01. Lady Marmelade 02. Somebody Somewhere 03. Are You Lonely? 04. It Took A Long Time 05. Don't Bring Me Down 06. What Can I Do For You? 07. Nightbird 08. Space Children 09. All Girl Band 10. You Turn Me On
One of the most sensuous singers in the urban adult contemporary/urban jazz realm since the early '90s, Maysa's unique dual career, while fascinating, is probably what has kept her from breaking out beyond stardom in those niches. In the early '90s, she joined the British soul collective Incognito and has since appeared on eight of the acid jazz/groove collective's projects. While performing and recording with that ensemble, she's also built a steady catalog of solo projects, including her first two cover-oriented Shanachie sets Sweet Classic Soul and Feel the Fire. The Metamorphosis on this disc is not so much in her diverse stylistic approach, which ranges from soothing, old-school, conversational, late-night soul ("My Destiny," featuring Najee on flute, "Take Me Away") to sexy, whispery neo-soul ("Never Really Ever") and dreamy, lightly funky Brazilian jazz on the breezy, cool grooving "Simpatico" and the quasi-Brasil '66 vibe of "Higher Love"; this track features smoothie great Nick Colionne snapping on the acoustic guitar beneath Maysa's soaring vocals and Najee's wistful flute charms. It's more about digging deep into a series of sharp originals, some co-penned by the singer and others by artists (like Ledisi) who have a similar soulful world view. Maysa waits till the end before breaking free of her usual comfort zone by going truly universal and scatting her way over a hypnotic exotic groove on "A Conversation with the Universe," an out there but completely irresistible slice of sonic energy devised by labelmates Global Noize (Jason Miles and DJ Logic). Never one to forget her roots, Maysa pays homage to Incognito leader Bluey Maunick on the unique "Let's Figure It Out (A Song for Bluey)," which begins as a balmy Colionne-driven instrumental before evolving into a vocal-laden funk-dance track. Maysa's always been an inspiring singer. Metamorphosis establishes her as a deeper, more diverse artist of true vision. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. My Destiny 02. Simpatico 03. Never Really Ever 04. Higher Love 05. Take Me Away 06. Grateful 07. Let's Figure It Out (A Song for Bluey) 08. I Need a Man 09. Happy Feelings 10. Love So True 11. Walk Away 12. A Conversation with the Universe 13. I Can't Help It 14. All I Do
The opposite of Jasper's solo album: Ernie sounds like he's finally free to show off all his talents. Many of the tracks blend rock guitar with electronic funk in a way that combines the grit and drive of both while simultaneously guaranteeing that no radio station would play it. On the best of these tracks ("Deal With It," "Rising From The Ashes"), he no longer sounds like a Hendrix imitator, he actually sounds like a 90s Hendrix. He also conjures up a loose live-sounding jam that recalls early Kool & The Gang ("Deep Water"), and throws in charming brief solo demos: "In Deep" features a lovely slide guitar line. He plays most of his own instruments, revealing a very funky bass style on the title track, and a simple but engaging touch with programmed drums. He also stuffs the disc with intriguing intellectual lyrics ("Song For The Muses", "Deal With It"), but the records greatest strength is consistently inventive, catchy songwriting ("She Takes Me Up," "Fare Thee Well, Fair-Weather Friend," "Song For The Muses"). The only misses are the ballad "Love Situation" and the routine workout "Diamond In The Rough" - this is a fantastic bargain at cut-out prices. --David Bertrand Wilson, WARR.org
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. Song For The Muses 02. High Wire 03. Love Situation 04. Diamond In The Rough 05. Deal With It 06. In Deep 07. She Takes Me Up 08. Fare Thee Well, Fair-Weather Friend 09. Rising From The Ashes 10. Deep Water 11. Back To Square One 12. The Muses
1. I Heard It Through the Grapevine 2. So Ruff, So Tuff 3. Chunk of Sugar 4. Do It Roger 5. Maxx Axe 6. Blue (A Tribute to the Blues) 7. I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Pt. 1 8. Do It Roger 9. Superman
Cassandra Wilson - Dance To The Drums Again VOCAL | FLAC | CUE | COVERS | 304MB | 52:17 DIW 1992
On this early-1990s release, guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly began a string of increasingly sympathetic producers. Production, and judicious instrumentation, are crucial to Cassandra Wilson's deep, arch aesthetic. Here, her smoky voice finds a casual, sensuous, tenor-sax richness amid Bourelly's electric-guitar riffing. Her singing suggests many inspirations. Betty Carter and Nina Simone, certainly, but Ella, Sarah, and Billy echo in her poise, personality, and stylishness. Dinah Washington and Carmen McRae come to mind as well. Also formative were Wilson's 1980s contributions to New York's M-Base collective. They involved exploration of all the African-American musics then afloat. M-Base also was committed to artistic self-definition. Here, 6 of the 10 selections are by Wilson, including "Don't Look Back," one of her several anthems of black resilience. --Peter Monaghan, Amazon.com
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. Melanin Song 02. Don't Look Back 03. Rhythm on My Mind 04. Wonders of Your Love 05. Nothin' But a Thang 06. I Will Be There 07. Just Keep Thinking of Eubay 08. Another Rainy Day 09. Amazing Grace 10. Dance to the Drummer Again
Cassandra Wilson - Point Of View VOCAL | WAV | CUE | LOG | HQ ART | 473MB | 42:45 JMT 1986
Cassandra Wilson's debut as a leader features the chance-taking singer in a funky M-Base setting. The overcrowded ensembles (played by altoist Steve Coleman, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Mark Johnson) did not leave much space for a singer, but the flexible Wilson did her best to find a role for her voice, and she sounds enthusiastic. In addition to group originals, the sextet performs "Blue in Green" (which has Wilson's lyrics) and "I Wished on the Moon." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
~ TRACKLISTING ~
1. Square Roots 2. Blue in Green 3. Never 4. Desperate Move 5. Love and Hate 6. I Am Waiting 7. I Wished on the Moon 8. I Thought You Knew
There wasn't much that the emergent Star Wars culture didn't touch in the latter part of the 1970s, and War's 1977 LP, Galaxy, was no exception. As the band moved further and further from the funk that drove its earliest grooves through to its street-savvy "Low Rider" alter ego, War's core audience was co-opted by a new crop of fans just looking for a groove. Galaxy filled that gap well. On paper, the LP should have been driven by the title track -- a wonderful eight-minute frenzy that glories in compulsive hooks and weaves in some super-stellar Star Wars lyric riffing, all the while pounding the beat home underneath a rhythm borrowed from los Chakachas' "Jungle Fever." It's an outstanding opener. Unfortunately, the band drizzled downhill all the way through the rest of the set, across lightweight and uninspired material that couldn't even be redeemed by the sassy "Hey Señorita." Even the ballad "Sweet Fighting Lady" wasn't up to their usual down-tempo stuff, and any achievements were wiped right off the slate by the closer, "The Seven Tin Soldiers," which is an unending, unyielding 14-minute instrumental. One song, no matter how marvelously executed, does not an album make, and at the end of the day Galaxy couldn't pull the band out of its rut. ~ Amy Hanson, All Music Guide
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. Galaxy 02. Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do) 03. Sweet Fighting Lady 04. Hey Señorita 05. Seven Tin Soldiers
War - All Day Music R&B | WAVPACK | CUE | LOG | 300DPI | 270MB | 39:52 United Artists 1971
The mellow, bossa nova-flavored title track was the band's first Top 40 hit; it's really enjoyable, with thrilling group harmonies and a soothing dance beat. Half a year later the longish and musically more conventional, but even more entertaining funk ballad "Slippin' Into Darkness" got a single release. It promptly outsold its predecessor, boosting the LP into gold album territory - War had finally made the big time. There's also a spartan, mid-tempo funk number that draws the lines to be filled in by later hits like "Cisco Kid" ("Get Down"). The rest of it is a little thin, though; a lengthy, sluggish, over-earnest soul testimonial ("That's What Love Will Do"); a weird near-a capella chant ("There Must Be A Reason"); a tightly arranged, but dated-sounding Santana-esque movie theme ("Nappy Head (Theme From Ghetto Man)"); a long, sloppy blues-rock live track ("Baby Brother"). But at least all of this proves the band's amazing versatility, and unlike several other War albums this one escapes without any real embarassments. --James Alroy, WARR.org
~ TRACKLISTING ~
1. All Day Music 2. Get Down 3. That's What Love Will Do 4. There Must Be A Reason 5. Nappy Head (Theme from "Ghetto Man") 6. Slippin' Into Darkness 7. Baby Brother
WAR - WAR R&B | FLAC | CUE | LOG | COVERS | 244MB | 40:36 United Artists 1971
War's first album without Eric Burdon was a strange, imposing, and beautiful hybrid -- a bridge between their then-current work with Burdon and their roots, going back to the early '60s and their origins as the Creators and the Nightshift. Although it was never a hit -- topping out at number 190 on the charts -- or yielded any substantial AM radio hits, the album is musically imposing in its sheer breadth, and its boldness, melding the new and the best of the old update, incorporating songs, arrangements, and ideas that dated well back into the prior decade, and the group's origins as the Creators and the Nightshift. From the quietly soaring 1971-vintage opener "Sun Oh Son," the music drifts back into the heavily Memphis soul-influenced "Lonely Feelin'," updated slightly but basically a rousing '60s blues-cum-gospel number that somehow ended up a failed single off the album. From there the album goes totally into left field with the gospel-style "Back Home," featuring lyrics provided by no less a figure than the Animals' Hilton Valentine. "War Drums" is a killer showcase for Charles Miller's tenor sax, Dee Allen's percussion, and Lonnie Jordan's organ, and "Vibeka" is a haunting, slow, bluesy workout, inspired by romance, tragedy, and realization, showcasing composer Lee Oskar's blues harp and Howard Scott's guitar. "Fidel's Fantasy" gets into wholly experimental territory with its length, and the topical political message seems an oddity today, but there's no questioning its musical boldness. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. Sun Oh Son 02. Lonely Feelin' 03. Back Home 04. War Drums 05. Vibeka 06. Fidel's Fantasy
Regina Belle - Stay With Me R&B | WAV | CUE | LOG | ART | 589MB | 58:40 Columbia 1989
Stay with Me is the second album by singer-songwriter, Regina Belle. It was released in 1989, two years after her 1987 debut album, "All By Myself". The upgrade of material found on this followup album gave her the chance to truly soar as a vocalist The seminal smash hit (#1 on the R&B charts), "Stay With Me", cemented the notion that Regina Belle is one of the more mature and sophisticated songstresses of our times.
"Baby Come to Me" was the album's breakout single, a lush and seductive affair whose jazz overtones were confirmed with a delicious muted trumpet solo. Belle's jazz chops come out in full force, however, on the bluesy "What Goes Around," and her soaring performance on "Make it Like it Was" will undoubtedly inspire chills down the backs of any fan of earthy soul. "Good Lovin" even manages to marry art and commerce, juxtaposing an impressive vocal with an infectious hip-hop beat.
A couple of compositions might not be worth her time, such as "When Will You Be Mine," an unnecessary upbeat exercise with a flimsy hook, and the mediocre ballad "It Doesn't Hurt Anymore," which gives Regina plenty of opportunity to belt but little chance to distinguish herself. Despite the weak material, Belle manages to still make them both work. All is forgiven, however, on the album's finest moment, "Save the Children/Someday We'll All Be Free." Pairing up social consciences of Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway (respectively) is a nice idea, and the songs blend well together. But it's Regina's gospel-tinged vocal that brings the house down, and if her pitch, phrasing, and inflection between the solo and finale don't knock you out, virtually nothing in R&B will.
Chock-full of tasteful arrangements and skillful vocals, "Stay With Me" places Regina Belle in the company of Anita Baker...and it places R&B fans in the company of greatness.
~ TRACKLISTING ~
01. Baby Come to Me 02. When Will You Be Mine 03. Dream Lover 04. What Goes Around 05. Make It Like It Was 06. Good Lovin' 07. It Doesn't Hurt Anymore 08. This Is Love 09. It's Gonna Take All Our Love 10. Someday We'll All Be Free/Save the Children 11. All I Want Is Forever
WIDGETIZE