Soul and funk icons, THE FATBACK BAND, are coming to London for a very special show. Still led by genial drummer and founder member BILL CURTIS, the group will be playing UNDER THE BRIDGE, STAMFORD BRIDGE, FULHAM ROAD, LONDON, SW6 1HS on May 31st.

The BAND'S set still features all their legendary 70s and 80s classics and stuff like 'I Feel Loving', 'Bus Stop', 'Street Dance' and 'Spanish Hustle' can still fill dance floors... expect some newer stuff too from off their more recent releases (check our reviews archive for details)

Check with the venue for show times and admission prices.

June 10th sees GEORGE BENSON release his latest long player. The legendary guitarist/vocalist – who turned 70 earlier this year – celebrates his love and respect for NAT KING COLE with 'Inspiration – A Tribute To Nat King Cole'.

BENSON sees the project as a love letter to COLE, "I felt every moment of it" says BENSON. "You can't put together a record like this without putting your heart into it. I got that from NAT KING COLE. He put his heart into everything he did."

The album features heartfelt renditions of some of COLE'S greatest songs (including a fresh BENSON take on 'Nature Boy') and for the disc BENSON was backed by the 42-piece HENRY MANCINI INSTITUTE ORCHESTRA. The set also features duets with Tony Award winner IDINA MENZEL and rising star JUDITH HILL and a special collaboration with multi-Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning trumpeter WYNTON MARSALIS.

To promote the album GEORGE BENSON will be embarking on a world tour in 2013. For more details go to www.georgebenson.com. There'll be a full album review here @SJF very soon.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 18:42

For all kinds of reasons NILE RODGERS is currently enjoying a high media profile. He's worked on the new, acclaimed DAFT PUNK long player and has a raft of live shows and festivals lined up (see our recent news story). Now Rhino records are set to give an official UK release to an in-demand CHIC box set.

Entitled 'Savoir Faire', the 4 CD collection comes in a long digi-pack which contains a 20 page booklet with notes from RODGERS himself. More, the set contains a wealth of rare and unreleased tracks along with 5 songs remixed by French disco meister DIMITRI FROM PARIS.

Compiled by NILE, amongst the 46 tracks are CHIC-produced cuts on DIANA ROSS, DEBBIE HARRY, FONZI THORNTON, SISTER SLEDGE, NORMA JEAN, CARLY SIMON, JOHNNY MATHIS and TEDDY PENDERGRASS – his inclusion is an in-demand, previously unreleased NILE RODGERS remix of 'Dream Girl'.

THE CHIC ORGANIZATION; 'Box Set Vol 1 : Savoir Faire' is Released on Rhino UK, 10th June 2013

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 11:19

Hailing from the Netherlands, CARO EMERALD is currently Europe's highest profile pop star. Peddling an infectious concoction of retro lounge jazz with a just a hint of soul, her debut album 'Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor' went multi-platinum and scooped her a hatful of awards.

CARO'S just released her second album and 'The Shocking Miss Emerald' carries on where 'Cutting Room Floor' ended. Where the debut took its inspiration from vintage Hollywood, the newie is inspired by the glamour and excitement of Paris at the height of the Jazz Age. The 14 tracker is a stylish and outwardly sophisticated set that's been heralded by the single 'Tangled Up' – an ambitious melange of tango rhythms and modern R&B sensitivities. Though it lacks the full passion of AMY WINEHOUSE, some broadsheet commentators have made the comparison.

With a full tour lined up for September, you can find out more @ www.caroemerald.com

CARO EMERALD'S 'The Shocking Miss Emerald' is out now on Dramatico Records.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 11:57

Funk fans everywhere will tell you that MARVA WHITNEY was the rawest, baddest funk-sister of them all. Born MARVA ANN MANNING in 1944, she began her musical career in the church and aged just 16 she joined the ALMA WHITNEY singers. Soon she heard the call of the Devil's music and she began singing in local clubs to augment her weekly wage from the Kansas City clothing factory where she worked.

After spells with local groups, in 1967 MARVA joined the JAMES BROWN REVUE. She toured extensively with the GODFATHER and released a number of singles on King. In 1970, prompted by the unrelenting workload of being with the BROWN show and his authoritarian attitude MARVA decided to take more control of her own life. She quit the JAMES BROWN REVUE, got married and signed with the ISLEY BROTHERS T-Neck label. Success was hard to come by so she retired from music but by the 80s she was back – and performing with more disillusioned JAMES BROWN alumni.... notably MACEO PARKER, FRED WESLEY, and LYN COLLINS.

In 2006 MARVA worked with German music entrepreneur DJ PARI and the Japanese funkateers, OSAKA MONAURAIL on the single 'I Am What I Am' – a great throwback to the classic funk heyday. An album and tours followed and at last she was enjoying the acclaim and status that her fiery, funky soulful delivery deserved. Then, sadly, in 2009 she suffered a stroke while performing in Australia. She made a partial recovery but tragically died in December 2012 from complications caused by pneumonia.

MARVA WHITNEY'S story is a moving one – a story that typifies the highs and lows in the lives of so many soul and funk singers ... and now you can read the whole torrid tale in a new warts-'n'-all autobiography -' GOD, THE DEVIL & JAMES BROWN'.

Co-authored with CHARLES WARING – one of the UK's most respected soul writers and partner in www.soulandjazzandfunk.com - 'GOD, THE DEVIL & JAMES BROWN' is written and presented in the same robust style that made MARVA WHITNEY such a force in the funk firmament. It's raw, unbridled, intense and, above all, profoundly passionate. The memoir is unrelentingly candid and mixes pathos with humour. It vividly recalls her rise to fame in JAMES BROWN'S REVUE - pulling no punches about his tyrannical regime. The book also chronicles MARVA'S life either side of her time with the 'GODFATHER OF SOUL' and includes recollections from funk legends BOOTSY COLLINS, PEE WEE ELLIS and FRED WESLEY.

'GOD, THE DEVIL & JAMES BROWN – by MARVA WHITNEY and CHARLES WARING is out now. Published by BANK HOUSE BOOKS, it costs £15 and is available directly from Amazon.

Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 15:55