The title says it best, as this wild, fast-paced track moves from blasts of guitar chords to racing guitar leads to mellow breaks. Blending a mastery of funk's magnetic grooves, the pounding rhythm and energy of rock 'n' roll, and the soulful riffs of the blues, this supergroup sounds like they were born to play together. The quintet consists of guitarist Joe Bonamassa, guitarist Ron DeJesus (Tito Puente, Hugh Masakela), bassist Mike Merritt (Conan O'Brien's Basic Cable Band, Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Band), keyboardist Renato Neto (Sheila E., Prince & the New Generation), and drummer Tal Bergman (Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Rod Stewart). Buckle up and hold onto something.
There've been few artists to truly do the R&B genre justice over the past decade, be they man or woman. Sure, we've had a number of great tracks along the way, but that blend of '80s/early-'90s R&B that was both emotional raw, smooth, and fresh seems harder to come by in this modern age. I'm talking about the kind of R&B that's instilled with a funk level of jazz, the kind that's dangerous to put on in the presence of others. Enter Brooklyn's Jose James, an overlooked star of the neo soul, R&B, and jazz worlds.
He recently released his fourth full-length album, No Beginning No End, his debut for the legendary Blue Note label. Hear a great cut from the record below entitled "It's All Over Your Body."
Whether you're in a great mood or you're trying to pick yourself up off the floor of melancholy, you can't go wrong with the funk of afrobeat. There's something inexplicably uplifting about afrobeat's soul. I definitely recommend checking out Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra's 2010 self-titled album. The Leeds 9-piece start with a foundation of afrobeat and add in elements of jazz, funk, as well as hints of reggae.
A blue jay is a beautiful bird, an animal that easily grabs your eye with its brilliant shades of blue. But there's more to the attractive surface of the blue jay. They're smart, curious, and creative birds. Maybe it's stretch to link a band's namesake to its sound, but, much like a blue jay, Brooklyn's Bluejay have an appealing sound that darts in all sorts of creative directions, not aimlessly, but rather with purpose.
Hey, it's Friday. And if there's one thing you need to get the weekend started off right, it's some Grade A funk. In 1980, Dayton, Ohio funk/R&B band Lakeside released their excellent LP, Fantastic Voyage, featuring their biggest hit of the same name. Some of you might be familiar with "Fantastic Voyage," already, but for those of you who are not, check out the track below. Who doesn't love a funk band with four singers and themed costumes? They also have some of the best album artwork ever.
Charles Bradley - "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)"
Anyone who knows me well enough is aware of my love for old school soul/R&B/Motown. As a person who cares equally for lyrics and instrumentation, soul isn't necessarily the place to turn for incredibly inventive lyrics. What's the real draw for soul is the emotion that empowers -- or rather underscores -- each word that leaves the lips of the singer. Nothing is more gripping than raw emotion that emanates from the depths of the soul. It's relatable music for its sheer honesty and confessional spirit. And lately, for me, it's been the most comforting thing in this world.
Charles Bradley is a 62-year old soul singer that knows something about patience. He's been singing for years, but it's only now that he's releasing his debut album, No Time For Dreaming. Bradley's voice has the perfect amount of rasp and age to give such great detail and emotion to every "oh," every word, and every syllable that he sings. At 62, Bradley certainly has the life experience to inspire his performances. He spent a large chunk of his childhood living on the streets and, over four decades later, was still struggling to make ends meet. The chance to realize his dream didn't come until he was discovered by Gabriel Roth of Daptone records while doing his James Brown routines under his alter ego "Black Velvet."
No Time For Dreaming is out January 25, 2011 through Daptone subsidiary Dunham Records and is some of the most genuine soul music you're bound to find in the 21st century.
Download "The World (Is Going Up In Flames)" after the jump.
