No music artist likes the constraints of genre-boxes or external expectations. And Marcus Strickland is no exception. For over 15 years he’s been known and respected as a “jazz” saxophonist and composer – not daring to step outside that box. Until recently. With his latest creation Nihil Novi, Strickland has moved beyond the expectations of… Continue reading Marcus Strickland – From Twi-Life To One Life
Category: North America (USA)
North American Music Artists
Bluesfest 2016 – Embracing Contemporary Hip Hop, Soul & Jazz Of The Highest Order
Blessed be lovers of innovative contemporary hip hop, R&B, funk and jazz music for the gift of consecutive live performances by Kendrick Lamar, D’Angelo, Kamasi Washington and Hiatus Kaiyote on the one stage at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016. If you’re one of those music lovers you’ll know that every single one of the many musicians and… Continue reading Bluesfest 2016 – Embracing Contemporary Hip Hop, Soul & Jazz Of The Highest Order
D’Angelo Live In Australia – One, Two, Three, Four
After experiencing the first three of D’Angelo’s four incredible Australian shows, I was mysteriously left feeling less than fully satisfied. It didn’t make sense when D’Angelo and The mini Vanguard touring with him had just delivered flawless, stunning performances to Melbourne, Sydney and Byron Bay Bluesfest audiences. x D’Angelo, Every Time… Continue reading D’Angelo Live In Australia – One, Two, Three, Four
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly: The Art Of Music In 2015
With each passing year of life the rarer it seems I hear new music that sounds truly fresh and innovative to me; new music that makes me feel excited about the art of music and its contemporary evolution. Lots of new albums were released in 2015. Only three spring to mind that gave me that excitement.… Continue reading Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly: The Art Of Music In 2015
The Return of Blackalicious – Imani Vol. 1
Old school hip hop duo Chief Excel and Gift of Gab are back in fine form with their first new Blackalicious album since 2005. Imani Vol. 1 is the first of three new Blackalicious album instalments they say are coming. Anything I have to say about the nitty gritty of its 20 tracks matters not really.… Continue reading The Return of Blackalicious – Imani Vol. 1
Who Is Jill Scott?
Who is Jill Scott? Well, having never met the woman I’m not qualified to say. But the words and sounds Jill Scott has created and shared with the world in the five studio albums she’s released over the last 15 years, including the most recent Woman, give us a pretty good idea of all we… Continue reading Who Is Jill Scott?
Georgia Anne Muldrow Accentuating The Positive
Georgia Anne Muldrow’s most recent album A Thoughtiverse Unmarred, is a fabulous and timely reminder of how very much the world (both humans and the precious environment we live in) benefits from having positive musical messengers like her within it. During its twelve tracks of hip hop beats and rhymes soaked in funk and soul, Georgia… Continue reading Georgia Anne Muldrow Accentuating The Positive
De La Soul – Bringing The Fresh To Hip Hop At Soulfest 2015
De La Soul has been bringing fresh and innovative beats, rhymes, skits and emerging artists to hip hop since its “Golden Age”. If you grew up in the late 80s, 90s or thereafter if you were switched on to the evolution of hip hop, there’s a good chance De La Soul’s music makes up an integral… Continue reading De La Soul – Bringing The Fresh To Hip Hop At Soulfest 2015
Sublime Sounds Of Old: Al Green
In my musical world the sublime sounds of old inspire and make me feel more than most new music does today. Here we turn back to those sounds to remind everyone (especially the youngsters of the world) that they are there to know, learn from, love, take them higher, appreciate and cherish…for forever-after. With heart and soul… Continue reading Sublime Sounds Of Old: Al Green
Kamasi Washington: The Jazz 2015 In Soulfest 2015
“Australia’s First Annual Neo Soul, Jazz & Hip Hop Festival” needs some jazz, right? The inaugural Soulfest 2014 delivered a line-up of spectacular soul and hip hop artists to Australian and New Zealand shores. Best of all it included D’Angelo & The Vanguard afresh, not long before the release of Black Messiah and they got busy playing… Continue reading Kamasi Washington: The Jazz 2015 In Soulfest 2015