Stephen Marley has given music lovers a hell of a lot to absorb on his new album Revelation Pt. II: The Fruit of Life. The album has an epic 19 tracks, more if you access them digitally. It features around two dozen North American and Jamaican vocalists and MCs. And it showcases the roots of reggae… Continue reading Stephen Marley – Revelation Part 2- The Fruit of Life
Aaradhna – Brown Girl
The new album from New Zealand’s young soul diva Aaradhna, Brown Girl, is another wonderful opportunity to acquaint yourself with the uniquely-flavoured sounds of the South Pacific. Musically this album gives you a diverse fusion of flavours from smooth, smokin’ R&B to a hint of island skank and some cruisy country vibes. It’s simply the… Continue reading Aaradhna – Brown Girl
Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
The new album from London’s Michael Kiwanuka, Love & Hate, is a unique and special gift of music in 2016 amongst the rest. Why? Well for starters because Michael Kiwanuka’s super-soulful voice sounds like no other in the world. When you’ve heard it once it’s instantly recognisable as his voice the next and every time after.… Continue reading Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
Miles Davis And Robert Glasper – Everything’s Beautiful
You’d be forgiven for thinking a Miles Davis and Robert Glasper album would include a whole lot of horn and piano playing by those two artists. But, with Everything’s Beautiful, you’d be wrong. And you’re all the better for it. Showcasing their skills on trumpet and piano wasn’t the task Robert Glasper gave himself as producer.… Continue reading Miles Davis And Robert Glasper – Everything’s Beautiful
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2016 – All Along The Jazz Continuum
Melbourne International Jazz Festival has again succeeded in bringing some of the world’s greatest musical innovators to perform on stages throughout Melbourne over 10 days; creators from all along the jazz continuum – some whose music we’ve known and loved for our entire lifetime so far, others whose new music we’ll benefit from knowing better and may… Continue reading Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2016 – All Along The Jazz Continuum
Keyon Harrold Going Deeper
Being mentored by Wynton Marsalis; getting a trumpet lesson from Clark Terry before he passed; touring with D’Angelo And The Vanguard and so many others, and more recently playing trumpet for Don Cheadle in his role as Miles Davis in Miles Ahead. Those are just a few on an insanely-long list of music experiences St Louis-born trumpeter,… Continue reading Keyon Harrold Going Deeper
Marcus Strickland – From Twi-Life To One Life
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
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
Orishas Reunited For New Album
Orishas only did two things that troubled me during their 11 years together creating stunning, one-of-a-kind Cuban hip hop music. The first was featuring Pitbull on one of their tracks “Quien Te Dijo” – and there ain’t no way of ever undoing that. The second and much more devastating thing was their decision to split up… Continue reading Orishas Reunited For New Album