SUNBURST BAND- MOVING WITH THE SHAKERS CD £11.95
Fantastic mainly uptempo album combining 70's and early 80's influences with a contemporary sound, featuring the vocals of Leroy Burgess, Taka Boom, Pete Simpson and others. Highlights are the disco/funk of 'Our Lives Are Shaped', 'Sitting On Top Of The World', 'Days Gone By' and 'Put A Lyric In it' (which could have been recorded on prelude circa 79-80). 80's boogie style is represented by 'Survivin' and 'Fashion', the 4 Hero-esq 'Journey To The Sun' and 'Turn It Out' also score well. There's some good instrumentals 'Dusk' , 'Monterey' and 'Free Bass', and the 2 step title track. Best of all though is the Norman Whitfield influenced shifter 'Man Of War'. Probably the best retro-sounding album of recent times and one of the albums of the year.

INCOGNITO TALES FROM THE BEACH CD £12.95
Incognito make the 13th album and its one of their strongest, featuring mainly horn backed fresh sounding melodic uptempo and mid tempo soulful grooves that is their trademark. Maysa, Joy Rose, Imaani and Tony Momrelle provide the soulful vocals in front of the bands powerhouse backing. The uptempo 'Step Aside', 'Love Joy and Understanding', 'Happy People' contrast with the catchy mid tempo 'N.O.T.' and 'Silence In My Mind' and bass led 'I've Been Waiting'. The stepper 'When The Sun Comes Down' and beautiful slower 'When Words Are Just Words' with the Jazzier percussive 'Freedom To Love' and punchy semi-instrumentals 'Feel The Pressure' and 'Never Look Back'. Very Strong album.
also recommended 'Who Needs Love Cd £13.95, Positivity Cd £9.95, No Time like The Future Cd £14.95

TONI REDD- N THE KEY OF REDD CD £13.95
Excellent sophisticated soul album in a Phyllis Hyman/Anita Baker style with good songs, instrumentation and great vocals from the Atlanta soulstress. Mainly consisting of quality mid tempo tracks like the shuffler 'Anytime Of The Day' , 'Holding On To Your Love' , 'Cant Stop Thinking About You' , 'I'm Changing' and the sax backed 'The Love Is Gone', this album is for chilling out to. Also check her cover of Anita's classic 'I Apologise', the ballads 'Sailing' and 'We Should Care' and the upper mid tempo foot taper 'Always There For Me'. This is timeless soul music of the highest quality. Another essential album.

MINT CONDITION E-LIFE CD £13.95
Mint Condition were one of the first and best R&B/Soul bands in the 90's and they return with another strong album with a mixture of mainly mid tempo and slow R&B and soul tracks, featuring their vocal harmonies. The more soul oriented tracks are 'Gratitude' an uptempo track that stands out, the harmonies on the mid tempo 'Something' and beat ballad 'Just Can't Believe' are also strong. The chugging 'Back And Forth' , 'Wish I Could Love You' and 'Baby Boy Baby Girl' will appeal to their R&B fans. Mint Condition have always scored on R&B ballads and 'Gold Digger', 'Nothing Left To Say', 'Right Here' , 'Moan' and 'Why Do We try' wont disappoint.

WAYNA HIGHER GROUND CD £11.95
Wayna's second album builds on her debut 'Moments of claity' . She has matured and produced a better all round album primarily in an Erykah Badu style, whilst retaining her individuality. 'Midnight Rendezvous' is a unique and catchy mid tempo foot taper and this and the hypnotic hip-hop soul 'My Love' and the slower more melodic 'Mr Duracell' are the standout tracks. The jerky mid tempo groover 'New Scenery' piano led jazzier, the catchy acoustic headnodder 'Daydream' and more melodic head nodder 'Not Gonna Go' are also highlights on this really good and varied album.
also available 'Moments Of Clarity CD £9.95

NHOJJ SOUL COMFORT CD £9.95
Strong independent soul album with good vocal harmonies. The highlights are the upper mid tempo horn backed semi funky 'Peace And Blessings', 'Music' and 'Doin M Thing' which are really excellent. Also check the uptempo dancer 'The Light', the mid tempo stepper 'Dream', the acoustic 'Spring Rain' and the dramatic ballad 'Love' and this really nice album.

MARZ- JUKEBOX CD £9.95
Interesting album that mixes soul and jazz funk featuring Marz understated vocals with good female backing vocals and full instrumentation. The outstanding 'Marz Joint' is a really strong melodic jazz funk instrumental with a great groove, keys , sax and wicked b-line. Other highlights are the uptempo 'Jukebox' and 'Send Up My Smile' , mid tempo stepper 'Muzik', slinky mid tempo beater 'Hip-Side' and the unusual 'Take My Hand ft Lauren Silva on vocals and some nice acoustic guitar.

FUTURE SOUL CD £13.95
17 tracks that span the many styles of groove oriented new soul music being made around the world. Highlights are the funky soul 'Destiny' feat Dutch group Liquid Spirits ft Amp Fiddler and V(feat Jill Scott)' atmospheric and haunting 'Born Again' . The typically Eric Roberson 'For Da Love Of Da Game ft Raheem Devaughn, the dancer Black Gold Massive 'Sometimes It Snows In April (Mr Gone Mix) Trizonna McClendon funky soul 'Trizonna' , Ski Okenful uptempo semi broken beat 'Let Me Be', and Dessy Di Lauro grove ridden dancer are also really good. Nice varied comp.

LIZZ FIELDS PLEASUREVILLE CD £11.95
Lizz Fields burst onto the scene with her creative and very different debut in 2003, she follows it up with a more varied album whilst retaining the feel of 'By Day By Night'. The mid tempo jazz tinged and uplifting 'Brooklyn Flowers' the funky foot taper 'Daddy Caddy' , motown esq uptempo 'Sugah' and brassy up tempo dancer 'Running On Empty' are all highlights. The chugging foot taper 'Pleasureville', more uptempo 'Delectable' and typically Lizz slower grooves ''Its Ok To Love Me', 'Sliding Doors', 'What Were We Left With, 'Oasis' and 'I'm Waiting' are also good on this varied album
also available 'By Day By Night' CD £9.95

BRIAN CULBERTSON BRINGING BACK THE FUNK CD £13.95
Brian goes back to Funk inspiration for this album that mixes the Smooth with Funk. 'Always Remember' is a smooth-ish groove with Brian's clean piano work a delight. Equally delightful is the highly melodic 'Let's Stay In Tonight'. On the Funk side 'Funkin Like My Fathers' and 'The Groove' have a P Funk flavour with co-producer Bootsy involved. Kool & The Gang's 'Hollywood Swinging' and Tower Of Power's 'You Got To Funkifize' are given strong re-workings; the strongest cover is Donny Hathaway's 'Everything Is Everything', which retains much of the grittiness of the original. Standout is the jazzy Soul of 'The World Keeps Going Around' with its soulful groove and the incomparable Ledisi in the fnest vocal you have heard her for years. An impressive cast includes Fred Wesley, Maceo, Maurice White, among many others.
also recommended 'Something About Love', Secrets' and 'After Hours CD's £9.95 each

CHRIS STANDRING LOVE AND PARAGRAPHS CD £14.95
Welcome return for Smooth jazz guitarist, whose albums always have a bit of spice and variety. Mid-tempo grooves like the driving 'Love & Paragraphs' and 'As Luck Would Have It' typify his style and this album. The head nodding 'Have Your Cake And Eat It' is another fine funky smooth tune, whilst the riff-laden 'Ooh Bop' is reminiscent of his early 00s work. The aptly titled 'C.S In The Sunshine' has a Benson tine. Many of his committed fans have said this may just be his finest album to date.

GAIL JHONSON PEARLS CD £14.95
A consummate selection of the smoothish grooves provide pianist Gail Jhonson with the vehicle for her stylish playing. 'Pacific Breeze', the catchy 'My Solider' and the delicate 'Silky Slide' are fine Smooth Jazz tracks, the latter featuring Paul Brown on guitar. The subtle riff laden 'Feel Good Groove' is one of many highlights on this primarily instrumental set. 'Miles Away', the joyous 'Sisters' and the Latin tinged 'Let's Do This' are all strongly smooth workouts. Marion Meadows and Norman Brown guest on 'Pearls' and 'Soleh' respectively.
also available 'Keep The Music Playing CD £9.95

BRADLEY LEIGHTON SOUL COLLECTIVE CD £13.95
This nice Smooth Jazz album from this talented flute player is consistently strong. Mix of covers like 'She's Gone' and an accomplished rendition of the Crusaders' 'Keep That Same Old Feeling'. Check the funky yet smooth 'It's On' and the Latin flavoured 'Cafe Con Leche'. Leighton's playing is fluent and reminiscent of Herbie Mann at times. He supported by guest appearances from Tom Scott and trumpeters Greg Adams and Mic Gillette, both ex Tower Of Power. Jason Miles arranges.

MALENA FRIED SAMBA CD £13.95
This joyous expression of Latin comes with a heavy dose of Jazz Funk. The flute led aggregation hail from Manchester and the mix of Samba rhythms great drums/ percussion and basslines topped with fine melodies and solos is totally enchanting. Cuts like the Latin Jazz Funk of 'No Llores Mas' with its semi-Incognito vibe and 'More Afro' gets your in the spirit and feet moving. 'Llega El Veraano' is percussive vocal shuffler, where as 'Flute Juice also highly percussive is a driving slice of dance driven Latin.

PATRICK COOPER VIBIN CD £13.95
Pianist/ keyboard player Patrick Cooper releases a strong Smooth Jazz album that will appeal to those that enjoy Marcus Johnson or Roger Smith's albums. Cooper's piano playing is incisive, interesting and fluid. Cuts like 'Vibin', the groove driven 'Fix It' and the vocal 'Smooth' illustrate his talent perfectly. Laid back grooves like head nodder 'Yes' featuring vocalist Jay Lashwan Williams and 'Leavin' slow the pace a tinge. Try also the ballad 'What Must I Do'.

AMERICAN BOOGIE DOWN DBL CD £13.95
12 mainly previously unreleased very underground raw disco/funk and boogie tracks from the late 70's and early 80's, presented in their original form and as a mixed CD. Highlights are Right Direction 'Midnight Rhythm' the instrumental Vision Of Tomorrow 'Galaxy' and Morning After 'Get It'. also check Destiny In The Band 'Dance', Devarne 'You Are my Number one' and 'Kiss You Everywhere' , Rick Jsems infl Greyship Daviz 'Get Up Get Down Let Your Body Pop' , Fabulous Kings 'If You Like What Were Doing' Monofide 'Party' and Lonnie Givens 'The Heat Is On'. Boogie On Down

ROY AYERS UBIQUITY VIBRATIONS CD £9.95 original Vinyl LP £20
Brilliant Roy Ayers album from 1976, 'Vibrations' includes his classic 'Searching', but this set combines Jazz Funk and Soul in equally strong measure. Check the uptempo dancers 'Domelo', 'Come Out And Play' and the compelling 'Movin Groovin' and the heavier Funk of 'One Sweet Love To Remember'. 'The Memory' is pure mid-tempo Ayers magic as is the 2 Step paced 'Baby I Need Your Love'. ESSENTIAL.

BILLY GRIFFIN BELIEVE IT OR NOT COLLECTION CD £12.95
All of Billy's best tracks on one CD. includes the classic 'Hold Me Tighter in The Rain' , the up tempo dancers 'Systematic' and 'Serious', the boogie dancer 'Don't Ask Me To Be Friends' and 'Understand' with its great bassline. The steppers 'So Many Ways' and '2nd Day Love Story' and mid tempo floaters 'Olivia' and 'All The Way To Love' and the recent modern soul shuffler 'Like Water'. Also includes his 70's hits with Miracles 'Love Machine' and 'I Spy For The Brotherhood'.

C L BLAST LAY ANOTHER LOG ON THE FIRE CD £14.95
This CD comprises the complete Juana sessions from 1976-84 produced by Fredrick Knight apart from Sam Dees produced gritty funky soul 'Don't Fight The Feelin' and magnificent ballad 'Hard To Get The Feelin'. Highlights are outstanding Latimore-esq southern soul mid tempo title track , the modern soul dancers 'Love Don't Feel Like Love No More' and 'Lets Do Something Different Tonight' and the string laden funky soul 'I Wanna Get Down'. also check the beat ballad '50/50 Love' the uptempo 80's soul 'I Need To Love You' and 'Let Me Entertain You' and the ballad 'If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again'

JAZZ CRUSADERS OLD SOCKS NEW SHOES CD £9.95
Originally recorded for Chisa, this album predated the dropping of 'Jazz' from the band's name, but fits perfectly with their early Blue Thumb albums like '2nd Crusade' and Crusaders 1'. You can feel the transition from 60's west coast based Jazz outfit to the Jazz Funk sound that propelled them to international fame. Only on 'Jazz' do they retain that 60's Bop inspired style. The opener a version of Sly's 'Thank You…' is a funky slice of Jazz Funk. 'Way Back Home completes the set- a soulful track which became a firm favourite at their concerts.

GROVER WASHINGTON JR INNER CITY BLUES CD £9.95 Original Vinyl LP £15
This 1971 album was Grover's debut and sees the sax maestro in soulful but raw form. His take on Marvin's 'Inner City Blues' is a Jazz Funk masterpiece as is the shorter 'Mercy Mercy Me'. tHe album consists of covers and his interpretation of Bill Withers' 'Ain't No Sunshine/Theme From Man And Boy' is exquisite. Arranged by a young Bob James, the all-star band included Bob, Idris Muhammad, Eric Gale, Ron carter and Airto! The 'CTI/Kudu' sound was falling into place; Grover's debut was an integral part of that process.