As their live shows continue to charm audiences in USA, Japan and Europe, The New Mastersounds have built on their own impressive musical heritage and produced a soulful, funk-drenched eighth studio album - real instruments, recorded this time in downtown San Francisco. The record opens with a classic slice of organ funk (think The Meters, but edgier), quickly followed up with other seriously catchy syncopated gems full of solos, inventive arrangements and gang vocals. There's a nod in the direction of jazz-house (à laSaint Germaine), a rolling-piano-&-spoken-word homage to New Orleans (where the band has performed for the past six consecutive years), then a massive horn track before the tone of the album gradually shifts to close out with a psychedelic Hammond-rock sound reminiscent of Brian Auger. Eddie Roberts' vintage production delivers warm soulful bass, choppy drums, funky organ & piano, and with Eddie's signature roughneck jazz guitar throughout. Out On The Faultline is another corker of an album from the stalwarts of the global funk and soul-jazz movement. Click on the link to listen to their sounds: The New Mastersounds - Out On The Faultline
A pretty great little project – a surprising turn for Slakah The Beat Child – working here as the leader of this groovy little group! The music has a lot less "beat" than before – and plenty of the warm sunny tones you might guess from the cover – a beautiful blend of soul and solid songwriting, with a genre-crossing approach that could well make these guys huge in years to come! Tunes are very well-written – and inflected by core instrumentation that often includes sweet violin, cello, and flute – which make for a great addition to Slakah's acoustic guitar, and the nicely punctuated rhythms that really get things going. The album's a great surprise – one of those special discoveries you'll be proud to get in on early – and titles include "Dream On", "Speed Of Time", "The Other Side Of Tomorrow", "Dear Lucy", "Keep Breathing", "Call Me Your Friend", "Beneath It All", and "Perfect Summer". ~ Dusty Groove
A long-overdue album from UK soul singer Jaki Graham – a vocalist who seems to have gotten better and better over the years! As you might guess from the title, a fair bit of tracks on the set are older standards – sung by Jaki in a jazzified approach to soul, with elements that are even warmer and more classic than her older recordings – almost a nod back to the generation of R&B before she got her start! The album's way stronger than we might have expected, and Graham's vocals are still right on the top of their mark – as you'll hear on cuts that include "God Bless The Heartache", "For Sentimental Reasons", "Summertime", "Unforgettable", "My Funny Valentine", and "Lover Man". ~ Dusty Groove