Sometimes I feel like I “can’t last a day” without another Faith album. Guess I’ll have to settle for her guesting on a track from Lady Tee’s forthcoming album. Sigh. [via Adventures of an Audio Diva]
Is it fair to hold artists musically captive with our personal expectations? Weigh in over at Soundnexx.
Where in the world is Alice Smith indeed? Yet, I’m sure Keylolo Cole will have another album out by year’s end. [via Soul Bounce]
One of the highlights of Essence Festival this summer will be seeing the reunion of En Vogue up close and personal. Until then, watch footage of them performing on the Trumpet Awards. [via Pinboard]
Omar was in LA a couple nights ago. I wonder if he turned it out like he did in DC. Hell, I know he did! If you were there, tell me about it in the comments. [via Beatlife]
It’s on and poppin baby! Rock the Bells 2009 lineup has been announced by one of the nicest freestylers in the game. As hot as the lineup is, I hope Q-Tip, Meth and Red are among the special guests that pop up.
As always, support these blogs and the music they promote. Leave a comment or two!
I know, you’ve heard it all before. It’s true every single time. That’s just the life I live.
It started on Thursday night with Teedra Moses and Muhsinah. Fresh from her show in NYC, Teedra came on down to DC for two nights to show love to the place that always gives that love right back to her ten-fold.
After Muhsinah performed about six songs to warm up the crowd, Teedra took the stage in a figure-flattering, butter-colored wrap dress. She opened her set with one of my favorites, “You’ll Never Find.”
The more she moved and grooved, the wrap dress did what they do unless pinned – unwrap!
Code 10, Woman down, tittays out.
The show must go on and Teedra handled it like a real G. She simply stepped to the side and handled her business while performing the title track from her album, “Complex Simplicity.”
The wardrobe malfunction made us love her even more.
Unlike last time she was in DC, she performed a full set, hitting most of the crowd favorites. I’m glad she got the memo cause I would have been more than happy to call her out again – in a loving way of course.
Just like last year, there’s no word on when we’ll get an official album release. Meanwhile, we’ll have to continue to enjoy her mixtape, Young Hustla Vol II: Live from the Jungle and her live performances.
Here are a couple of videos I captured of her set. You know the drill. The full set is over on the You Tube channel. I’m sure you all know that though since you’re subscribed. Right? Muhsinah’s entire set is there as well.
New music from the album (whenever that will be!)
Cover of the Gap Band’s “Yearning for Your Love”
I had occasion to meet her briefly after the show and take pictures but they turned out terribly so I won’t embarrass myself by posting them. However, in that brief time, she was as warm and sweet as she comes across on stage.
Whatever she puts out, please support it. I just wish she would go the independent route and put her own stuff out. Her base is strong and would definitely cop it. They are yearning for it. Let’s hope she delivers…and soon!
Stay turned for a review of the next night’s show…Omar!
I have to admit that my knowledge is lacking. Mama Vivrant Thang was never really into jazz so it wasn’t played much around the house. She did love Kenny G though and I remember his being one of my first live performances. I also “inherited” several of his albums during my last crate digging mission.
The number of jazz albums in my collection is unusually slim. Seems strange for someone who has attended the Capital Jazz Fest (rain or shine) for five years running; for someone whose favorite Saturday night date place is an intimate spot known for its strong drinks and impromptu jazz jam sessions; and for someone who had a lead role in a college production about Charlie “Bird” Parker.
Time for my collection to reflect it.
Question is – where to start?
Jazz is like a tree which has sprouted many, many branches since the beginning of the 20th century. If I was to include the music of some of those branches like smooth jazz, acid jazz, latin jazz, or nu-jazz, I could say that my collection is indeed more reflective of my love for the genre
However, what I’m talking about is the absence of the music of the forefathers and foremothers – the artists whose music shaped and defined the genre and gave birth to the many fusions that are more popular today.
I need more Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker, Bessie Smith, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Taylor, Billie Holiday (large black and white poster of her on my wall. Sin not to own any of her albums.)
Thought I’d share just a few of the songs that have been on repeat for me this month. I’ve been having some stressful days at work lately and jazz has always had a soothing effect on me.
For those that are just getting into jazz or perhaps only have a couple of tracks here and there on your playlists, share those as well in the comments.
Here is what I found while perusing the musical blogosphere this week.
Add these blogs to your feeds. Leave a comment. Support real music.
This is the remix! Some of you weren’t feeling the Chrisette Michele single, “Ephiphany” on first listen. Maybe you’ll like the remix featuring Rick Ross and Juelz Santana better? [via Pinboard]
Lisa Shaw’s new album Free has been in heavy rotation on the pod. Watch her video for “Tomorrow” and download “Can You See Him” for free.99. [via Beatlife]
“Might Not Be” from the upcoming album, 4:15, is hot like Ayah indeed. Give it a listen and let her know what you think. Summer soundtrack anyone? [via Soul Bounce]
I mentioned that I took a brief trip down to Atlanta in part to get away and also to see Julie Dexter and Heston in concert. Ya’ll know that I travel up and down the East Coast in a New York minute for a show. Besides, airfares have been fairly reasonable lately and I’m blessed to have people down there I could crash with.
I have been hungry for some new music from Julie every since her appearance on one of my favorite tracks of 2008, “How Sweet Life Is” with Angela Johnson. Angela appears on a track on Heston’s album. It’s one big happy musical family! I saw Julie in concert once a couple of summers ago when she was here for the African American Heritage Festival in Baltimore. That was before I became an amateur videographer. I would look at my “blog godmother” Butta of Soul Bounce like she was nuts when she would be rushing up to get video at these shows. Here I am almost 700 videos later and I actually feel slightly uncomfortable at a show if I’m unable to record. For some reason, I don’t remember much about Julie’s set that day but her music has always spoken to me and I was anxious to see her again live.
Heston is an artist that has always been on my radar since his album, Storyteller got such rave reviews over at Soul Tracks. When I mentioned on Twitter, that I was considering the show, I got major encouragement to head on down and check him out. Doesn’t take much to convince me!
The music gods were smiling on me because I managed to get into this show for free.99. However, it was certainly a show worth paying for and I did support the artists with album purchases.
Julie, who many call the Queen of UK Soul, has now made a home in the Atlanta area and it shows. I’m not sure whether it was the comfort of performing in front of a home crowd or the fact that she was recording a live DVD (The Julie Dexter Collection out this year), but it’s an understatement to say that from the moment she took the stage, she showed up and showed out. She performed a full set of about fifteen songs, a good blend of old material, cover tracks and a new piece from her album that will be out sometime this year. You can find the whole set over on my You Tube channel.
Julie had some heavy hitters in the Atlanta music scene sitting in on her set such as Phil Davis, Joel Powell, Russell Gunn, Kebbi Williams, and Brandon Thomas. As I learned with seeing Jazmine Sullivan in concert this summer, if the band ain’t on point, it throws the whole set off. Julie is a seasoned artist and I know she would have nothing but the best joining her on stage.
As you watch some of the videos, you may recognize Lil John Roberts, who most of us outside the Atlanta area know as the future Mr. Jill Scott. However, his musical genius is well-known in the peach state.
Julie opened her set by killing a medley of Beyonce’s “Deja Vu” and Michael Jackson’s “Off the Wall.”
One of my favorite performances of the night by far, “Black Girls Rule the World”
HOT afrobeat styling of her classic “Choices”
“What Do I Do” – showcasing her background singers, Alex Lattimoreand Rhonda Thomas both of whom I said need their own albums. Turns out that Rhonda does in fact have an album out and she’s opening up for Omar and Eric Roberson over the next few weeks. Check her out.
By the time Heston took the stage, the hour was growing late but the energy was still high. This was my first time hearing his music and from the first few notes, he had found a fan in me. I immediately was drawn in by his sound and his performance style. He performed a set of about eight songs including tracks from his debut self-titled album (which I have to get my hands on) and Storyteller as well as a couple of Bob Marley covers. He flows from soul to reggae quite smoothly.
Check out a few of my favorite performances from the night.
“If” from his debut album is a definite party starter. It was all I could do not to get up and dance with the couple who were getting down in front of the stage.
The heart-wrenching “No Way, No How”
I was excited to hear that he is releasing a new album this year called Warm Human, Cold World. Take a listen to the title track.
I still have a few more videos from his set to upload. I know each and everyone of you are subscribed to the You Tube channel so you shouldn’t miss out. Julie joined him onstage for a Bob Marley cover that you will definitely want to see. They make beautiful music together.
If you’ve enjoyed the video, please support these artists’ past and future projects. They perform often in the Atlanta area so you can be sure to catch them there if you’re from around those parts.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 