Title: Human Nature Artist: BWB Label: Heads Up International Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: June 18, 2013 Human Nature, a “reimagining of eleven selections made famous by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson,” marks the second album by … Continue reading
Title: Soul ConversationsArtist: Ulysses Owens Jr. Big BandLabel: Outside in Music Format: CD, DigitalRelease date: May 7, 2021 Drummer and composer Ulysses Owens Jr. is a name to remember in the world of music. Renown for his work … Continue reading
Title: Timeless Artist: After 7 Label: Entertainment One Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: October 14, 2016 Vocal group After 7 returns after an eleven year hiatus with their album Timeless. On this new outing the core members of the … Continue reading
Title: BWB Artist: Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown Label: Artistry Music Formats: CD, MP3 Release Date: April 22, 2016 Smooth jazz is a guilty pleasure of mine, one that often gets far more flak than it deserves. … Continue reading
Welcome to the July 2013 issue of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Archives of African American Music and Culture. Our feature this month is the documentary The Librarian and the Banjo (now available on DVD), about Dena Epstein’s groundbreaking archival … Continue reading
Title: Gravity Artist: Lecrae Label: Reach Records Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: September 4, 2012 Although certainly not the founding father of Christian hip hop, Lecrae Moore has become the genre’s most recognizable voice. Lecrae’s combination of Christian … Continue reading
Title: The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for DreamersArtist: Valerie JuneLabel: FantasyFormats: CD, LP, DigitalRelease date: March 12, 2021 Valerie June’s The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers is an amalgam of genres, referencing 1960s psychedelia, 1980s pop, gospel, … Continue reading
Title: Jazz Dance Suites Artist: Charles McPhersonLabel: Chazz Mack MusicFormats: CD, Digital Release date: September 25, 2020 Distinguished alto saxophonist, composer and bandleader Charles McPherson, known for his bebop and bluesy style and improvisational ingenuity, adds to his plethora … Continue reading
Title: William Dawson Negro Folk Symphony/Ulysses Kay Fantasy Variations & Umbrian SceneArtist: ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; Arthur Fagan, cond.Label: Naxos Formats: CD, DigitalRelease date: June 16, 2020 Whether intentional or not, Naxos picked an opportune time to release … Continue reading
Title: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?Artist: Fantastic Negrito Label: Cooking VinylFormats: CD, LP, Digital Release date: July 17, 2020 GRAMMY award winning artist Fantastic Negrito has returned with his new album, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? … Continue reading
Title: Can You Imagine?Artist: John BaileyLabel: Freedom RoadFormats: CD, DigitalRelease date: January 20, 2020 Can You Imagine? is the second album from New York trumpeter John Bailey, who conceptualized the project around one of the fantastical “what ifs” … Continue reading
Title: Jazz PartyArtist: Delfeayo Marsalis & Uptown Jazz OrchestraLabel: Troubadour Jass Formats: CD, DigitalRelease date: February 7, 2020 Prominent jazz trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis returns with his seventh studio album, Jazz Party, featuring his electrifying Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO). … Continue reading
Title: The People Could Fly Artist: Camilla George Label: Ubuntu Music Formats: CD, LP, Digital Release date: December 7, 2018 Nigerian born jazz saxophonist and composer Camilla George, who is based in the UK, released her debut jazz … Continue reading
Title: Mo Jodi Artist: Delgres Label: PIAS Format: CD, LP, Digital Release Date: August 31, 2018 Delgres, the Paris-based blues trio, links the history of the French Caribbean to the musical style of New Orleans in their debut … Continue reading
Title: The Window Artist: Cecile McLorin Salvant Label: Mack Avenue Formats: CD, LP, Digital Release date: September 28, 2018 Where does one begin when reviewing a talent as astonishing as Cecil McLorin Salvant? Through years of hard work and training, McLorin Salvant … Continue reading
Title: Understand What Black Is Artist: The Last Poets Label: StudioRockers Formats: CD, Digital Release Date: May 19, 2018 Before Sugar Hill Gang released “Rappers Delight” in 1979, marking the first hip hop record in history, there was … Continue reading
Title: Project Mama Earth Artist: Project Mama Earth Label: Provogue Formats: CD, Vinyl, streaming Date: November 10th, 2017 In June of 2017, five world renowned musicians came together to embark on a bold new project with no songs … Continue reading
Title: Dark Days + Canapés Artist: Ghostpoet Label: Play It Again Sam Formats: CD, Vinyl, MP3 Release date: August 18, 2017 Ghostpoet (aka Obaro Ejimiwe) is a British vocalist and musician known for his beat-driven arrangements and meaningful … Continue reading
Title: Migration Blues Artist: Eric Bibb Label: Stony Plain Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: March 31, 2017 “Blues was born of forced migration”— Michael Jerome Browne Award-winning blues singer/songwriter Eric Bibb has offered fans a new album almost every … Continue reading
Title: The African Nubian Suite Artist: Randy Weston African Rhythms Label: African Rhythms Formats: 2-CD set, MP3 Release date: January 20, 2017 Released just in time for Black History Month, jazz elder Randy Weston’s epic work, The African Nubian … Continue reading
Title: Black Man in America Artist: André Cymone Label: Bandcamp Format: MP3 Release date: September 30, 2016 André Cymone is perhaps best known for his friendship and collaboration with Prince, a relationship that has been brought back into the … Continue reading
If you’re looking for gifts for music lovers, here are some of the most notable box sets produced with the holiday shopping season in mind. There’s something to satisfy any fan of jazz, blues, pop, Afro-funk, rock, and rhythm and … Continue reading
Title: Center of My Life Artist: Nathan Best Label: Higher Calling / Megawave Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: September 9, 2014 It is an established fact that in African and African derived cultures, many life decisions and life activities … Continue reading
Title: Libation Artist: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars Label: Cumbancha (BMI) Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: March 18, 2014 Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars’ Libation is a signature album in so many ways. Not only does it commemorate the tenth … Continue reading
Title: The Good Life Artist: John The Conqueror Label: Alive Naturalsound Records Formats: CD, MP3, LP Release date: February 25, 2014 The signature growling guitars and low lonesome drawl of John The Conqueror are back in full force … Continue reading