Single Review: “Emotions” – Amo Jr. Words: Sammy Stein

New Release from Amo Jr  ‘Emotions’  Independent  Ever heard a song sung with such feeling you feel your heart swell? Put this on and experience the gorgeous tones of Amo Jr on ‘Emotions,’ the forward release preluding his album’ Good Quality’ to be released later this year.   Amo Jr’s release has elements of gospel, …

Album Review: “Electric Soul Machine” – The Heavy North.

The Heavy North album just dropped!  Let’s do this.  The Genie  It starts off with feedback to open it up, then drops into a blues jam, nothing less than what you’d expect from this band, it’s very 70s influenced – but what you don’t expect is the muted trumpet solo at around 2:38, it’s absolutely …

Album Review: “The Great Jamaican Songbook, Vol.1” – Cleveland Watkiss. Words: Sammy Stein

Multidisciplinary artist Cleveland Watkiss’s energy and drive are behind many music projects, and he has proved inspirational for upcoming talent on the music scene. He has worked with Wynton Marsalis, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Art Blakey, and countless others.  His new album ‘The Great Jamaican Songbook’ is released, coinciding with a …

Album Review: “Maximise” – Perry. Words: Sammy Stein

Perry is the alias of instrumental smooth jazz/experimentalist Max Clemmons Jr.  As Max Clemmons, he played piano on a disco recording called ‘Billy Who’ with the late drummer and studio musician Yogi Horton. He released ‘Dancing For Your Love’ on Spider Records, a number written for his cousin, Joe.  Perry’s latest album is independently released. …

Single Review: “Forgive Yourself” – Caitlyn Scarlett, Her Ensemble

Caitlyn Scarlett – Forgive Yourself  This is a track Kwame Kwaten sent to me, and….  Wow. So, where do I start? It’s piano led, strings, and Caitlyn’s vocals just really give me goosebumps.  I like goosebumps. This is beautiful, it just reminds me that the ability to write an emotional song is never going away.  …

The Extraordinary Journey Of Jason Miles: A Musical Biography. Interview with Sammy Stein.

The Extraordinary Journey of Jason Miles A Musical Biography Jason Miles has been behind some iconic recordings. He is in the process of releasing his book, and it promises to be as iconic as some of the musicians he has worked with. I was privileged to see a copy a few weeks back and I …

Album Review: “The Things In The Past”- Ikumi Koyama. Words: Sammy Stein

The Things In The Past  Ikumi Koyama Ikumi Koyama is a Japanese pianist and singer from Yokahama, Japan. This debut recording introduces Koyama to a wider audience. Koyama began learning piano aged just two and later studied jazz piano at Shobi University, enrolling as an exchange student at New York City College for a semester, …

Album Review: “Motherland Journey” Blue Lab Beats. Words: Del Osei-Owusu

Blue Lab Beats – Motherland Journey Sky Reflections  The first track on this opens with with an instrumental, you could just imagine this as a concert entry music… The way that this starts off is uplifting, and I love it. I love the the synth chords start out, and I really need to find out …