Welcome to the August 2016 edition of Black Grooves, sponsored by the Indiana University Archives of African American Music and Culture.

We’re kicking this month off with the latest surprise release by R&B auteur Blood Orange, Freetown Sound.  August brings a full slate of other soul and R&B releases as well, including new albums by two established soul singer-songwriters: Anthony Hamilton’s What I’m Feeling and William Bell’s This is Where I Live.  We have a long-awaited set of recordings by Betty Davis compiled as The Columbia Years, 1968-69, featuring  a supporting cast of late 60s jazz-fusion luminaries, plus two additional compilations: Brook Benton’s Rainy Night in Georgia: The Complete Reprise & Cotillion Singles A’s and B’s and The Delfonics’ 40 Classic Soul Sides. Also featured is DJ Spinna Presents the Wonder of Stevie, Vol. 3, an album full of Stevie Wonder covers by various artists.

In blues, we’ve reviewed Chicago guitarist Toronzo Cannon’s newest release The Chicago Way, and harmonica virtuoso Sugar Blue’s Voyage. In jazz, there’s vibraphonist Warren Wolf’s latest release Convergence, plus two compilations of previously unreleased Stan Getz recordings from the 1970s, Moments in Time and Getz/Gilberto ’76.

In rock, we’re featuring Fantastic Negrito’s (re)inventive album The Last Days of Oakland, and in rap we’re breaking down Talib Kweli’s Fuck the Money, a free digitally-released screed against commercialism.  Under the category of world music is the Pan-African reggae of Fidel Nadal’s Tek a Ship.

Finally, we’re featuring a book review of Jean E. Snyder’s Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance, which charts the life and work of the seminal Black composer.

Wrapping up this month’s issue is our list of July 2016 releases of note.