Vesta Williams

This USA songbird pays home age to her musical icons on Shanachie Entertainment’s debut Distant Lover. Vocalists of timeless R&B soul songs like Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, Smokey Robinson, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, Deniece Williams and many others, will be covered by phenomenal vocalist, Vesta Williams. Classic, is the word used in her press kit for Distant Lover, as it means being of the highest, rank or class, which Vesta Williams provides in her raw and emotional vocals. Solid production from her band, as they play out songs by crooners as mentioned above. Use Me by Bill Withers is the starting song, which is probably the strongest out of the ten. Distant Lover, to If You Want Me To Sing, and others, are soulful songs sung well by Vesta Williams.

Shades of J

An average independent soul album from spoken word artist Shades Of J. Some good hidden gems are here, like The Kiss…The Email Thread, a groove which will get you thinking due to its poetry from Shades Of J. Poor songs like Seek The Truth and Mission Statement, offer old sounding beats, with some what bad vocals, along with the tacky Stirring It Up. Shades Of J often expresses sexual desires and needs through her poetry. Under The Influence is a sultry song, possibly the best out of the twelve, and another thing is the albums art work, quite off putting. All harsh journalism aside, Shades Of J often reminds the listener of Jill Scott or Will Downing. Issues With My Phone, a sensitive song, where you can get personal with Shades Of J, as Spoke Word Soul is an intimate and open album through out.

Cinematic Orchestra

The Cinematic Orchestra release Ma Fleur, on NinjaTune, May 7th, 2007. Leading band memeber Jason Swinscoe features vocalists Patrick Watson, Fontella Bass and Lou Rhodes. Ma Fleur was inspired by an unwanted film script. Jason Swinscoe met up with a New York based photographer to take photos, which captured the music for Ma Fleur. Eleven acoustic and soulful songs, Ma Fleur also features very different singers, from very different musical backgrounds. The Cinematic Orchestra compliment each vocalist. To Build A Home is the first stunning song, with Patrick Watson’s captivating blue-eyed soul voice.

Ben Westbeech

Ben Westbeech, a new artist from Bristol, and here on his debut album Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life, Ben Westbeech delivers a fresh and raw sound. Signed to Gilles Petersons record label Brownswood Recordings-Ben Westbeech is an exciting artist to watch out for in the future. This classically trained Cellist, Pianist, and Vocalist. Open's up his album on a good vibe with the first song titled Welcome. Then the brilliant and vibrant So Good Today, to the more drum and bass/soft soul number Nothing Else. Ben Westbeech offers a sense of creative freedom on his impressive and original debut album, Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life. A definite addition to your UK soul collection.

Sa-Ra

This LA/NYC trio, Sa-Ra (Om’Maz Keith, Taz Arnold and Shafiq Husayn), eventually found music industry support in 2007 and released a much anticipated album The Hollywood Sessions. Out on Babygrande Records, an independent American hip-hop label, The Hollywood Sessions was born. Though Sa-Ra bring more of a modern soul vibe than hip-hop. After the release of The Hollywood Sessions, Sa-Ra have experienced a great amount of mainstream attention, and in return the album itself has been a success. Or at least, something Sa-Ra can be proud of. You can find many great artists featured on The Hollywood Sessions but it is soul singers like Rozzie Daime, Erykah Badu and Georgia Anne Muldrow that really ‘compliment’ or ‘fit’ into the Sa-Ra vibe.

Guru

As soon as you hear Cuz I’m Jazzy feat. Slum Village, you wish Guru stopped his classic Jazzmatazz series. Guru’s production is commercial sounding, and his rapping gives the impression that he is thinking of retirement. If you haven’t already collected each Guru series and obsessed over the years about his deep rapping, and musical take on hip-hop, then you will understand why Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 will not impress his dedicated fans. Vol. 4 is simply a good album for those who have never heard of Guru as it features a ray of major talents, as mentioned Slum Village, and Common, Bob James, Damian Marley, Kem, Vivian Green, Raheem DeVaughn, Bobby Valentino, Ronnie Laws, Dionne Farris, Omar, Shelley Hardland, Brownman, Blackalicious, Caron Wheeler and David Sanborn.

Soulisms 2008