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It's the time of year when most soul music journalists aren't so much preparing for Christmas as stressing and fretting over their editors' demands to submit a list of their Top 10 albums or tracks of the past year. It's often - as I can confess from experience - a difficult task and it's been made even harder - or easier, depending on your point of view - by the late arrival of a set that's a bona fide contender for modern soul album of the year. Disciples of ultra-smooth modern soul won't be surprised that the album in question ('Seasons & Reasons') comes from JAMES DAY, a noteworthy songwriter originally from Rockport, Massachusetts, who has made an impact with record buyers due to his two previous albums (originally issued in the UK via specialist soul label Expansion), 'Natural Things' (2007) and 'Better Days' (2009).

'Seasons & Reasons' reunites Day with some of the singers that have previously fronted his material before - namely US veterans Audrey Wheeler, Gavin Christopher as well as former By All Means chanteuse, Mikelyn Roderick. The album has been released independently and it's available from most download websites. But for those who prefer to buy their music in a physical format, the UK-based record store/label, Soul Brother, is the only place in Europe where you can get hold of 'Seasons & Reasons' in CD form. SJF's Charles Waring recently caught up with the talented soul songwriter for a candid tete a tete in which the Massachussets native talks in detail about his new album, the process of songwriting, his influences and ambitions...

British jazz pianist and composer, STAN TRACEY, has died aged 86.

Acknowledged as the elder statesman of British jazz, Stan enjoyed a seven decade career but is maybe best remembered for his 1963 jazz suite that was inspired by Dylan Thomas' sound play 'Under Milk Wood'. For many years, Tracey was also the resident piano player at London's Ronnie Scott's Club where he accompanied dozens of jazz legends.

Stan also received a host of awards during his career, including the first Ivor Novello award for jazz in 2012; Tracey was awarded an OBE in 1986 and he became a CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours list. The musician was also awarded a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2002 and made appearances on Later... With Jools Holland.

Despite advancing years Stan Tracey never stopped working. He was nominated for the Mercury Award in 1993 for his long player, 'Portraits Plus', and his last album was released earlier this year.

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 December 2013 17:08

The UK's premier jazz chanteuse, CLARE TEAL is slap bang in the middle of mini-pre-Christmas tour..... offering an intimate, though fun-filled festive night out and promoting her latest album – the Christmas collection, 'Jing, Jing-A-Ling'.

Supported by her usual trio (Grant Windsor, piano; Simon Little, bass and Ben Reynolds, drums) the show features most of the 12 tracks on 'Jing, Jing-A Ling', including the catchy title track, the standards 'The Christmas Song', 'Winter Wonderland' and 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve' and the light Latin lilt of 'December'. Clare shows her skill on the ukulele on the Hawaiian song 'Mele Kalikimaka' and her own 'A Little Whisky' while watch out for some audience participation on the novelty treatment of 'The 12 Days Of Christmas'.

The show is beautifully paced and between songs Clare's anecdotes offer a quirky spin on Christmas. Insightful too are the reasonings as to how much the seasonal selected songs mean to her.... here's an artist who clearly relishes what she's doing and cherishes the fact that she's helping to keep a vital festive tradition relevant.

The album, 'Jing, Jing-A-Ling' is out now and he tour's remaining dates are;-

Mon 9th Dec @ Barnfield Theatre, Barnfield Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1SN £18

Tue 10th December - Clare Teal performing at the Royal Albert Hall with Frank Renton MORE INFO TBC

Wed 11th Dec @ Concorde Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9HQ £29/£26/£21 , including meal £46/£51/£54

Thu 12th Dec @ Pizza Express, Dean St, Soho, London, W1D 3RW TBC

Fri 13th Dec @ Pizza Express, Dean St, Soho, London, W1D 3RW TBC

Sat 14th Dec @ Astor Theatre, Stanhope Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 6AB - duo with Grant Windsor £17 in advance / £19 on the door

Sun 15th Dec @ Pizza Express, 32 Earl Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1PS £28

Thu 19th Dec @ The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR TBC

Fri 20th Dec @ Huddersfield Town Hall, West Yorkshire HD1 2TA - guests of the Lindley Band TBC

More info is available at www.clareteal.co.uk

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 December 2013 19:05

One of last year's best selling soul and R &B compilations (it did go Platinum!) was 'THE TREVOR NELSON COLLECTION'. It therefore won't surprise you to leran that a second volume is on its way..... 'The Trevor Nelson Collection 2' hits the shops on January 13th 2014 and like Volume 1, the set is packed with some stunning soul and R&B from the 80s right up to the present day.

Across the new collection's three CDs there's music from people like Mary J Blige, TLC, Jodeci, Usher, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Sade, Mantronix, Rufus & Chaka Chan, Lauryn Hill, Destiny's Child, Jamiroquai and Whitney Houston with 'It's Not Right, But It's Okay'. The collection is brought up to date with cuts like Drake's 'Hold On, We're Going Home.'

Trevor says of the new release: 2 "The platinum success of my first collection album has been absolutely phenomenal. For the Trevor Nelson Collection 2 album, I've put together a collection, which I believe will be as good a listen as volume 1, 'all killer, no filler'. These are some of the most iconic R & B songs of the last 30 years, from established megastars through to the some of the biggest artists of the last decade".

Last Updated on Sunday, 08 December 2013 17:09

JAMES DAY - who found acclaim with his two previous Expansion-released albums 'Natural Things' and 'Better Days' - has a brand new long player just out. It's called 'Seasons & Reasons' and finds the award-winning Massachusetts-born tunesmith utilising the soulful talents of singers Audrey Wheeler, Gavin Christopher, Donnie, Trina Broussard, Mikelyn Roderick, Karen Fiore and Jeff Ramsey as well as a sensational newcomer called Cleveland P. Jones. A mixture of dance floor beaters and sumptuous ballads - all delivered in Day's impeccable, ultra-smooth modern soul style - the 13-track set includes the UK soul smash 'Considered Delivered,' plus the alluring retro-soul sound of 'Rewind' and the Chic-inspired dancer, 'R.S.V.P.' The album also contains some Yuletide holiday songs, exemplified by the beautiful 'Christmas Valentine,' fronted by former By All Means singer, Mikelyn Roderick.

Soul Brother Records in the UK is the only place in Europe that you can buy physical copies of the album, which is also available for download. For more info go to: www.soulbrother.com

Look out for an interview with JAMES DAY and a full review of 'SEASONS & REASONS' soon at SJF.