Summer 2020 Black Music Releases of Note

Following are additional albums released during June, July and August 2020 across multiple genres—some will be reviewed in future issues of Black Grooves.

Blues, Folk, Country
Big Bill Broonzy: Midnight Special: Live in Nottingham 1957 (vinyl) (Org Music)
Big Mama Thornton: Singles Collection 1951-1961 (Acrobat)
Bobby Rush: Rawer Than Raw (Deep Rush)
David Kimbrough Jr.: Say You Don’t Love Me: The Last Recordings (Dolceola Recordings)
Don Byrant: You Make Me Feel (Fat Possum)
Gerald McClendon: Can’t Nobody Stop Me Now (Delta Roots)
Joe Louis Walker: Blues Comin’ On (Cleopatra)
John Lisi & Delta Funk: Retox (Rabadash)
Johnny Iguana: Chicago Spectacular (Delmark)
Junior Parker: The Singles Collection 1952-1962 (Acrobat)
Kat Riggins: Cry Out (Gulf Coast)
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Go, Just Do It! (Stony Plain)
Bessie Jones: Get In Union (dig) (Alan Lomax Archives/Bandcamp)
Brides of Funkenstein: Complete Atlantic Recordings (Wounded Bird)
Eugene McDaniels: Outlaw (50th Anniv. Ed.) (Real Gone)
Fantastic Negrito: Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? (Cooking Vinyl)
Five Alarm Funk: Big Smoke (Ropeadope)
Funkinchely Band: World tossed Up! (dig) (Bandcamp)
Lightning Orchestra: Source and Deliver (Acid Jazz)
Mojo Buford: Mojo Workin’ [lost studio recording] (Americana Anthropology)
Various: Lockdown Sessions: An International Down Home Blues Revue (Crosscut)

Classical
Laraaji: Sun Piano (All Saints)
Vienna Radio Symphony, Arthur Fagen: Wm. Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony / Ulysses Kay’s Fantasy Variations / Umbrian Scene (Naxos)
Wayne Marshall: Born to Play Gershwin (CAvi-music)

Funk, Rock, Pop, House, Electronic
Adeva: Ultimate! (Cherry Pop)
Exotic Sin (ft. Nina Cherry’s daughter): Customer’s Copy (Blank Forms)
J.S. Ondara: Folk n’ Roll Vol. 1: Tales Of Isolation (Verve Forecast)
Mali Music: The Book of Mali (RCA Inspiration)
Mansur Brown: Tesuto EP (Soulection)
Narada Michael Walden: Immortality (Quarto Valley)
Sault: Untitled (Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)
Sean Ardoin: Bigger Love (Zydekool)
Space Kamp: Electric Lemonade
Various: Juneteenth Mix Tape (dig) (Bandcamp)

Gospel, CCM, Christian Rap
Benita Jones: The Entreating (Integrity/Tyscot)
Brother Theotis Taylor: s/t (Mississippi)
Chicago Mass Choir: My Soul Says Yes (New Haven)
Chip Dixson: Gotta Be Real (dig)
Christ Walker: Vessel (dig) (C-Mac Productions)
Dedicated Men Of Zion: Can’t Turn Me Around (Bible and Tire)
Fisk Jubilee Singers: Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album) (Curb)
Lecrae: Restoration (Reach)
Myron Butler: My Tribute (Fair Trade/Columbia)
Pastor Austin Hill & Renewed: Fresh Start (Ecko)
PJ Morton: Gospel According to PJ (Tyscot)
The Echoaires: Through The Years (Ecko)

International, Latin
Bamba Wassoulou Groove: Dankele (Lusafrica)
Burna Boy: Twice as Tall (dig) (Atlantic)
Gordon Koang: Unity (Music in Exile / Light in the Attic)
Groupe RTD: Dancing Devils of Djibouti (Ostinato)
Harold López-Nussa: Te Lo Dije (Mack Ave.)
John Santos Sextet: Art of the Descarga (Smithsonian Folkways)
Kutiman: Wachaga (Siyal Music)
Les Frères Smith: Mutation (Amour et Son)
Mayor the Bass Prophet: African Superman (Red Eye)
Modou Toure: Touki (Arc Music)
Oumou Sangaré: Acoutis (Nø Førmat)
Sharhabil Ahmed: The King Of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk)
Various: Brazil: Samba, Bossa and Beyond! (Putumayo)
Various: Rap Francais (Wagram)
Various: Africa Airways Six: Mile High Funk 1974-1981 (Africa Seven)
Voz Di Sanicolau: Fundo De Marê Palinha (Analog Africa)

Jazz, Fusion
Analog Players Society: Tilted (Ropeadope)
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Just Coolin’ (Blue Note)
Babatunde & Phenomena: Levels Of Consciousness (reissue) (Pure Pleasure)
Benny Rubin, Jr.: Know Say Or See (Bandcamp)
Billy Childs: Acceptance (Mack Ave.)
Black Art Jazz Collective: Ascension (High Note)
Black Light Collective: S/T (Ropeadope)
Bluey: Tinted Sky (Shanachie)
Bobby Watson: Keepin’ It Real (Smoke Sessions)
Brenda Nicole Moorer: Marrow (Ropeadope)
Champian Fulton: Birdsong
Chanda Rule + Sweet Emma Band: Hold On (Pao)
Charles Tolliver: Connect (Gearbox)
Charnett Moffett & Jana Herzen: Round the World (Motéma Music)
Chris “Big Dog” Davis: Focus (Shanachie)
Christian McBride Big Band: For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver (Mack Ave)
David Gilmore: From Here To Here (Criss Cross)
Dee Dee Bridgewater: Afro Blue (reissue) (Mr Bongo)
Derrick Gardner & Big dig! Band: Still I Rise
Derrick Hodge: Color of Noize (Blue Note)
Doug Carn: Spirit of the New Land (reissue) (Black Jazz/Real Gone Music)
Eddie Henderson: Shuffle and Deal (Smoke Sessions)
Erroll Garner: Gershwin & Kern (Octave Remastered Series) (Mack Avenue)
Fats Waller: Rare Home Recordings (Sounds Of Yesteryear)
Gerald Clayton: Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note)
Greg Ward’s Fitted Shards: High Alert EP (Sugah Hoof)
Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids: Shaman! (Strut)
Jazz at Lincoln Center w/ Wynton Marsalis: The Ever Fonky Lowdown (dig) (Blue Engine)
JD Allen: Toys / Die Dreaming (Savant)
Jeff Cosgrove: History Gets Ahead of the Story (Grizzley)
Jimmy Health: Love Letter (Verve)
John Beasley: MONK’estra Vol. 2 (Mack Ave.)
Kahi El’Zabar and David Murray: Spirit Groove
Kenny Washington: What’s the Hurry (Lower 9th)
Kim Waters: Shakedown (Shanachie)
Mafalda Minnozzi: Sensorial – Portraits in Bossa & Jazz
Marcos Valle: JID003 (Jazz Is Dead)
Marcus Adams: Love Letters (dig)
Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience: To Know Without Knowing (Agogo)
Nicole Mitchell & Lisa E. Harris: Earthseed (FPE)
Nicole Mitchell and Moor Mother: Offering – Live at Le Guess Who (Don Giovanni)
Nissi: Ignite EP (dig)
Norman Brown: Heart to Heart (Shanachie)
Nubya Garcia: Source (Concord / Decca)
Oneness of JuJu: African Rhythms 1970-1982 (reissue) (Strut/Black Fire)
Paulette McWilliams: A Woman’s Story (BluJazz)
Randy Scott: Elevation (Trippin & Rhythm)
Redman, Mehldau, McBride & Blade: RoundAgain (Nonesuch)
Sam Newsome: Sonic Journey: Live at the Red Room  (dig) (Bandcamp)
Sam Newsome: Subspace Interception: Live at the Women from Space Festival  (dig) (Bandcamp)
Sam Newsome: Free Wyoming: Live at the Metro Coffee Co. (dig) (Bandcamp)
Teodross Avery: Harlem Stories: The Music of Thelonious Monk (WJ3)
The Awakening: Hear, Sense and Feel (remastered ed.) (Black Jazz/Real Gone Music)
The Flowdown: yo-lk EP (Ropeadope)
Thelonious Monk: Palo Alto (Impulse!)
Tracye Eileen: It’s Time EP
Various: Black Fire (5 LP set) (Now-Again)
Vibration Black Finger: Can You See What I’m Trying to Say (Jazzman)
Walter Bishop Jr.: Coral Keys (remastered ed.) (Black Jazz/Real Gone Music)
Zara McFarlane: Songs of an Unknown Tongue (Brownswood Recordings)
Zawinul Syndicate: Black Water / Lost Tribes (reissue) (Beat Goes On)

R&B, Soul
Adeva: Adeva! Ultimate (4 CD set) (Cherry Pop)
Annie Laurie: Since I Fell For You: Essential Annie Laurie (Jasmine)
Aretha Franklin: Live at the Jamaica World Music Festival 1982 (Radio Loop)
Arthur Young: A Trucker’s Blues (dig) (Summit Boy Ent.)
August Alsina: The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy (Empire)
Avant: Can We Fall in Love (SoNo)
Bettye Lavette: Blackbirds (Verve)
Black Pumas: The Electric Deluxe Sessions EP (Amazon)
Brandy: B7 (eOne)
Brian McKnight: Exodus (SoNo)
CeeLo Green: Is…Thomas Callaway (Easy Eye Sound)
Coasters: Rock (Bear Family)
Daniyah Jezel: Love Therapy (dig)
Diana Ross: Supertonic Mixes (Motown)
Donna Summer: Hot Summer Night [CD/DVD] (Driven by the Music)
Esther Phillips: Brand New Day: Lenox / Atlantic & Roulette Recordings 1962-1970 (Soul Music)
Five Keys: Collection 1951-1958 (Acrobat)
Gaidaa: Overture
I Ced: Interpretations (Mo Funk)
Irma Thomas: After the Rain (vinyl reissue) (Craft)
Jagged Edge: A Jagged Love Story (dig) (HardCase)
James Booker: Classified (remixed and remastered ed.) (Craft)
Jay Proctor: Spirit & Soul (Forevermore)
John Legend: Bigger Love (Columbia)
Kem: Love Always Wins (Motown)
Ken Boothe: Freedom Street (vinyl reissue) (Music on Vinyl)
Kevin Ross: Audacity Vol. 2 (Art Society Music Group)
Lady Alma: All the Way Far Away (BBE)
Ledisi: The Wild Card (BMG)
Leroy Hutson: The Curtom Years 1972-1979 (Rhino)
Lianne La Havas: S/T (Nonesuch)
Lionel Richie: Truly: The Love Songs (Universal)
Lord Finesse: Presents Motown State of Mind (Motown)
Mariah Carey: The Live Debut – 1990 (dig)
Nat Turner Rebellion: Laugh To Keep From Crying (reissue) (Org Music)
Pip Milett: Lost in June (Plus Fours Music)
Ruth Brown: Juke Box Pearls: Mama He Treats Your Daughter Men (Bear Family)
Shaun Escoffery: Strong Enough (Decca)
Society Hill Orchestra ft. Herb Smith: Soul City Walking: A Tribute To Archie Bell & The Drells
Solomon Burke: King of Rock ‘N’ Soul: Atlantic Recordings 1962-1968 (Soulmusic)
Sylvester: Step II (remastered ed.) (Craft)
Thom Bell: Ready or Not: Philly Soul Productions 1965-1978 (Kent)
Toni Braxton: Spell My Name (Island)
Tyree Glenn Jr.: Superbad!: The Best of (Tramp)
Various: Soul Love Now: The Black Fire Records Story, 1975-1993 (Strut)
Victoria Monét: Jaguar (dig) (Tribe)
Voices of Service: Rise EP (dig) (CAMMO)

Rap, Hip Hop
42 Dugg: Young & Turnt 2 (dig) (4PF/CMG)
6lack: 6 PC Hot (Interscope)
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie: Artist 2.0 Deluxe (dig) (Atlantic)
Akon: Ain’t No Peace (dig)
Aminé: Limbo (Republic)
Apollo Brown & Che’ Noir: As God Intended (Mello Music Group)
Black Noi$e: Oblivion (dig) (Tan Cressida)
Black Thought: Streams of Thought Vol. 3: Cain and Able (Passyunk)
Blu & Exile: Miles: From an Interlude Called Life
Blueface: Famous Cryp (Reloaded) (dig) (eOne)
Bodega Bamz: Yams Heard This (dig) (Duck Down)
Boldy James & Sterling Toles: Manger on McNichols (Sound of the Block)
Boldy James & Alchemist: Price Of Tea In China (Dig. Deluxe Ed.) (ALC)
Boosie Badazz: In House (Bad Azz Music)
Buckwild: Fully Loaded (Kurrupt Money Ent.)
Casey Veggies & Rockie Fresh: Fresh Veggies 2 (dig) (PNCINTL)
Chevy Woods: Since Birth (dig) (Taylor Gang)
City Morgue: Toxic Boogaloo (dig) (Republic)
Coi Leray: Now or Never EP (dig)
Conway The Machine: From King to a God (Griselda)
Curren$y & Harry Fraud: The Out Runners (dig) (Jet Life)
Da Baby: Blame It on Baby (Interscope)
Dave East: Karma 3 (dig) (Def Jam)
Dizzy Wright and Demrick: Blaze With Us 2 (Cinematic)
Duckwrth: Supergood (dig)
E-40: Curb Commentator Channel 2 (dig)
Earl Sweatshirt: Feet of Clay (Deluxe)
Eddie Griffin: E-Niggma (dig)
Famous Dex: Where’s Dexter? (dig) (300 Ent.)
Fat Trel: Big-Homie (dig) (Slutty Boyz)
Flatbush Zombies: Now More Than Ever EP (Glorious Dead)
Flo Milli: Ho, why is you here? EP (dig) (RCA)
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist: Alfredo (Empire)
Gucci Mane presents: So Icy Summer (dig) (Atlantic)
Ian Dior: I’m Gone (dig) (TenThousand Projects)
IDK: IDK & Friends 2 (dig) (Warner)
II Tone: Church and Liquor Sto (Burger)
J Stone and Pacman Da Gunman: Ground Zero (dig)
J. French: JAGG (Just Another Gift from God) (dig) (Ropeadope)
J.I the Prince of N.Y: Welcome to GStarr Vol. 1 EP (dig)
JayDaYoungin: Baby 23 (Ruffwayy)
Joe Moses: Westside 2 (dig) (Empire)
Joell Ortiz & KXNG Crooked: H.A.R.D. (Mello Music Group)
Joey Bada$$: The Light Pack EP (dig) (Columbia)
Juice WRLD: Legends Never Die (Interscope)
Juicethegod: Million Dollar Dream
Justin Rarri: Youngest in Kharge (dig) (Interscope)
K Camp and Rare Family: Rare Family (dig) (Rare Sound)
Kay Wayne: It’s Crazy Outside EP (dig) (For the Win)
Kee Beez: Grind All EP (dig)
Kemba: The World Is Watching (dig)
KenTheMan: 4 Da 304’s (dig)
Knxwledge: 10000 Proof (dig) (Stones Throw)
Kyle: See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!! (dig)
Leaf: Fashion Bitch EP (dig) (Slang Music)
Lil Durk: Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 (Alamo/Geffen)
Lil Keed: Trapped on Cleveland 3 (300 Ent.)
Logic: No Pressure (dig) (Def Jam)
Lord Finess: Motown State of Mind EP (Kings Music Group)
Luh Soldier: Thug Luv (dig) (Cinematic Music Group)
Lupe Fiasco + Kaelin Ellis: House EP (Thirty Tigers)
Madd Scientist: New Day EP (dig) (Hodari Music Group)
Malik: Spectrum (Demo) (ARTium)
Marlowe: Marlowe 2 (Mello Music)
Marques Martin: Brave and Afraid
Max B: Charly EP (dig) (Amalgam)
Mayhem Lauren: Glass 2.0 (dig) (SRFSCHL)
MBNel: Child of the Trenches EP (dig)
Mike: Weight of the World
Mulatto: Queen of Da Souf (Streamcut / RCA)
Naeem: Startisha (37d03d)
Nas: King’s Disease (Mass Appeal)
NLE Choppa: Top Shatta (NLE Choppa Ent.)
NoCap: Steel Human (dig)
Oddisee: Odd Cure (dig)
Paul Wall & Lil keke: Slab Talk (SoSouth)
Pi’erre Bourne: Life of Pi’erre 4 (deluxe) (Interscope)
Pop Smoke: Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (posthumous album)
Ralo: Free Ralo (Famerica)
Revnge of the Truence: H1N1 (Fat Beats)
Robb Banks: Calendars (dig)
Rome Streetz: Noise Kandy 4 (next)
Run the Jewels: RTJ4 (BMG)
Sada Baby: Barier Bounty 2 (dig) (Big Squad)
SahBabii: Barnacles (dig) (Casting Bait)
Saigon: 777: The Resurrection (dig) (Strange Music)
Shoreline Mafia: Mafia Bidness (dig) (Atlantic)
Skyzoo: Milestones (Mello Music)
Sleepy Hallow: Sleepy For President (Empire)
Sleepy Rose: Ethereal Hell (dig) (The Real U)
Slug + Murs: Felt 4 U (dig)
Soulja Boy: King Soulja 9 (dig) (SODMG)
StaySolidRocky: Fallin’ (dig) (Columbia)
Steven G: ShowGreat University (dig) (eOne)
Summer Walker: Life on Earth EP (dig) (Interscope)
Tech N9ne: More Fear (Strange Music)
Terrell Ralo Davis: Free Ralo (FAMERICA)
Black Eyed Peas: Translation (Epic)
The Lox: Living Off Xperience (Roc Nation)
Tony-B: Behind Enemy Lines (dig)
Trav: Nothing Happens Overnight (dig) (MBB/Empire)
UnoTheActivist: 8 (Republic)
Wale: The Imperfect Storm (dig) (Warner)
Walt Jack: Snap Out (dig)
Westside Gunn: Flygod Is An Awesome God 2 (Griselda)
Westside Gunn: Who Made the Sunshine (Griselda)
Wifisfuneral: Pain (Alamo)
Wiz Kid: Made in Lagos
Young Dolph: Rich Slave (dig) (Empire)
Yung Bleu: Bleu Vandross 3 (dig)
Yungeen Ace: Don Dada (dig) (Cinematic Music Group)

Reggae, Dancehall, Calypso
Aswad: Gold (3 CD set) (Crimson Productions)
Buju Banton: Upside Down (Roc Nation)
Chezidek: Hello Africa (VP)
Chosen Few: Trojan Albums Collection (Doctor Bird)
Dre Island: Now I Rise (Dubshot)
Errol Dunkley: OK Fred: Storybook Revisited (Burning Sounds)
Fyah Roiall: Underrated (Easy Star)
Glen Washington: I’m Livin Well (VP)
Groundation: The Next Generation Live (Baco)
Jamaica Johnny and His Milagro Boys: Trinidad: The Land of Calypso (Bear Family)
Michael Franti & Spearhead: Work Hard and Be Nice (Boo Boo Wax)
Richie Spice: Together We Stand (VP)
Roots And Tings: All of This
Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Vladislav Delay: 500-Push-Up (VP)
SumeRR: Downs District (VP)
Tarrus Riley: Healing (Zojak World Wide)
Toots & the Maytals: Gotta Be Tough (WEA)
Various: Blue Coxsone Box Set (7″ discs) (Studio One)
Wailing Souls: Back A Yard (VP)

Soundtrack
Staple Singers: Let’s Do It Again (OST reissue) (Omnivore)
Various: The High Note (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Republic)
Terence Blanchard: Perry Mason Season 1: Music from the HBO Series (Water Tower)