The Grammy-nominated California jazz singer, GREGORY PORTER, returns with his second album, 'Be Good,' which is released via the Motema Music label on 13th February.

SJF has had a sneak preview and can confirm that it's even better than his much-lauded debut album, 'Water.' Produced by Brian Bacchus, it contains twelve songs – nine of which are penned by the singer himself, who's proving a talented tunesmith with a gift for storytelling narratives.

The absolute standout cut is 'On My Way To Harlem' though the album's packed with strong material and soulful, compelling performances.

Read SJF's verdict on the album in our review section

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 January 2012 11:16

Soul fans in general and Detroit collectors in general will be delighted by the debut release on a "new" girl group – THE STUBBS GIRLS. The name, of course, is the clue... and the cause for some excitement. The fivesome, you see, comprise the sister and nieces of the legendary LEVI STUBBS. LEVI'S sister, THELMA has always sung and encouraged her daughters – BOBBY, PAMELA, SHEILA and RONDA to do likewise. It was therefore only a matter of time before they started recording and there's an album coming very soon courtesy of Atlanta's Crew Records.

Previews indicate a good, solid, old fashioned soul set. No frills or gimmicks –just decent tunes, well produced and beautifully sung in that magical, harmonic way that family groups seem to do so effortlessly. The lead cut 'Oh No Not Tonight' is a beaut.... like I said good, solid, old fashioned uptown soul and nothing wrong with that.

Last Updated on Friday, 27 January 2012 21:56

Funk fans know that in the 70s the tightest team on the block were the JBs. The band members were handpicked by their boss, JAMES BROWN, and from the start the Godfather knew the man he wanted to lead them had to be jazz trombonist FRED WESLEY. WESLEY went on to lead the band through one of BROWN'S peak periods and it's his solos that shine on 'Soul Power', 'Gimme Some More', and 'Pass The Peas'.

MR B knew the debt he owed WESLEY; so in 1972 he offered FRED the opportunity to cut his own jazz album under the name THE JB s & FRED WESLEY. With BROWN producing, FRED went into studios in New York and began recording. Eventually a single – 'Watermelon Man' – was released but the LP was cancelled.

Now – for the very first time – the album has won a release... thanks to the archivists at Hip-O Select. The original album, which was to be released on the People label, was to have nine tracks -three of which were subsequently issued in varying forms; so here there are six previously unissued cuts, including a swinging version of 'You Got A Friend'. Interestingly, WESLEY'S band, the JBs, feature on just one track – the aforementioned 'Watermelon Man' (BROWN on drums here, by the way). The rest of the music was recorded using the very best New York session men including the BRECKER BROTHERS, JOE FARRELL, STEVE GADD and RON CARTER.

The album boasts four bonus cuts – a mellow version of GILBERT O'SULLIVAN'S 'Alone Again Naturally', a lively take on the O'JAYS' 'Backstabbers', and two funk workouts – 'JB Shout' and 'Funky & Some'. All four have at some time been released as parts of singles but they were recorded at the same time as the aborted LP.

As with all Hip-O products, the notes are fascinating, informative and include full track details

THE JBs & FRED WESLEY'S 'Watermelon Man - The Lost Album' is released on 27th February

Last Updated on Friday, 27 January 2012 21:58

SJF is sad to report the death of CLARE FISCHER, who died on January 26th 2012 at the age of eighty three. Fischer was an eminent pianist and composer who initially excelled in the sphere of Latin Jazz - he worked extensively with vibraphone maestro Cal Tjader in the 1960s. But for many people, Fischer will be remembered as the man who gave Prince's music another sonic dimension via the distinctive string arrangements he supplied for albums like 'Parade' in 1986.

It was Fischer's arrangements for stellar R&B band, Rufus & Chaka Khan, in the 1970s that apparently led Prince to hire the Michigan-born classically-trained musician. Though they never actually met, they worked together on numerous projects over the years, including the albums 'Sign O' The Times,' 'Batman' and 'Crystal Ball.'

Other beneficiaries of Clare Fischer's unique musical alchemy over the years have been Paul McCartney, Dizzy Gillespie, The Family, Robert Palmer, Donald Byrd, Natalie Cole, Atlantic Starr, The Jacksons, Regina Belle, Tori Amos and more recently Vanessa Williams, Raphael Saadiq and Brian McKnight.

Fischer won a Grammy award in 1981 for his album 'Salsa Picante plus 2+2' and then scooped another in 1986 for his record 'Free Fall.' Ever the workaholic, the arranger released two albums simultaneously a few months before his death – 'Voices...And Sometimes Instruments' and 'Continuum,' the latter attributed to the Clare Fischer Big Band.

For more information go to: www.clarefischer.com

Last Updated on Friday, 27 January 2012 08:54

Over the last couple of months reissue conglomerate CHERRY RED have released a slew of fine albums under their many different imprints. A number seem to have slipped through the radar here @SJF... so here's a quick roundup of some the best...

Amongst the wonderful soul reissues there's 'California Sunset' from THE ORIGINALS. The underrated group cut the album for Motown in 1975 under the auspices of LAMONT DOZIER and the two standouts are the title cut and the wonderful 'Good Lovin' Is Just A Dime Away'. DAVID NATHAN'S soulmusic.com label is also part of the Cherry Red group and they have three noteworthy items. First there's an unusual "twofer" on the ever-lovely DIONNE WARWICK. Unusual, because they're "themed" albums –'Dionne Warwick Sings Cole Porter' and 'Aquarela Do Brasil'. Both were recorded for Arista in the early 90s and offer a different perspective on the songstress. Another legendary lady is featured on the second soulmusic.com release – ESTHER PHILIPS. Her reissued "twofer" pairs her late 70s Mercury albums 'You've Come A Long Way Baby' and 'All About Esther Philips'...listen up to a great version of 'Native New Yorker'. A PEABO BRYSON "twofer" completes the trio of soulmusic.com releases. The two featured LPs are the breakthrough 'Reaching For The Sky' (1978) and the follow up, 'Crosswinds' (1978 too). Neither needs any introduction to lovers of sweet soul.

If you like your soul a tad "tougher" try the Shout "twofer" on Z Z HILL. Label boss, CLIVE RICHARDSON has paired 'The Best Thing That's Happened To Me' with 'Z Z'... two great mid 70s soul artefacts originally out on United Artists.

More left field maybe are 'Escape Artist' from GARLAND JEFFREYS and 'Any Way That You want Me' from EVIE SANDS. The former's out on the main Cherry Red label while the latter's on Rev-O-La.

Finally for 60s collectors Cherry Red offers two real gems. First there's 'Keep On Running' –a fortieth anniversary celebration of Birmingham's SPENCER DAVIS GROUP. The band, which of course featured a very young STEVIE WINWOOD, were great interpreters of soul and R&B and this set features live versions of stuff like 'Every Little Bit Hurts' and 'Dimples'. Finally there's 'Changes' from the sadly little known BERYL MARSDEN. BERYL was part of the Liverpool 60s beat boom and she specialised in soul covers. Chart success eluded her and she never had an LP released on her. Here RPM collect all BERYL'S career material – 24 tracks that take us from the 60s to 2007. Like I said plenty of great soul covers but also some wonderful contemporary material. Try 2007's 'Hello Stranger' (not the BARBARA LEWIS song by the way) which is as good as anything that took LISA STANSFIELD into the charts.

Watch out for reviews on SJF very soon... in the meantime find out more @ www.cherryred.co.uk

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 January 2012 18:54