Joe Bataan’s classic 1973 studio album Salsoul was a genre defining freshman release on the fledgling Salsoul label, which Bataan started after growing disagreements and accusations of financial mismanagement led him to a less than amicable split with the Fania label to which he had been signed to since 1966. Salsoul, the title of the album and the label, is literally an amalgam of two genres of music, salsa and soul, musical styles that Bataan soaked up during his youth in New York’s Spanish Harlem. Bataan would later go on to have a best-selling single on Salsoul in 1979 entitled...
Takuya Kuroda is a highly respected trumpeter and arranger born in Kobe, Japan and based in New York City. ‘Midnight Crisp‘ is Takuya’s seventh studio album, entirely self-produced and following 2020’s highly acclaimed ‘Fly Moon Die Soon‘, also released on UK label First Word (winner of the Worldwide Award’s Label of the Year in 2019). Consisting of six new tracks, this once again sees Takuya displaying his unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop. After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz...
In July 1973, Blue Note Records headed to Montreux, Switzerland to showcase several of the label’s stars at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Produced by Blue Note President George Butler, live albums all titled Live: Cookin’ with Blue Note at Montreux followed from vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, organist Ronnie Foster, flutist Bobbi Humphrey, and vocalist Marlena Shaw, but one of the performances by trumpeter Donald Byrd remained unreleased in the Blue Note vaults, until now. That summer, Byrd was fresh off the release of his hit crossover fusion album Black Byrd, the first of his innovative and incredibly successful studio collaborations with producer Larry Mizell. But...
Join us a at Soul Brother this Saturday for a special instore signing and meet and greet with our good friend Myele Manzanza who will be signing copies of his latest release Crisis and Opportunity Volume 3, instore from 13:00. Pop on down and grab a signed copy and get a chance to meet Myele in person! Myele Manzanza’s third outing on the Deepmatter Crisis and Opportunity series sees Manzanza’s sound develop from the electronic tinged themes of his previous releases to an album that is expressively more articulated, detailed and producer heavy in the vernacular of electronic music. It...
What better gift to give or receive for Christmas (or any other occasion !) than a classic album on vinyl. We have updated our list of classic albums by music genre - click HERE to bring you through to view the full list. Check out the individual genres by clicking on the links below. - 60s & Southern Soul - 70's Soul - 50's/60's Jazz - Blue Note Classics - 90's/00's Soul/Hip Hop - Reggae - World - Rock - Rock singer/songwriter These might help you put together your wish or gift list, start or build your vinyl collection. Watch out...
Not long after the dawn of her career, as a teenager in Rio de Janeiro, Joyce was declared “one of the greatest singers” by Antonio Carlos Jobim. Yet despite reputable accolades and the fact that she has since recorded over thirty acclaimed albums, Joyce never quite achieved the international recognition of the likes of Jobim, João Gilberto and Sergio Mendes, all of whom became global stars after releasing with major labels in the US. There was a moment when it seemed Joyce might be on the cusp of an international breakthrough. While living in New York, she was approached by...
Hil St Soul returns with her first album in ten years, with a strong set 'Back In Love'. 'One Life' , 'Love & Fire' and 'Party On' are uptempo contemporary Modern Soul/R & B dancers, whilst 'Fingerprints' is a mid tempo groover. Noel Gourdin duets on the mid tempo 'Blessed' and catchy 'Amazing', with his soulful voice. Hilary is in fine form on the excellent cover of The Ohio Players 'Heaven Must Be Like This', the album's standout cut. 'In My Groove' and 'King' are nice two step slow jams, and ' Sweet Heaven' a more acoustic track. Nice album....
