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
Tag: d’angelo
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
‘F’ Must Be For Funk
‘F’ in the A to Z of Fusion must go to Funk. Why? Because put simply and personally, funk on the downbeat (like reggae’s offbeat) moves my body into action and takes me to a higher, happier place than any other breed of music in this world. More generally, because funk music in its original and many… Continue reading ‘F’ Must Be For Funk
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
D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day
The difference between D’Angelo & The Vanguard’s concert at London’s Roundhouse on Monday night and the last concert of theirs I heard is like Night and Day. The last was nine months ago when they performed at Soulfest 2014– “Australia’s first annual neo-soul, hip hop and jazz festival”. At that time and for the previous… Continue reading D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day
Soulfest 2015 – The Second Coming
Soulfest arrived last year, promoted as ‘Australia’s First Annual Neo Soul, Jazz & Hip Hop Festival’. Some teething problems in its inaugural year left people wondering whether there would be a second Soulfest in 2015. Most who experienced Soulfest 2014 were hoping the festival would come again. Because despite those initial teething problems, Soulfest had delivered to… Continue reading Soulfest 2015 – The Second Coming
D’Angelo – A Messiah of Sorts
Have you spent the last 14 years since D’Angelo delivered Voodoo – waiting, watching, desperately hoping for the artist then-dubbed the “R&B Jesus” to bring us new music, to deliver Black Messiah? Not me, or at least I didn’t think I was. Voodoo kept me in good company that whole time and still now gives me as much listening… Continue reading D’Angelo – A Messiah of Sorts
Soulfest Brisbane – Shit, Damn, Motherfucker
One week after Brisbane Soulfest I’m still buzzing on a musical high, slowly absorbing and relishing the goodness of the experience it was. Festival folks in Brisbane were delivered exactly what they went to Soulfest for: 10 hours of non-stop soul, r&b and hip hop music from a long-list of quality Australian-based and international artists performing tag team on 2… Continue reading Soulfest Brisbane – Shit, Damn, Motherfucker
Melbourne Soulfest 2014 – Silky Smooth Sunday Soul Dreams
In Australia right now for the world-first Soulfest are a long list of some of the most talented and influential contemporary soul, r&b and hip hop artists on the planet. Angie Stone, D’Angelo, Leela James, Anthony Hamilton, Maxwell, Aloe Blacc, Mos Def, Musiq Soulchild and Common. Each artist came with with their own band and back-up… Continue reading Melbourne Soulfest 2014 – Silky Smooth Sunday Soul Dreams
A Soul-Drenched Spring @ Soulfest 2014
Springtime in Australia is glorious: blue skies, sunshine, flowers and butterflies, happy people – and a steady stream of music festivals to make those days even happier. None of those festivals are dedicated only to soul, r&b, hip-hop and jazz music though – except now for one: Soulfest. If you haven’t already concreted your plans to… Continue reading A Soul-Drenched Spring @ Soulfest 2014