Jazz? Soul? A Bit of Both and Lots of Good Vibes on ‘I Told You So’
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio channel the organ soul-jazz of Jimmy Smith and Booker T. on their second LP, I Told You So.
funk
Daptone Records’ Gabriel Roth on Sharon Jones and the Power of Music
A recent compilation of rare covers by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings only highlights what we've long known. Soul music is of a rare and special breed capable of uniting people across many societal lines.
Moonlight Breakfast Get Funky on “STOP”
Romanian duo Moonlight Breakfast blend synthpop and disco into a highly addictive funky confection on "STOP".
24-Carat Black’s ‘Ghetto’ Is the Most Sampled Album Never Heard
33 1/3 book 24-Carat Black's Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth, is a refreshing outlier in the series in that it's about an influential yet barely known album.
New Compilation Collects Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ Covers
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings always brought joy and energy to their music. Hearing them cut loose on these covers lets us appreciate the verve with which they approached their art in any setting.
Electrosoul’s SAULT Center Themselves Around Blackness on ‘UNTITLED (Black Is)’
Mysterious electrosoul ensemble SAULT's UNTITLED (Black Is) is a stellar, uplifting record informed by timeless struggle, solidarity, and pride.
Making a Masterpiece: An Interview with Legendary Composer Valerie Simpson
Fifty years after Ashford & Simpson gave Diana Ross her first number one solo hit with "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Valerie Simpson reflects on a lifetime of writing chart-topping anthems for Motown and beyond.
Prince and the New Power Generation – ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ (Between the Grooves)
"Between the Grooves" take a deep dive into Prince's Diamonds and Pearls. The album offers explorations into the mysterious/strange sexual side of Prince, his preachy/pedantic side, and also his relaxed/smooth side.
Patrick Cowley Remade Funk and Disco on ‘Some Funkettes’
Patrick Cowley's Some Funkettes sports instrumental renditions from between 1975-1977 of songs previously made popular by Donna Summer, Herbie Hancock, the Temptations, and others.
The Budos Band Prove They Are Not ‘Long in the Tooth’
The Budos Band are more ferociously funky than ever with their 15th-anniversary album, Long in the Tooth.