hard core fans while easily seducing new ones.

Reg Dancy

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The aptly titled "The Epic" is the debut from thirty four year old tenor Saxophonist Kamasi Washington. Kamasi has been part of the burgeoning Los Angeles  jazz scene for a number of years and has finally taken a break from performing to compose a stunning body of work. The triple lp is rooted in Jazz while fusing rnb and funk. He’s also complimented by a large orchestral ensemble and his working band The West Coast Get Down. There’s much to savor here starting with "Change Of The Guard", an explosive tune highlighted by Kamasi’s spirited soloing and the melodic phrasings from the 20 piece choir. "Final Thought" kicks off with a smoothing gospel tinged organ riff before shifting into an explosive spiritual tune. Fellow LA residents Dwight Trible lends his spirited vocal phrasings to "Malcolm’s Theme" and Thundercat lays down some stimulating bass licks on "The Message". Overall "The Epic" is a triumph filled with nearly three hours of spiritual inspiring compositions and superb performances. This is a great introduction to the talented Saxophonist and to a record that is easily one of the best of the year.

Reg Dancy

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Almost ten years since his last release, London resident and aforbeat ambassador Dele Sosimi returns with "No Fit Touch Am". Dele worked alongside the legendary Fela Kuti and eventually became his music director of Fela’s Egypt 80 and Positive Force. Dubbed the King of Afrobeat piano, Sosimi’s keyboard prowess appears on a number of tracks here. "Where We Want to Be" is a mid tempo groove with infectious syncopated rhythms and tasty horns. "Na My Turn" is another funky number that speaks about rising up to the political corruption in Nigeria. "I don’t Care" is filled with tasty rhythmic guitars and percussion. Sosimi’s sought out to produce a recording that’s not only filled with powerful lyrics that speak to activism but also superb instrumentation and arrangements. He succeeds mightily on both fronts.

Reg Dancy

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Out of nowhere "Tawk Tomahawk", the debut from the Australia based group Hiatus Kaiyote swooped in and sunk into our hearts and souls and captured everyone’s attention. Their debut was rich with gorgeous melodies, creative songwriting and a multifaceted talent in vocalist/guitarist Nai Palm. Their follow up lp "Choose Your Weapon" is a wonderful record with an myriad of unpredictable melodies with a soulful element that defies categories.  "Shaolin Munk Motherfunk" is a syncopation of rhythms thanks in part to Simon Mavin’s imaginative keyboard arrangements. "Jekyll" starts out with Mavin’s lush piano melody that gradually builds into a thematic gem. "Breathing Underwater", an ode to Stevie Wonder is full of warm arrangements and swaying melodies. Paul Bender lays down hypnotic guitar rhythms on the Japanese cinematic inspired "The Lung". Few releases with eighteen tracks could keep you satisfied quite like this one. Not only is this an exception but it’s certainly one of the best releases of the year. Highly recommended.

Reg Dancy

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