Village of The Sun ‘ First Light’ A few years back, I was vaguely watching Jools Holland’s ‘Later’ on the BBC. A due came on, and I was awake -searing sax and wonderfully intuitive drumming– and such energy. That duo was Binker Golding on sax and Moses Boyd on drums. I contacted them through their …
Single Review: “Roll With It” – Toby Corton
Wow… this is a TUNE! The soulful vocals mixed with a hip hip beat and strings is what sold it to me. Toby flies in with a vocal that’s lazy and sings with a drawl that’s not unpleasant to listen to, there’s a cello accompanying him and it’s brilliant! It’s the chorus that hits me …
Album Review: “A Pagan Landscape” – Richard Davies. Words: Sammy Stein
Richard Davies has already shown his musical ability on his album ‘Travel Without Movement’; on this lengthier recording, he makes good on the promise of more musical exploration. Of this album, Davies told me, “This is essentially an album about ghosts. It’s about the haunting landscape around Trewallard in Cornwall, where a thriving mining community …
Blog interview: Monique DeBose. Words: Sammy Stein
Revealing Monique DeBose American award-winning singer Monique DeBose’s album ‘You Are The Sovereign One,’ released in September 2022, has received much attention and stellar reviews. Well, it might, for Monique has a unique voice. She studied under Rhiannon and Joey Blake who worked with the renowned Bobby McFerrin. Her work stems and blossoms from a …
Review: The Comet Is Coming “Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam. Words: Sammy Stein
The Comet Is Coming, Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam ( Impulse 23 Sept 2022) The Comet is Coming comprises Danalogue on Rolands, Betamax on drums and percussion, and Shabaka Hutchins ( King Shabaka) on tenor saxophone. Since their entry into what was sometimes a disingenuous jazz scene, The Comet Is Coming has brought a reality, a street-centered, squarely-planted …
Single Review: “Jammin’ Tonight” – Nile Rodgers and Candy Dulfer
This is a BOP!!!!! Wow!!! It starts off all mysterious with a synth build up into a funky James Brown break, then settles into a classy four on the floor beat with Nile and Candy trading off solos between each other on guitar and sax respectively – I absolutely love the vocals on this, fantastically …
EP Review: “The Journey” – The Scribes
The Scribes are back! And they have a collaborator in Risk1. And they’ve got an EP. Let’s get into it. The Shipwreck This starts off with an old school groove, piano simple chords, the beat, but I love the radio announcement at the beginning at the beginning. This track moves along at a lazy pace …
Blog interview: Courtney Pine. Words: Sammy Stein.
Courtney Pine has been part of the global music scene for decades. His constantly evolving approach to music, and jazz music, in particular, has made him an endearing and engaging musician. I have seen him perform with artists in different settings, from school halls to large fabled concert venues. Every time, Pine brings to the …
Single Review: “The Comet Is Coming” – CODE. Words: Sammy Stein
The power trio The Comet is Coming, comprised of Dan Leavers ( Danalogue), Shabaka Hutchings (Shabaka), and Max Hallett (Betamax), have released ‘Code’, the first single from their forthcoming album ‘Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam’ which will be released late September on Impulse. ‘Code’ is hailed by their label as an ‘intergalactic head-banger that explores hidden meaning …
Single review: “Prima Marteria” – Connie Han. Words: Sammy Stein.
Pianist/composer and Steinway artist Connie Han has released her single ‘Prima Marteria,’ which preludes the album ‘Secrets of Inanna’ due out in September. Connie Han has created more than a stir in the jazz world, bringing fresh, challenging ideas to the music. The single’s title references the primeval elements from which the universe was formed. …