MAKING WAVES
You’d better get used to hearing the name CHELSEA CARMICHAEL because it’s going to be on the lips of every hardcore jazz fan up and down the country after her maiden album ‘The River...
Still Making You Feel Good – Shalamar’s Howard Hewett Talks To SJF Mid-Tour
No group epitomised the warm, sunshine soul sound of Los Angeles’ Solar Records more than the Grammy-winning vocal trio Shalamar, who occupy a special place in the hearts of British music fans. They racked...
JAZZ FM AWARDS – This Year’s Nominees Announced
The chart-topping UK soul singer Celeste along with the American jazz pianist/vocalist Jon Batiste and veteran alto saxophonist Gary Bartz are just three of the stars named as nominees for this year’s Jazz Fm...
LEVEL 42: ‘The Complete Polydor Years 1985-1989’ (Robinsongs/Cherry Red)
Released last year, the first volume chronicling Level 42‘s stint at Polydor Records charted the beginnings and meteoric rise of the jazz-funk quartet from the Isle Of Wight. Now, comes this second and concluding...
PHYLLIS HYMAN: ‘Old Friend – The Deluxe Collection (1976-1998)’ (SoulMusic Records)
Is there such a thing as a desert island box set? If there is, then this superlative compendium of recordings by Phyllis Hyman, which has been lovingly assembled by David Nathan’s SoulMusic label, is...
LAURA NYRO: ‘American Dreamer’ (Madfish)
Laura Nyro peaked early. The Bronx-born singer/songwriter was eight months shy of her twentieth birthday when she lit up the pop firmament like a supernova in February 1967 with the release of her landmark...
Celeste: ‘Live From London’ (LIVENow)
Some performers come out on stage with all guns blazing, pulling out all the stops on their opening song to get an audience’s full attention. But that isn’t the case with BRIT award winner...
DENIECE WILLIAMS: ‘Free – The Columbia/ARC Recordings 1976-1988 (SoulMusic Records)
Originally from Gary, Indiana, Deniece Williams celebrated her 70th birthday earlier this month; a noteworthy personal milestone that coincides with the release of this tremendous 8-CD retrospective from David Nathan’s redoubtable SoulMusic label. Born...
JANETTE MASON: ‘Wall To Wall Bowie’ (janettemason.com)
One of the UK’s most versatile pianists, who can switch effortlessly between jazz, rock and pop styles, Bushey-born Janette Mason‘s love affair with David Bowie began when she was barely a teenager; already smitten...
