CHIDI – EXHALE CD (93549)

 Chidi steps up a few gears to make a superb UK soul album in ‘Exhale’. ‘Someone’, ‘My Love Thang’, ‘I Want Love’ and ‘I Love it When We Talk’ are good soulful dancers.

The pure vybe of ‘Girl Friend’ is captivating, and the 2 stepper ‘Heart Is Bleeding’ and mid tempo ‘Lay Your head’ are also highlights. Very Good Album



R KELLY – WRITE ME BACK (DELUXE ED) CD (93567)

R Kelly came of age with his last album the 60’s Soul infl ‘Love Letters’. On his new album ‘Write Me Back’ Kelly draws on the more sophisticated 70’s Soul as his inspiration, but he

still sounds contemporary. ‘Love Is’ is a Barry white infl uptempo dancer, the string laden ‘Lady Sunday’ has a Philly Soul infl whilst ‘Believe That It’s So’ has hints of Stevie.

The killer modern soul dancer ‘Share my Love’ is a standout, but ‘You Are my World’ and ‘Feelin Single’ are also strong dancers. The ballads ‘green Light’ and ‘one Step Closer’

also score, on his strong all round album, possibly his best to date.



  JAZZANOVA – FUNKHAUS STUDIO SESSIONS CD/LP (93536)

Brilliant album from Jazzanova recorded live in the Funkhaus studios with a seven piece band featuring the so soulful voice of Paul Randolph. On this album Jazzanova really do

justice to their uptempo songs ‘Let me Show You’, ‘Look What You’re Doin To Me’ , ‘Let it Go’ and ‘I Can See’ which have that feel good factor. The mid tempo floaters ‘Lucky Girl’

and ‘No Use’ and the instrumentals ‘Theme From Belle Et Fou’ and ‘Fedtime’s Flight’ show the band at its tightest. This is great Soul music 2012 style but steeped in the tradition.



  CONYA DOSS – POCKETFUL OF PURPOSE CD (93402)

  Conya Doss has her own unique style and ‘Pocketful of Purpose’ will keep her fans happy. ‘Paradise’ is a really nice typically Conya mid tempo floater which really highlights her sweet voice.

‘Don’t Change’ produced by Rodney Jones is another quality mid tempo stepper, ‘Just Me’ is a nice laid back track. The strutting ‘The Letter’ and ‘Reaching for the Stars’ are good organic soul dancers.

Consistently good album.



PETE BELASCO – LIGHTS ON CD (93424)

Pete Belasco makes a very sensual melodic style of soul music, which has a very strong Marvin influence. ‘Lights On’ is a collection of 12 good subtle lower mid tempo romantic and atmospheric songs, which needs to be listened to as an entire album rather than by individual tracks. However check ‘I Ain’t Doin It’, ‘Down’ ‘My Eyes’ ‘Later’ and ‘Repay You’ This is Beautiful mellow soul music with a slight jazz tinge, to get you in the mood.



SOUL INDEPENDENCE LIBERATED CD (93440)

The first volume of Soul Independence was one of the best new soul comps of 2011, and Soul Independence Liberated could well be of 2012. 16 tracks ranging from the summer groove of Opaz ft Carter Frasier ‘Mr Lost’ to Syleena Johnson’s cover of Curtis beautiful ‘Makings Of You’. Kendra Cash ‘Smile’ Honey Larochelle ‘Be my Baby’ , Melodie Nicholson ‘ Stay Gone’, Smokie E Digglera ‘Say You Really Luv Me Baby’ are good upper mid tempo groovers, and Darrius ‘Say All The Things’ is the best f the slower tracks. Really good comp.



VICTOR HAYNES – FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART CD (93441)

The UK’s own Victor Haynes album ‘From The Bottom Of My Heart’ finally makes it to CD. ‘Can’t Stop’ , ‘Fallin’, ‘From The Bottom Of My Heart’ , ‘If You Want Me’ and ‘Steppin Out’ are strong Modern Soul dancers. There’s a nice cover of ‘I’m Out Of Your Life’ and the slower ‘I’ve Got To Know’ and ‘Give You My Love’ are also good, the killer track though is the beautiful Luther influenced mid tempo floater ‘How Am I’ . Nice album.



  QUANTIC AND ALICE RUSSELL – LOOK AROUND THE CORNER CD/ LP (93423)

  Quantic teams up with Alice Russell and Combo Barbaro to produce an amazing melodic album that fuses Soul, Jazz and Columbian music. Alice’s vocals are a highlight throughout she always had a good voice but it is taken to a new level here. The majestic string laden cover of ‘I’ll Keep A Light In my Window’ is a contender for track of the year so far. ‘Look Around The Corner’ , ‘Here Again’, and Travelling Song’ are also great tracks. A strong and interestingly different album.



  PAPIK – MUSIC INSIDE CD (93476)

Italian jazz group Papik came to our attention with one of the best jazz albums of 2010 ‘Rhythm Of life’. Their new album ‘Music Inside’ again features the great easy vocals of Alan Scaffardi on the jazz dancers ‘On The Move’ and ‘Open Eyes’ as well as the shuffling ‘This happiness’ and ‘You Must Have Come From Heaven’. Also check the brassy uptempo ‘The Puzzle Of life’ and ‘Rebirth’ ft Ely Bruna, ‘Bossa 60’ and the mellower ‘Family Affair’ ft Wendy Lewis. Best Italian Jazz album for a while.



ERIC BENET - THE ONE CD (93477)

Eric Benet switches labels but retains a similar retro 70’s Soul as on his last album ‘Lost in Time’and has reinvented himself as ‘The One’. The upper mid tempo dancers ‘Harriett Jones’ and ‘Muzik’, struttin semi funky ‘Redbone Girl’ will keep the feet moving The 2 stepper ‘News For You’ , mid tempo ‘Waitin’ and the slower ‘Runnin’ and ‘Come Together’ are quality soul music.this could well be one of the soul albums of the year.



COMPTON – COMPTON SOUL CD (93369)

Compton Soul is a nice quality new soul album featuring real instruments and four vocalists, [produced by The Rurals Andy Compton. Detroit’s Diviniti adds her charm to the mid tempo ‘And it Rains’. Canadian Jaidene Veda ‘Bluenotes’ and ‘Imagined’ which features some nice sax from Charlie Hearnshaw’ have more of kick to them, and the mid tempo floater ‘Believing’ is very good. Kafele hits the note with the groove driven ‘Somebody Elses Dream’ and Ladybird sings on the funkier riff laden ‘No Limits’.



  BLACKBYRDS –GOTTA FLY CD (93416)

Keith Killgo revives the Blackbyrds and produces an interesting album that has both a contemporary sound and touches of their trademark sound. The mid tempo grooved, flute backed ‘Gotta Fly’ has that classic Blackbyrds sound, and the uptempo 4 to the floor ‘No Stopping’ also grooves along nicely.

the mid tempo female vocal track ‘Givin Love To You’ and more uptempo version of ‘Someday We’ll All Be Free’ are also quality tracks. ‘I Can feel it’ has an almost smooth jazz feel.



JONATHAN WINSTEAD – LOVESTRY CD (93286)

Nice well produced mellow soul album with good songs and featuring real instruments.

Jonathan possesses a good smooth soul voice and his approach reminds me a little of Ty Causey.

‘Wake Up’ is a great tune, a lower mid tempo track that really grabs your attention. ‘Sexy Lady Love’ is an upper mid tempo and along with the interestingly constructed ‘Selfish’ are also highlights.

The mid tempo ‘back Again’ and the ballads ‘You Make Me Say’ , ‘Sweet Baby’ and ‘Adrenaline Rush’ are also good on this strong album.



CARMEN LUNDY –CHANGES CD (93287)

Carmen Lundy is one of the leading female jazz vocalists, and on her 12th album ‘Changes’ she sounds better than ever and she is accompanied by a great six piece jazz combo. ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ is a brilliant uplifting driving number with great lyrics a good keyboard solo from Anthony Wonsey and horns from George Bohannon and Nolan Shaheed. The purity of Carmen’s voice is breathtaking on the mid tempo ‘Dance To The Dance’ , The Night Is Young’ , ‘So Beautiful’ ‘Sleeping Alone’ and the slightly slower ‘Too Late For Love’. This has to be one of the best female vocal jazz albums for a long time. Beautiful music to touch your mind and soul.



INCOGNITO – SURREAL CD (93367)

Incognito are established as the premier UK soul/jazz-funk band, their full production sound and that horn section having graced us for over 30 years. ’Surreal’ builds on that legacy and whilst it is instantly recognisable as an Incognito album, it has a slightly different feel to it. The barnstorming cover of Queen Yahna’s ‘Aint it Time’ gives this underground dance floor classic a contemporary feel. ‘Rivers of the Sun’ has to be one of the best instrumentals they have ever cut. It has an early Roy Ayers rhythmic approach topped by blistering horns. The Breezy ‘Don’t Wanna know’, ‘The Way You Love’ and the urgent ‘The less you know’ and the mid tempo ‘This Must Be Love’, ‘Above The night’ and ‘Capricorn Sun’ will keep their fans happy. As you would expect this is Quality music throughout.