Aretha Franklin’s “Best of Aretha 1980-1998,” ST CD Review

Aretha Franklin – Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998      Click on CD cover to listen or purchase “Think.” “Call Me.” “Respect.” “Day Dreaming.” “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman.” Long before I witnessed a live performance and met her backstage in 2008, I’ve recognized and celebrated the magnificence… Continue reading Aretha Franklin’s “Best of Aretha 1980-1998,” ST CD Review

ST, CD Review, Najee’s “Smooth Side of Soul”

http://www.soultracks.com/najee-smooth-side-of-soul-review Najee – The Smooth Side of Soul Click on CD cover to listen or purchase Flirty flute-playing, kinetic keyboard flourishes and, of course, those synergistic, scintillating runs with the sax: thanks to his expertise in composition and musical instrument multi-tasking, Najee has retained his place amongst his peers as one of today’s most popular and… Continue reading ST, CD Review, Najee’s “Smooth Side of Soul”

ST: CD Review, Kirk Whalum’s “Romance Language”

http://www.soultracks.com/kirk-whalum-romance-language-review Kirk Whalum – Romance Language      Click on CD cover to listen or purchase Ever since the release of his album debut, Floppy Disk, in 1985, Memphis, Tennessee native Kirk Whalum has accomplished two enviable feats: incorporated multiple genres (soul, jazz, gospel and blues) into a trademark signature sax style and growing his fan base and… Continue reading ST: CD Review, Kirk Whalum’s “Romance Language”

“Soundtrack For a Revolution,” ST CD Review

http://www.soultracks.com/various-artists-soundtrack-to-a-revolution-review-2 Various Artists – Soundtrack For A Revolution (Review Two)      Click on CD cover to listen or purchase Bigotry, prejudice, rampant racism and inequality based on superficial qualities like gender and race: for every dizzying achievement that surged the United States forward, the ugliness of racism stalled progress, undermined its democracy and murdered the… Continue reading “Soundtrack For a Revolution,” ST CD Review

WILL DOWNING, “TODAY”

http://www.soultracks.com/review-will-downing-today Will Downing – Today (EP)      Click on CD cover to listen or purchase Few artists of his generation or beyond are as consistently and succulently satisfying as veteran singer, songwriter and musician Will Downing.  So experiencing Today, his second EP in an independently released trilogy, is a tautly-executed and tantalizing tease (since he’s… Continue reading WILL DOWNING, “TODAY”