Here’s an oddity – veteran and garlanded producer and man about music, TEDDY DOUGLAS has never released a solo album under his own name! Yes, we know his enviable track record – he’s worked with almost everyone worth working with! We mean… Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Crystal Waters, Erykah Badu, Martha Wash, Ultra Nate and more! Then there’s the whole Basement Boys and Jasper St. Co thing and don’t forget his fab Philly soul reworks from last year.
So, it’s with a measure of delight that we can announce that Teddy boy has just released his first proper solo LP – ‘I’m Here’ – though of course it’s not really “solo”. As ever it’s a collaborative affair. Helping out on the 11 tracker are “names” like UK vocal diva Pauline Taylor; Danish award winning Folk and Blues artist, Richard Farrell; Chi Town Hip House legend, Fast Eddie; dance music queen, Ultra Naté; up and coming Brit Soul talent, Sipho; and Buckshot from Blackmoon appearing as “BDI Thug”.
Between them they create a set that’s bob on the Baltimore Soulful House vibe with generous infusions of contemporary soul, jazz and funk . Try the cover of The Frontline Orchestra’s ‘Don’t Turn Your Back On Me’ to hear what we mean (Pauline Taylor on vocals here). Then there’s the bumpy, down-tempo ‘Help’ with a soulful, gravelly vocal from Sipho. For something different go to the bonkers, jazzy, percussive ‘Star in the Ghetto’ (No, not THAT ‘Star’!)
Teddy Douglas ‘I’m Here’ out now on vinyl October 18th / Digital & Streaming on November 1st 2024 on Nervous Records.
