No matter what gender, genre or generation one aligns themselves with, you would be hard-pressed to find a music lover who remains unmoved by Earth, Wind & Fire. For nearly half a century, this self-contained band has enthralled audiences around the world with sophisticated arrangements heavily steeped in jazz, funk, soul, gospel and even African… Continue reading Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Now, Then & Forever”: MOC Preview and The ST CD Review
Category: Contemporary Soul/R&B
Janelle Monae: A Glimpse Into “Electric Lady,” The MOC Preview/Knowshi Exclusive
“I would paint and sing at the same time, and I noticed that I was painting the same silhouette over and over,” the 27-year-old revealed at an exclusive listening party in Dallas. Her hotly-anticipated follow-up to 2010′s critically-acclaimed The ArchAndroid, Electric Lady features live instrumentation and notable collaborators like Esperanza Spalding, Miguel, Solange Knowles, Erykah… Continue reading Janelle Monae: A Glimpse Into “Electric Lady,” The MOC Preview/Knowshi Exclusive
Ron Isley’s “This Song Is For You”: The SoulTracks Review & MOC Preview Link
It’s rare to be such a trailblazing icon that your musical imprint spans over half a century and includes multiple genres, but that’s a true statement to describe living legend Ron Isley. That sleek, fluttery tenor has shaped funk jams, social statement songs and yes, those bedroom ballads for so long that even when he’s… Continue reading Ron Isley’s “This Song Is For You”: The SoulTracks Review & MOC Preview Link
Donell Jones: A “Forever” Kind Of Love & Career, MOC Preview/Knowshi Link
You can’t exactly tell from his youthful look, buttery croon and playful demeanor, but Donell Jones is a certified veteran in the music game. With gold and platinum-selling CDs in his catalog and an enviable arsenal of pop and R&B hits (“Where I Wanna Be,” “You Know That I love You,” “Love Like This” and… Continue reading Donell Jones: A “Forever” Kind Of Love & Career, MOC Preview/Knowshi Link
India.Arie’s “SongVersation” CD Review, MOC Preview/Soultracks Review Link
……..The result of that self-imposed hiatus, Songversation, makes India.Arie’s fifth studio CD all that her fans will probably expect: the wisdom of womanhood, the polish of an industry vet and unbridled optimism of the re-purposed and newly-recharged. With the exception of a remake (the effective and evocative reimagining of “Strange Fruit”), practically every song was… Continue reading India.Arie’s “SongVersation” CD Review, MOC Preview/Soultracks Review Link