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In Africa, music is not an art form as much as it is a means of communication. A Negro has got no name. Quite often, the words of the song are meaningless. A Negro has got no name We are wearing the name of our master LISTEN TO: SOUL-PATROL/NU SOUL/CAMPAIGN 2008 (Nu Soul)  Featuring the following Artists: Barack Obama, Chuck D, Gerald Alston, Chip Shelton, Nadir, Rose Stone http://www.soul-patrol.net/sp_2008campaign1.ram When is the last time you heard a Presidential contender quote Mr. Sylvester Stewart? Soul-Patrol doesn't endorse candidates, however last night I became inspired when I heard Senator Barack Obama actually quoting Sly and the Faimily Stone, during the speech that he made right after his stunning win in the 2008 North Carolina Democratic primary. Although Soul-Patrol doesn't endorse candidates, it does provide commentary on what's going on in the culture and this was certainly a historic moment. And if Senator McCain would like "equal time" all he need do is contact me and I will give it to him... http://www.soul-patrol.net/sp_2008campaign1.ram The use of classic Sly & the Family Stone lyrics during the speech by Senator Obama inspired me to create a broadcast of some NEW releases that we are featuring both here on Soul-Patrol and on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com (www.radioio.com), that fit with the overall mood of the cultural phenomena surrounding the campaign of Senator Barrack Obama. http://www.soul-patrol.net/sp_2008campaign1.ram At the same time I want to provide an introduction (for some of you) of what the idea is behind the concept of NU SOUL. It's BRAND NEW BLACK MUSIC, produced for today's audiences that is steeped in the tradition of Black Music of the past (soul, funk, rap, blues, jazz, rock, etc), presented by the artist in a modern day context. In short it's what's missing from the so called Black music that is being rammed down out throats by the mass media. Here are the songs from the broadcast, performed by some of Soul-Patrol.com's core artists! FUNKY PRESIDENT Chuck D feat. Kyle Jason & the baNNed- Introducing the SLAMjamz Artist Revue (Tribb to JB) http://www.slamjamz.com or http://www.publicenemy.com A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Gerald Alston (Gerald Alston Sings Sam Cooke) http://www.gerald-alston.com MLK Chip Shelton/Peacetime (Imbued With Memories) http://www.chipshelton.com SLAVE Nadir/Distorted Soul (Distorted Soul 2.0) http://www.distortedsoul.com CAN YOU MAKE IT Rose Stone (Already Motivated) http://www.rosestoneuniverse.com LISTEN TO: SOUL-PATROL/NU SOUL/CAMPAIGN 2008 Featuring the following Artists: Barack Obama, Chuck D, Gerald Alston, Chip Shelton, Nadir, Rose Stone http://www.soul-patrol.net/sp_2008campaign1.ram And let me know what cha think???? --Bob Davis Soul-Patrol Event, Washington DC: Album Release Concert/Party for Chip Shelton's Peacetime - Imbuded With Memories @ Twins Jazz Club, May 17 at 9pm (Jazz/Funk/Soul)  That's right, Soul-Patrol.com is returning to the Chocolate City!!! And we are returning to help one of our "core arrtists" Mr. Chip Shelton to launch his brand new album release called: Imbuded With Memories. It's an exciting new album that combines straight no chaser + funk + fusion + soul + latin. I'm really excited not only because of the album, but also it gives me the chance to return once again to the "scene of my many crimes", WASHINGTON DC, hang out with some of our friends there, eat some great food at TWINS (www.twinsjazz.com)and listen to some great LIVE MUSIC from Chip and Peacetime. I will be in the house and of course I will also have some givaways!!If you click on any of the Chip Shelton links here in this issue of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter you can listen to the album in it's entirity...If you are in the DC/MD/VA area and you would like to hang out with us, please contact Soul-Patrol's Washingon DC Coordinador "ZieLove" via email(ZIELOVE@aol.com)if wanna hang out with us in the CHOCOLATE CITY! --Bob Davis Album Review: Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Classic Soul)  OTIS BLUE: OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL----THE COLLECTORS EDITION is an expanded package of Otis Redding's 3rd Album done back in 1965. It's a 2 CD set containing the original Mono and the original Stereo mixes. These two versions ALONE would be worth having as a "Collector" of the music timeline of the development of Soul on the American Pop Music scene. HOWEVER.....this package goes NOT "A" step further....NOT 2 steps further.....but....a THIRD and a FOURTH step further!!!!!We have all gotten used to the "Bonus Tracks" on these re-releases. That's just that "A" step further. "I'M DEPENDING ON YOU"("B" side to "I've Been Loving You Too Long") and "ANY OLE WAY"( "B" side to "Satisfaction") serve as the "Bonus Track" we are accustomed to that weren't a part of the Original release. What they have done as a "Second" step further is doing a Mono Mix of the Stereo versions of "I've Been Loving You To Long", "Respect" and "Ole Man Trouble". They have also a 1967 version of "Respect" and a recorded Mono Mix Live version of "Shake". That's the Second step. Now the value of these are relative to what your "ears" perceive as "quality". The good news is they are ALL done very well. If you're of the persnickety or you are "techno-savvy" and convert these tracks to your mobile vehicle of choice, iPod or MP3 Player, you have choices of Mixes to convert (although converting this entire package to MP3 wouldn't be a bad thing).....Review continued here --Earl Gregory Find out more here NEW RELEASE: Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sing's Soul R&B FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 20th ANNIVERSARY PIONEER AWARD WINNERS  I was foutunate enough to be invited to a very special R&B Foundation press confrence on 4/30 in Philadelphia, where the 20th Anniversary Pioneer Awards winners were announced. - Chaka Khan: Lifetime Achivement Award - Teena Marie: Individual Artist Award - Bill Withers: Individual Artist Award - Sugar Pie DeSanto: Individual Artist Award - Kool & the Gang: Group Award - The Whispers: Group Award - The Funk Brothers: Sideman Award - Donny Hathaway: Legacy Award - Al Bell: Leadership Award This announcement was made today in Philadelphia inside of a media filled ballrom at the Lowes Hotel, by R&B Foundation Executive Director Patricia Aden-Wilson (pictured above). On a personal note, I am quite pleased to make note that several of the award winners this year are also active members of Soul-Patrol. Obviously we will have much more coverage of this, the 20th Anniversary of the Pioneer Awards on both Soul-Patrol.com and RadioIO.com, leading up to and including the awards ceremony itself on September 9, 2008 at the Kimmel Center on Broad Street in Philadelphia. For now, click here to check out more on the R&B Foundation Album Review: The Sound of Philadelphia - Gamble and Huff’s Greatest Hits (Classic Soul/Funk)  Sometimes I think that as music fans we get too sophisticated for our own good. Many people would see an album like this featuring: The O'Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, The 3 Degrees, People's Choice, The Intruders and Billy Paul and pass it by, with the idea that either they already have these songs or that they have heard them all before. On one level they would be correct, however I do think that it's useful to be able to go back and listen to a compilation like this, because the whole is indeed larger than the sum of it's parts. And one of the things that makes it so is the contribution of MFSB underneath of it all (but more on them later). Here is my track by track review...(continued here....) --Bob Davis Look for these all of these songs playing on Classic RnB @ RadioIO.com Album Review: Marcus Miller- Marcus (Jazz/Funk/Soul)  Marcus Miller is one of those ubiquitous types. Seeing his name on an album may induce reactions spanning from "My man~!!" or "Marcus, again?" to the dreaded "Ummm". That's the territory where uniquely talented extremely busy types reside. We can take them to heart....and we can take them for granted. I mean in 2008 Marcus Miller shares relevancy with George Duke, Lil Wayne and Louie Vega. Musical types who in their chosen idiom are just.........everywhere. But the reason why they ARE everywhere is because their colleagues, be it fellow producers, rappers, remixers and lastly record buyers hold them in high esteem. It's just that it seems Marcus is ALWAYS around. I mean, this CD actually WAS already around last year. With a different cover. So the sense of Deja VU is on EXTRA TAKE FOR GRANTED. Don't let that happen. Marcus knew you got lost. Marcus felt all of you rushing past him to get to that Victor Wooten concert. So, he repackaged last years import-only CD with a new cover. Improved re-mastering and a bonus last-cut-on-the-CD retake of his version of Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" using the spoken word talent of actress and since **That F'N Pimp movie** I guess, now spoken word vocalist Taraji P. Henson. As is standard for the modern Soul/Jazz CD there are musical guests: Corrine Bailey Rae turns in a better than decent version of "Free." It won't replace your memories of Deniece Williams but it wont insult you either. Keb' Mo guests on an original tune written by himself and Marc called "Milky Way." A nice weaving in-and-out of their styles. A lot smoother than you might think it would be....(review continued here) --Donald Cleveland Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com Album Review: The Velons & their Divas (Classic Soul/R&B/Doo Wop)  Watching some of the "tabloid" and what some may regard now as "Human Interest" pieces, I end up "having" to keep up with and acknowledge "American Idle". That coupled with some of the various music sources I stumble onto, I hear what is, now taken as normal, a lot of histrionic "singing". A lot of hollering, squeezing as many notes as one can in from two beats to a whole measure. Very athletic for sure. The "notes" and the amount of notes, apparently, have become more important than the words and the story the "singer" is telling. In the end, this "style" has rendered much of the music and the performers neutralized by the "sameness" in delivery. One has to go "off the grid",to get something that offers a total wall of music, where the music, the story and the performers are in concert; complimentary to one another. What a concept! A musical balance!!! OFF THE GRID....HERE'S ONE!!!!THE VELONS and Their DIVAS is a collection of songs and stories done clean and polished with style and technique. Less is MORE!!! As one can expect from experienced performers, this is a project where there is a soothing balance of solid musical arrangements sitting beneath some "Classy" vocal performances. These are PROS in the true sense of the word, performance wise. The VELONS, the featured artists on this album, The JEWELS and The CLICKETTES demonstrate a dying art in American Pop music.....Group Harmony Singing. Not the presentations that managed to pop up over the last 10 or 20 years, where you have a lead and a background competing with that lead. NOT HERE! The "Lead" is the "LEAD" and the "Background" is the "BACKGROUND"!! WHAT A CONCEPT! You "get" the story/lyrics, and a support to that story/lyric where the background serves that "role" where an orchestra of horns and strings aren't necessary to fill the musical space.....(review continued here) --Earl Gregory Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com Album Review: Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear [Extra Tracks] [Original Recording Remastered] (The Godfather of Nu Soul) ![Click Here to get more info about Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear [Extra Tracks] [Original Recording Remastered]](http://www.soul-patrol.com/newsletter/2008/news3/marvin.jpg) Perhaps some of you out there will recall an old movie called "The Big Clock" starring Ray Milland and Charles Laughton? In the movie Ray Milland is hired by Charles Laughton to find a murderer. Of course the big twist at the end of the movie is that the murderer is the very same person who hired him in the first place, Charles Laughton!!!Sometimes, as I go thru my own "detective work" in the arena of Black music, I feel like Ray Milland's character must have felt at the end of "The Big Clock." Today is yet another one of those days. When it comes to questions about Black music, the at least a part of the answer for me always seems to come back to the tortured genius of Marvin Gaye. And how fortunate we are at this time in the history of Black music, a critical time it is indeed to be presented with an album of new music from our friend Marvin Gaye. This is a time for Black music to reinvent itself and we have been in the midst of that reinvention for most of this decade. We now have what is fundamentally a new album from Marvin Gaye to use as a reference point to insure that the framework for the construction project being undertaken by today's artists (especially those who claim Marvin Gaye an influence) is adhered to properly. "Old headz", won't like this album. There is absolutly zero "nostalgia value" here. This is an album that isn't about the past. It's about the future... Today's male artists always claim a holy trinity of influence: "StevieWonderDonnyHathawayMarvinGaye". They recite it almost as if it's a singular "Web 2.0 phrase". The reality is that what most of them do is to pick the most boring (& least challenging) aspects of Stevie Wonder & Donny Hathaway, mimic those and call it a day (ex: John Legend). Zzzzzzzzzzzz There is good reason why artists avoid the essence of Marvin Gaye. To enter the world of Marvin Gaye, means that you must be willing to create art that might be dangerous to you not only on a musical level, but on a personal level as well. Marvin Gaye was a genius, but he was also "crazy" and he lived on the edge to such an extent that the very same personal issues he spoke of so eloquently in his music are no doubt the same issues that caused his early death. Attempting to create art in a similar mode, might just cause a similar end result? This is an artistic challenge that few "sane" people are willing to undertake....(click here to continue) --Bob Davis Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com PHILADELPHIA SOUL-PATROL EVENT: An Evening With VICTOR WOOTEN @ the Keswick Theater, April 1, 2008  I did not write this review, but I was at the concert.This was written by Soul-Patrol's Philly coordinator David Brooks (Dr. Brookenstien). One of the things about most concert reviews that I don't like is that very rarely is.... :::THE TRUTH EVER TOLD::: (that's because there are always "some people" who DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH) And that is a shame, cuz if there is anyplace where THE TRUTH IS OBVIOUS FOR ALL TO SEE, it is AT A CONCERT Well I was there @ the Keswick and let me tell you something... DR. BROOKENSTIEN IS TELLIN YALL THE TRUTH ABOUT VICTA :::::and I am glad that I was there to bear witness to it::::: (and I am STILL in "recovery mode" myself, two days after the concert is over) --Bob Davis --------------------------------------------------- Review of VICTOR WOOTEN At The Keswick Theatre - Glenside, PA (4-1-08) ******************************************************** Okay, funk fans...here it goes.....a review from the Victor Wooten show at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, PA (4/1/08)....please bear me as I may have momentary lapses of unconsciousness during this review.... UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT 26 HOURS OR SO AGO, I WAS SUBJECTED TO THE MOST POTENT, POTENTIALLY LETHAL DRUG EVER KNOWN TO MAN.....NO, NOT HEROIN....NO, NOT PCP....NO, NOT CRACK......I'M TALKING ABOUT VICTOR WOOTEN AND HIS BAND OF VIRTUOSOS!!!! UNDERSTAND THAT I JUST WOKE UP ABOUT A HOUR AGO!! I'M TALKING ABOUT SOME BRAIN DAMAGE GOIN' ON HERE!! And as the Prince song (1999) goes, "I was dreamin' when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray!" At 7:45pm, the nearly sold-out theatre was exposed to musicians playing a terrifying blend of funk, jazz and world music, under the guidance of possibly the best bass virtuoso on this side of the galaxy, MR. VICTOR WOOTEN!! "Cambo" was the first song (a nasty funk-jazz tune) featuring violin riffs and chant vocals by Ali......the basswork of Victor was fast and in-your-face nasty-funky!!.....(click here for the rest of the review) Concert Review: SMOKEY ROBINSON @ VAN WEZEL in SARASOTA,FL (All I can say is DAAAAMMMMMNNNN!!!!)  SMOKEY was in town!!! Fortunately I had the night off and got to attend. I went as a "reviewer" for Soul-Patrol and not as a fan. That didn't take long to change.So often we go to shows with a certain level of anticipation and expectation. Hey....it's SMOKEY. With all the hits and the history, it's going to be a good show. WRONG!!!! This was a GREAT show. He came out "clean". Gold glitter suit walking out to the vamp leading into "Going to a Go Go". Even had some cute little "honeys" in "Go-Go" outfits, dancing as was done "back in the day". Great opening, the band was smooth and tight; grove was happening, as expected. "I Second That Emotion" was next and again, happening. Groove on, and Smokey was sounding better than I remembered him a few years ago here. He got the audience involved with "You Really Got a Hold on Me". The "room" was in! NOW!!! It was as though he decided get to laying some "Smokey" down...(review continued here) --Earl Gregory Album Review: Bob Baldwin - "NewUrbanJazz.com" (Jazz/Funk/Rap/Soul)  What a great album title and it really tells you everything that you need to understand about the "vibe" as well as the intent of this album. The first clue that we are really in for some "out of the box" type of thinking is the presence of singer Jocelyn Brown. Of course we know Jocelyn Brown best from her massive disco hit, the immortal "Somebody Else's Guy". Now as some of you might recall, the song "Somebody Else's Guy" wasn't just a "disco hit", it was actually something more. It was a club hit in Black disco's of the 1980's, after disco had once again become segregated. By then we had taken several steps backwards in our society and the Black discos of the 1980's became very upscale types of places. This was the beginning of the "buppie" (Black Urban Professional) lifestyle in big cities across the country, populated with folks who remembered the 1970's, but who were slowly adopting an alternate set of values......(click here to read the rest of the review) Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Norman Kelsey - A Talent For Lovers (Funk/Rock/Soul)  Norman Kelsey's album is what I would expect the "first Lenny Kravitz album" (see below) to sound like. It's full of better than average rock, soul, funk, pop songs. Simple 3 minute songs with hooks, that you can bop down the boardwalk to while you snap your finger. It's also got a few GREAT songs, that would be automatic hit records if they could be heard by the masses. And it shows a hell of a lot of potential for the artist himself to become a "universal fusion artist." It's the kind of an album that you can put on, leave on and think that you are listening to a Top 40 radio station from back in the day, playing a diverse set of music that somehow all "works together." The album as a whole reminds me of hanging out at the beach all summer and hearing great summer songs coming out of tiny transistor radios, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, that get played on BOTH the Black stations and the white stations. Buy this album now, it gets better and better with each listen, but wait till the summertime to play it for your friends, so that they can become hooked on this album, and not even realize why. Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Jason Miles - Soul Summit (Featuring: Bob Babbit, Karl Denson, Richard Elliott, Steve Ferrone, Mike Mattison, Maysa, Jason Miles, Susan Tedeschi, Reggie Young) (Great Black Music From The Ancient To The Future)  For all practical purposes I reviewed this newly released album a year ago. You can read what I wrote about it here. For the past few years musical visionary Jason Miles has been on a one man crusade to save Black music from destroying itself, by helping it to remember what it once was. Very quietly (unfortunately) over the past few years, he has put out an exciting series of "CTIesque" albums that on the surface might appear to be "tribute albums." However these albums are less tributes than an opportunity to reexamine the majestic artistry of like Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Grover Washington Jr, and others inside of a contemporary context. Jason's albums are meant less for those who are old enough to remember and more for those who aren't old enough to remember.Soul Summit is a live recording of a magnificent concert that I was fortunate enough to attend in the spring of 2007 @ the Berks Jazz Festival. With the vocals anchored by singers like Susan Tedeshi & Maysa Leek and heavy duty funk players like Steven Feronne, Karl Denson and others, the Soul Summit concert is nothing less than a modern day re-creation of the great stage shows that one could see damn near on a daily basis at legendary venues like the Apollo, the Howard, the Royal, the Uptown and others that once formed the golden jewels of what was known as the "chitlin circuit"......(continue reading the review) Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Conya Doss - Still (Nu Soul/Pop)  As you might well imagine, I get a whole lot of new music submitted to me every year, from many different sources (major labels, indy labels, indy artists). Some of that music is awful and some of that music is outstanding. However the vast majority of the music submitted is "average." If I were to plot a graph the overall "quality distribution" of the music that is submitted to Soul-Patrol.com would look exactly like the old "bell curve." We all remember the "bell curve" from high school. The far extremities of the curve are close to the "x-axis", and in the middle is a great big hump that makes the curve look like a "bell." In Soul-Patrol's "musical quality distribution bell curve", the left extremity represents the music submitted that is pure crap and basically un-listenable. The right extremity represents music submitted that is outstanding. The big hump in the middle represents the vast majority, which is "average in quality." The only music I ever write a review of, is music that falls into the far right hand side of the "bell curve." That's because I don't believe that any of you out there are interested in me telling you about music that is "average." My belief is that you only want me to bother telling you about music that is outstanding. You can find out about "average music" someplace else. This brings me to Conya Doss and her new album entitled "STILL." In my opinion you don't have to think twice about it. This album should be on your "short list" of albums to buy in 2008, since I know yall are more into obtaining your music without paying for it these days....(Click here to read the rest of the review) You can listen to the music of Conya Doss here on Radioio.com on both the Nu Soul @ RadioIO and RnB Mix Channels. --Bob Davis 609-351-0154 earthjuice@prodigy.net Taj Mahal Interview/Profile (Blues Cruise Diary)  When I started this piece it was going to be a diary of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise of that embarked from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 13, 2008.Looking back through my notes though, perhaps the only worthy note I made was on day 1 where I wrote: Bumped into Irma Thomas. "Not doing bad for an old broad," sez she upon my inquiry. Claimed a little frustration at being given bad directions. I introduce myself as the author of the feature article on her that appeared in the Feb/Mar 2007 issue of BLUES REVUE Magazine. After a warm handshake we pledge to hook up later…" It became clear before the first day was done that the diary concept would fall short in terms of conveying to the Soul-Patrol readership the tons of fun, music, history and information that was forthcoming from the artists on board. Taj Mahal, the "Grand Marshall" of the cruise afforded me an opportunity for an exclusive interview, most certainly African in its points of origin, yet globally universal in its content. There is no question in my mind that it belongs on Soul-Patrol. Approaching the halfway point in the weeklong cruise, the ship docked at the island of St. Croix. Taj came off the ship to headline the St. Croix Music Festival. He reached the stage at about 9:30 p.m. after a daylong lineup of great music. The crowd was jubilant and in the zone. I noticed that during some up-tempo numbers, Taj's singing voice slips into what I perceived as kind of an "alter ego", lower register voice that seemed to inject spurts of party down, dancing energy into the crowd. I asked Taj about that alter ego and he clarified my perception by saying, "that voice exists deeply in Africa. It's a spirit channeling voice. You find it in West Africa, Central and South.....(continued here) --T. Watts Album Review: Maceo Parker - Roots and Grooves (Jazz/Funk/Soul)  Do you like live albums? (I do). That's because I like going to concerts and this album is kinda like listening to a "dream concert." This album consists of a 2 CD set and it's really like two separate albums in one package. The first disc is a live set featuring Maceo leading a big band doing a super hellified, largely instrumental tribute to Ray Charles. The second disc is a live set featuring Maceo leading a big band doing a real greasy funk concert, that ends with a 17 minute long live version of "Pass The peas". I have no clue as to who could possibly not like this album. If you are a person reading this review it means that you are already pre-disposed to really digging this album. I can't imagine that you wouldn't like it. There aren't any surprises here, just like the title says, it's "roots and grooves", nothing more and nothing less. If you have any hint of a "glide to your stride", "bounce to your ounce", no matter how small you are going to be immediately transported to a place called "planet groove" as soon as you put this album into your CD player. And if you need more than TWO HOURS OF LIVE STANK AZZ GREAZY ROOTS & GROOVES in one sitting, then come and see me, because that means you are a funkateer in desperate need of medical attention. However if you are a country music fan, you might not want to listen to this album unless you want your hair to turn nappy.
Check out Maceo Parker - Roots and Groove at: Maceo Parker - Roots and Groove Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Rose Stone - "Already Motivated" (Soul/Funk)  For those of you, who were disappointed by the recent debacle at BB Kings in NYC last fall, can now understand just why Rose Stone declined to participate. That's cuz she had this gem of an album waiting for us. Rose Stone for those of you who may have forgotten or are too young to remember is in possession of one of the most glorious voices in the history of Black music. On songs like "Everybody is a Star", "Hot Fun in the Summertime", and others from the Sly & the Family Stone catalog, it was the voice of Rose Stone that carried the day. Fast forward to 2008, that voice is still there as is the message. In some ways this album is a perfect bookend to her brother Freddie Stone's 2002 solo album called "Everywhere You Are." Containing strong messages about personal behavior and it's impact on top of funky guitars, horns, drums and keyboards, along with a couple of nod's to the past of Sly & the Family Stone. This is a very tasty album of contemporary soul/funk.My favorite song on the album is called "Sooner or Later (Family Stone)", with Rose & Freddie Stone on lead vocals, backed up by Cynthia Robinson & Jerry Martini on horns, Rusty Allen on bass, Greg Enrico on drums plus Rose & Freddie on keyboard & guitar respectively. As you can see from that line up, this song just might be the closest we get to a real (unlike the fall/winter BB Kings debacle) Sly & the Family Stone reunion....(continued here) Look for these songs playing as as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Lenny Kravitz - It's Time For a Love Revolution (Boring Azz Pseudo Beatles/Soft Rock/Elevator Music)  If I told you that there are two songs out of fourteen tracks on an album that have any musical value whatsoever, would you pay $18.99 just to get those two songs during the great Amerikkkan recession of 2008? I would truly like to be able to start this review off by telling you that this album is the bomb, especially since my opinion has long been that Lenny Kravitz is the guy who is supposed to save Black music from itself. However I can't do that with any sense of responsibility for your pocketbook in these times of economic uncertainty.We all have at least one member of our family that is like Lenny Kravitz's music. We love them dearly, but they just won't do right. They lead their lives by "skating." They never actually end up on welfare, homeless or addicted to crack. They usually have a job, but not always. They usually take care of their children, but not always. Their phone is usually shut on, but not always. Every once in a blue moon, they do something great and they make us smile, because for a brief moment it looks like they are about to fully embrace the potential that we all knew that they would ever since we knew them as kids. And then just as quickly they turn around and revert to their by now predictable behavior. You know that they can do better, they just don't, and very possibly never will. The worst part is that YOU KNOW, that THEY KNOW, that THEY CAN DO BETTER, but choose not to for reasons that aren't clear. The easiest thing to do is to say nothing and let that family member continue to "skate", but you also know that if you say nothing it really isn't in anyone's best interest. Lenny Kravitz on paper is the perfect artist for this time in history. Musically he should represent quite literally the same type of "universal fusion" as Barack Obama represents politically. Unfortunately for Lenny he doesn't seem to be capable of creating a good album precisely at the moment in time that history demands that he does. As a music fan I am disappointed that Lenny has turned in a terrible album. However as a cultural commentator, I am even more disappointed that Lenny missed out on his chance to unify all of the people who potentially he can, thru his music. This was certainly his moment to do so. Perhaps this moment in time will come again? (but I doubt it).....(continued here) Check out Lenny Kravitz - It's Time For a Love Revolution at: Lenny Kravitz - It's Time For a Love Revolution Look for one of these songs to appear as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits (Revolutionary Pop)  1. I'll Never Fall In Love Again 2. Walk On By 3. This Guy's In Love With You 4. Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head 5. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 6. Close To You 7. Trains & Boats & Planes 8. A House Is Not a Home 9. I Say a Little Prayer 10. Alfie 11. Wives & Lovers This album is technically a Chess records reissue, originally released in 1972, back when I was in 11th grade and wouldn't have paid it any mind because this album doesn't have anything to do with pushing any teenaged girls up against a basement wall in the dark. I don't think that anyone else paid any attention to it either, so for all practical purposes, it's a brand new album. However if you are a little older than an 11th grader, you will find quite a bit here to enjoy and savor with your significant other, who should also be a bit beyond the 11th grade as well. If you are looking for outakes from the "70's Soul Jam", just keep on steppin. Because if you dare to stick THIS album into your CD player, ger ready instead for some "revolutionary pop music." There are those times when it becomes a requirement to listen to an album in the manner that an album was meant to be listened to. Especially when it comes to listening to a blast from the past, that embodies all that I thought that I knew, but in reality never really knew, until this particular moment in time. An album in my opinion was meant to be listened to as if it was an event. Back in the day, the mere purchase of an album was cause in and of itself to be a celebration. It meant that you would at some point in time, shortly after making the purchase allocate a period of time to do nothing else but just listen to that album, preferably with headphones on. So when you listen to this album, don't do what I did, instead create an event for yourself to experience all that is going on here, so that you don't miss anything....(continued here) Find out more about this album at: The Dells Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits Look for these songs to appear as "buzz cuts" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Cracked Ice - Soul Noir (Classic Soul)  Real quick, if you look at the artist name, the title and the album cover you might think that this album was made by some "downtown neo-soul heads." Well not only would you be wrong, but you would also be presently surprised by the music contained. This is a brand new album containing a very strong/dated 1960's R&B kinda sound. In fact it's the very same sound that just won 5 Grammy Awards. It's Stevie Ray Vaughn meets Wilson Pickett meets Dusty Springfield meets Clarence Carter for those of you over the age of 45. For those of you who are under 45 it's Doyle Braham II meets Amy Winehouse meets Ryan Shaw meets the Dapkings. It's the music of the past and the music of the future at the same time. And right now it seems that 1960's based R&B music has suddenly become the hippest music on the planet. Don't let the title, the name of the artist fool you, you would be making a mistake if you glossed over this album. It's a brand new album of Classic Soul plain and simple. It's got saxophones, trumpets, piano's, drums, guitars and human beings singing alone and singing with each other. I could see this album being big in the "heartland", but ignored by New York and Los Angeles. But when New York and Los Angeles "discover" it they will get on the train also. They won't have any choice, it's the same train that Obama is the conductor of. This album is already a huge hit on the Beach Music charts!!!Find out more about this album at: Cracked Ice - Soul Noir Look for these songs to appear "heavy rotation" on Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com --Bob Davis Album Review: Various Artists - Soulsville Sings Hitsville (Classic Soul)  On the surface, this is an album that you might consider to be "hokey", but ya gotta actually listen to it. First of all it contains several GREAT songs that if you are a Classic Soul fan, you no doubt already own. Hearing the Staples Singers "You've Got To Earn It", written by Smokey Robinson, which in fact reached #9 on the R&B charts back in 1971 is a real treat if you haven't heard it in a while. It contains strong horns & bass along with a muted blues harp all brought together by the beautiful voice of Mavis Staples. Hearing Isaac Hayes cover the Jackson Five's "Never Can Say Goodbye", which reached #5 on the R&B charts back in 1971 as well reminds us of just how powerful Isaac Hayes was and just how much of a "Midas touch" he had during that time. There are a few surprises here as well. For example there is "OH BE MY LOVE", a song originally done by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, that is one of my favorite Miracles songs. To my ears it's a song that should never be touched by anyone else....lol. However Barbara Lewis turns in a surprisingly good cover version of it. Another example is John Gary Williams cover of the Four Tops "Just Ask The Lonely", in which he turns the up-tempo Motown classic into a MONSTER SLOW JAM. Yet another is the Soul Children's deconstruction of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" into another MONSTER SLOW JAM. This is far from being an essential album to own, but if you are a hardcore Soul music fan you will want to have this album, just on "GP." And when you listen to it, you are gonna smile a whole lot more than you thought that you would.Find out more about this album at: Soulsville Sings Hitsville Look for these songs to appear "in rotation" on CLASSIC RnB @ RadioIo.com --Bob Davis Concert Review: Nadir @ BAM Café (2/9/2008) (Great Black Music From the Ancient To The Future)  "If the bump ain't crunk,if the funk ain't pumpin' with the thump in the trunk, then the bump ain't bumpin'! You just gotta Leave It Alone, Leave It Alone!" As a few of you know, I have been really, really busy of late. In fact I have been so busy that I haven't been able to get out and see many shows in 2008. This may well be the only show that I see in 2008. (sike....I'll be seeing Ryan Shaw this week in NYC). I haven't been able to even find the time till now, to write this review of Nadir's show. But hear it is and let me start out by saying that if this were going to be the only live show that I saw in 2008, I would be alright with that. Nadir put on an outstanding show, but more importantly he proved to me that he has a rare quality in a modern artist, in that he is able to also overcome "adversity." I am an unabashed fan of Nadir's music and have been since I first heard his award winning 2005 album entitled "Distorted Soul 2.0." Not only is "Distorted Soul 2.0." one of the FUNKIEST albums of the decade (and therefore the century), it is a "throwback." This album is a "throwback" because unlike most albums produced in "post 9-11 amerikkka" it actually has something to say about the past, present and future of our society. Therefore it's no surprise that Nadir is also the Michigan State representative for MTV's Street Team 08, where he serves as one of MTV's 2008 Presidential Election reporters. (hell yeah, this ia a brotha we need to be proud of!!!!) I strongly advise you to go to Nadir's site: http://www.distortedsoul.com and check out what he's got to offer. It's music +" and as badd as Nadir's music is, it's the "+" that is indeed the key... I arrived at the BAM Café (http://www.bam.org) early because I had told Nadir that I would be there for the sound check and sure enough he was in the lobby accompanied by his backup musicians for the evening. As I greeted Nadir, I also greeted the members of the local NYC based Funk/Rock band called Rhythm Republik. I know Rhythm Republik and their music quite well, they are an "average" band and this was the first level of adversity for Nadir to overcome......(review continued here) --Bob Davis Black Music @ RadioIO.com 
In terms of "coverage" here is the entire suite of RadioIO outlets, covering 3 different types of familiar radio listening experiences (Catalog, New/Current & Combo): TWO CATALOG STATIONS: (stations frozen in time) - Classic RnB @ RadioIo.com: R&B Oldies from the Classic R&B/Soul era (late 1950's - early 1980's) http://www.radioio.com/channels/classic-rnb Classic HipHop @ RadioIo.com: Hip Hop Oldies, pre gangsta (late 1970's - early 1990's) http://www.radioio.com/channels/rnb-mix TWO NEW MUSIC STATIONS: (current/new releases going back 5 years) - Today's RnB @ RadioIO.com: Youth oriented. current day R&B/Hip Hop http://www.radioio.com/channels/todays-rnb - Nu Soul @ RadioIO.com: Adult oriented eclectic mix of new Neo Soul, Classic Soul, Jazz, Southern Soul, Rap, Dance & Funk RnB Mix @ RadioIO.com: Adult oriented 80's, 90's & 2000's oldies + current music pulled from the Nu Soul station http://www.radioio.com/channels/rnb-mix 
WILL DOWNING - AFTER TONIGHT: Listen to the Soul-Patrol.Net broadcast on Will Downing's new album called AFTER TONIGHT. Featuring commentary & analysis from Nightrain and brotha ELP ALBUM REVIEW - Will Downing: "After Tonight" 
There will never be another Barry White. There will never be another Luther or Lucian. Isaac is still around but not "really" active in a contemporary sense. We are left with the likes of WILL DOWNING....but with the album "AFTER TONIGHT"...that is NOT a bad thing.Perhaps it is unfair to use such legendary artists as the measuring tool for the efforts of their successors. Yet, at the same time, they have established a demand on those successors to, at the very least, follow the clear path they blazed to success and greatness, and in the end, isn't that what we want to hear? This isn't an "easy listen". It is a "Soulful Listen". You get that right away with "Will's Groove". From track to track and at times with the help of some other gifted performers, this album runs the gamete from "Pure Soul" to NuSoul and "just a hint of Jazz" throughout. Click hear to read more on Will Downing and his new album....  http://www.soul-patrol.com/album http://www.soul-patrol.com/album If you would like to ask a question about Soul-Patrol feel free to contact the owner Bob Davis.
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If you would like to ask a question about Soul-Patrol feel free to contact the owner Bob Davis. |
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