Welcome to the October 2012 Issue
October 1st, 2012
Welcome to the October 2012 issue of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Archives of African American Music and Culture. This month we’re celebrating the publication of our 1000th review! Those who follow the Archives of African American Music and Culture on Facebook will be notified of weekly contests throughout October and will have a chance to win free CDs.
Our artist of the month is Etta James, featured in two new retrospective compilations—Live at Montreux 1975-1993 and The Complete Private Blues, Rock, Soul—as well as the Leela James’ tribute album Loving You More . . . in the Spirit of Etta James. Other compilations from Sony Legacy include the Michael Jackson Bad 25 anniversary edition 4-disc box set, the 16-CD box set The Columbia Masters by Earth, Wind & Fire, and the 2-CD set The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal, 1969-1973.
Classical music featured this month includes the Broadway cast album The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and the New Black Music Repertory Ensemble’s release of orchestral works by Florence B. Price. Under religious music is the new release Gravity by the chart topping gospel rap artist LeCrae, the live performance CD Jesus at the Center by Israel & New Breed, and an introduction to the sibling vocal group The Wardlaw Brothers on God’s Been There.
Blues releases include the country blues album Buffalo Junction by Boo Hanks and Dom Flemons (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops), the contemporary talking blues album And for the Dark Road Ahead by Samuel James, and a fun look back at the ‘80s via the newly released DVD Muddy Waters & Rolling Stones Live at Checkerboard Lounge 1981.
World music albums include the new reggae release Mecoustic by Tarrus Riley, a collection of popular second-wave ska songs by the Phoenix City Allstars titled 2 Tone Gone Ska, Puerto Rican bombas performed by Hijos de Agüeybaná on Agua del Sol, the compilation of tropical Colombian music Ondatrópica, and the sophomore release Bouger le Monde from the world renowned Congolese band Staff Benda Bilili.
Wrapping up this issue is Heaven’s Computer by Afrofuturist hip hop artist 7evenThirty, and in a nod to October’s Halloween theme, The Devil’s Music EP by the Gothic soul hardcore group blkVampires.
Review Genre(s): African American Culture & History
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