The Hot 8 Brass Band

The Hot 8 Brass Band, come from New Orleans, and fuse marching brass, jazz, funk soul and hip-hop. Whats My Name, to Sexual Healing are a few covers that this brass band re-work. After the devastation of Hurricane katrina, they have gone through that but also the injustice that followed. Yet, this album re-assures that music is their only positive message, and they spread up lifting sounds from start to finish. Sexual Healing, the single sold out in a matter of weeks, is a brilliant brass band version of Marvin Gayes soul classic. Though, Whats My Name starts the album with high hopes that this band are strong. We Are One, a slow brass band song, similar to E Flat Blues and the rest of the album you will just have to find out for yourself.

Alison Crockett

Known for being the little woman with a big voice, Alison Crockett releases a low-key album, Bare. Twelve songs, all uncovering a more authentic and mellow Alison Crockett. Since You’ve Been Gone, is a vocal experiment that begins this album, to lead up to a cool beat box and melody. So Sweet is more R&B, where as Everything Is Beautiful, out of the twelve, is the most jazzy but the clear thing on this song is her acoustic approach. Some fans of her previous work may dislike this one off change in musical direction but this only proves how much this artist has to offer.

Chocolate Soul

Produced by Kal & Will G, this Chocolate Soul Compilation III is of various artists from the modern soul and hip-hop genre. Featuring artists such as Kindred The Family Soul, Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony David, Abstract Mindstate, Kanye West, Jurrasic 5 and more. The concept of this compilation is to promote The Margarita King drink. Inside the liner notes there is a host of cock tales listed for your drinking enjoyment.

Algebra

On a musical page of her own, Purpose is an exciting and refreshing honest soul record, that is warm and intimate new soul artist, Algebra. Having met her earlier on in 2007, at The Opium Club, Soho, I learned that this artist is more than just a singer. She is an over all good person. Songs like Nothing To Prove, begin this album confidently, only if Kedar pushed this album it could become quite a hit. Algebra is an independent gem yet to be discovered by many. Her inspiring career would get any major artist envious. Purpose. Is Algebra’s journey, where she shares with us what she has been going through up to now. You Do It For Me, is one of those classic R&B/Soul songs, which will get stuck in your head but will probably never see the light of day.

Brotherly

Brotherly are a London duo formed of a musician and vocalist, they are Brotherly. One Sweet Life was out early in 2007, and Brotherly backed it up by an exclusive Jazz Cafe performance. They mix in electronic style effects, with drum and bass, soul, and nu-jazz influences. Fusions of African drums, and other eclectic instruments, just gives this Brotherly album a new sound and a brilliant contribution to the soulful London scene that is heathily and steadily growing as the years go on.

Norman Jay

Twelve songs of soul, hip hop, jazz, and more enter your ears via two carefully compiled discs. Released August 17th, 2007 on Resiste Records, Norman Jay connects a bunch of great songs together for the benefit of feet and soul. The mix of genres is a mind opener, one’s musical ear may find it takes some adjusting to, however Norman Jay’s own musical expertise helps make the attempt pretty effortless. There are a few strange entries such as Doug Lazy’s ‘Rap House’ song, which for what it is, is rather bland and empty. For soul heads, you’re in for a real treat as there are plenty of soul songs starting with the legendary Eddie Kendricks and the head nodding ‘He’s A Friend’. Then, straight to modern day soul sounds by 4 Hero with Deborah Jordan on vocals, ‘Morning Child Raw’.

Soulisms 2008