Wonder-FULL is one of the longest running annual tribute parties in NYC and the world at large. When people first hear of an entire night dedicated to the music of Stevie Wonder it's generally an unimaginable thought, but it works. You simply have to be there to understand it.  It doesn't matter how many times Stevie makes an appearance or phone call, it's always a brand new experience… Truly exciting and a total blessing from one of the greatest musical treasures of this life. Here's a clip of the phone call Stevie made during the jam in NY on 5/31/06 at 1am in the morning. If you were there you knew  how magical this felt. 

Wonder-FULL XVI NY 2014 (Stevie phone call)

Guess what, COOL MILLION are back! And this is without a doubt their best album to date.
The unique soul duo (Frank Ryle & Rob Hardt) have been busy working up their best with a hot line up of some truly amazing and talented artists.

Give It Up (ft. Laura Jackson)

Buy via iTunes / Google Play: geni.us/DeepTenorCityOba

With the release of “Oba”, BBE has uncovered a rare gem. Production duo Dan Stillit and Oli Savill (collectively, Deep Tenor City) bringing together a wide group of the most accomplished (some Grammy- nominated) artists from the worlds of Jazz, Latin. Fusion, Funk and Afro-beat. “Oba”, recorded in the winter months of 2003, is a complex and percussion-rich slice of glorious afro-cuban jazz fusion, is only now seeing the light of day, having this year been given serious underground airtime and club play.

The EP also features an infectious and distinctive and remix from the mighty Opolopo and a vocal-rich deep house remix from AriesAudio (Josh Emman). Again, both tracks have been had strong early reception in the underground scene.


Deep Tenor City - Oba (Opolopo Remix) [Radio Edit]

Details >> http://www.musicismysanctuary.com/divine-disco-american-gospel-greg-belson

Cultures of Soul Records is proud to present Greg Belson's Divine Disco - American Gospel Disco 1974 to 1984, curated and researched by Gospel Soul music authoritarian Greg Belson. Greg Belson's Divine Disco is a snapshot in time encapsulating the raw power of a spiritual performance, set to the pulsating 4/4 rhythms that were in vogue with the dance floors of the day.

Labels like Savoy played a key part in identifying artists that fit nicely into this brand new style with performers like Shirley Finney and The Gospelaires, both of whom were established within the scene, but carried the ‘Disco’ torch brightly with their tunes featured here. Divine Disco also paints a picture of the lesser known acts that privately released their message to the hopeful masses, such as the Gospel Ambassadors and the Inspirational Souls, whose recording budgets would have been signifi-cantly less than any ‘major’ label. As proven here, they had no less of an impact to the listener.

Other tracks on this compilation such as Betty Griffin's "Free Spirit" have become big club spins for the likes of the NYC Downlow and Horse Meat Disco crews. Also included are recently discovered tunes like the Masters of Music's "Trouble Don't Last Always" as well as a future classic by The Testi-monial Singers, which features several young members of the Winans Family. We’ve got you covered too for those more modern soul, boogiefied moments with rarities from Delores Fuller, Herman Harris and two offerings from the killer LP by Enlightment. This compilation also includes remixes and edits by Steve Cobby (who was a member of Fila Brazillia) and Rahaan. Coming out on July 8th!

Pre-Orderhttp://www.culturesofsoul.bigcartel.com



 

 

Exclusive Premiere: Enlightment "Faith Is The Key" (Taken from Greg Belson's DIVINE DISCO Comp.)

Here comes volume 5 of my "Modern Soul Bangers" selections. It's been a few weeks since I wanted to record this one & eventually found enough free time to put this one together. 

The selection is made of records I have been catching since I recorded previous volume, about one year ago. It ranges from slow & mid tempo stuffs to more dancers kind of tunes, it has a couple of AOR songs, a few gospel joints, early 80's boogie / modern soul things, two steps etc. Songs taken from all formats (7", 12" & LP cuts) - all from OG records. 

Really happy of the selection for this one as it contains some very rare cuts, as well as some classics. 

Made with lots of love - I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did while recording! If you like, please share around & drop a comment - always appreciated ;)

Waxist | Modern Soul Bangers Vol. 5

Rivalling their legendary output from the 70’s onwards, Brazilian jazz-funk pioneers Azymuth’s latest album Fênix saw the band on top form, with their trademark samba doido (crazy samba) sounding as slick as ever. Since then, Far Out Recordings has comissioned a special one-off remix for the project, from Chicago deep-house legend Ron Trent, who has long cited Azymuth as musical heroes and one of his biggest influences. With a toughened groove and gorgeous swirls of synth and pad embelishments, Ron’s remix takes Azymuth’s futurist disco even deeper.

Fenix- Azymuth (Album Version)

Keepin' Love New

Here is the two hours set I played at @southernsoulfestival in Montenegro on Cosmic Stage. Perfect family atmosphere & afternoon dancing vibes on the sand of Ulcinj beach !

Tracklist here after : 

Sugar Minott - Mama (7")
She - Easy Money (12")
T M & Group - Lovelight (LP)
DeDe - S&M Sexy Music Intrumental (12")
Cuban Brothers - Ain't No Need (7")
Marta Acuna - Dance Dance Dance (7")
Cool Notes - Natural Energy (7")
ERC - Ano Novo (7")
Gloster William & Master Control - No Cross No Crown (LP)
Sugahh - Can't Stop This Yearning (7")
Vance & Suzanne - I Can't Get Along Without You (12")
Dave Baker - Glow Of Love (12")
Sunstreet - Lovin' (12")
Scarbrough - Make Love To You (12")
Fernanda Abreu - A Noite (LP)
Chocolate Buttermilk Band - Can't Let Go (7")
Nick Allen - Need More Time (12")
Eddie Holman - Holy Ghost (LP)
Lenny Williams - I Still Reach Out (LP)
Omni - Out Of My Hands (12")
Sylverster - Over & Over (LP)
I-20 - Love Is Our Destiny (7")
Bileo - You Can Win (7")
Gospel Beauty
Pure Energy - Party (Waxist Edit) (12")
Le Stim - A Tribute To Muhammad Ali (12")

Live @ Southern Soul Festival | Montenegro | July 2017

Reel People are back. Back to their roots. Back to the future. Back with a bang. Eagerly awaited new album Retroflection sees the revered collective recreating 12 soul, disco and boogie classics pivotal to their formation nearly 20 years ago and subsequent hugely successful evolution. Band leader Oli Lazarus has gathered a stellar cast of musicians and singers, – the likes of Angie Stone, Mica Paris, Omar, Tony Momrelle, Navasha Daya, Anthony David, LaSharVu and Sharlene Hector breathing fresh and irresistible life into seminal grooves by Maze, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King and Teena Marie among others.

Mica Paris opens proceedings, her powerful take on Alicia Myers’ gospel-R&B jam I Want To Thank You an impressive herald for what’s to come – authenticity, contemporary edge, rich musicianship, beating soulful heart. Angie Stone provides sass ‘n’ slink over signature low-end synths for a suitably raw re-tooling of Yarbrough & People’s 1980 hit Don’t Stop The Music, whilst the funky strut of Thinking About Your Love (a crisper, more urgent update of Skipworth & Turner) perfectly complements Omar’s expansive, one-in-a-million vocals. Elsewhere, Reel People regular Tony Momrelle revisits Carl Anderson’s mid-Eighties gem Buttercup (penned by Stevie Wonder) with considerable finesse as well as Bill Withers’ seriously underrated collabo with guitarist Jose Feliciano, Can We Pretend.

Basement Jaxx songstress Sharlene Hector uplifts on a sparkling new version of Side Effect’s Always There. Reel People’s sweet summer hook-ups with Baltimore chanteuse Navasha Dava are also present and correct – I’m In Love and Can’t Fake The Feeling pay affectionate tribute to Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King and Geraldine Hunt respectively at the same time as showcasing Daya’s sublime, jazz-flecked delivery. There’s still room for Anthony David’s luscious rendition of deep-soul bomb Keep It Up (originally by Milton Wright) and for LaSharVu – a white-hot amalgam of Hector and fellow female powerhouses Vulu Malinga and LaDonna Harley-Peters – to smartly re-dress Teena Marie joint I Need Your Lovin’. Sleek instrumental twists on Maze’s Twilight and Pleasure’s Joyous complete the incredible line-up.

Reel People’s first full studio album in 10 years (following acclaimed releases Second Guess and Seven Ways To Wonder, as well as compilation work including Golden Lady), Retroflection reflects the highest possible level of passion and polish. Such soulful devotion and craftmanship has ever been a Reel People hallmark. Recorded in London and Atlanta over an intense 12-month period, Retroflection also avoids the formulaic overload of modern beats and basslines that countless others pursue. Here the past is artfully reawakened, Reel People’s talented cast of performers – overseen by experienced studio-hands Lazarus, Mike Patto, Matt Cooper (of Incognito fame) and Toni Economides - re-treading classic riffs with new yet respectful purpose. Their compelling neo-soul blend of now and then should awe diehards and newcomers alike. Retroflection is one hell of a return.

Oh, and before you ask – (it’s the question Lazarus gets the most) – live shows are set to follow. Reel People have recorded Retroflection with an easy translation to ‘the road’ front of funky mind. Looks, then, like we’ll be enjoying this incredible group’s company well into 2019…and beyond. It really is good to have them back.

For more info on all of our releases go to www.reelpeoplemusic.com

Retroflection

Can We Pretend

Download/Stream

Reel People feat. Tony Momrelle - Can We Pretend

Found this unfinished MP3 edit I started on a few years back but didn't do anything with it as my fellow fiddler Mark Jordan(SOS) beat me to the punch and put out his own re-rub. Not a big fan of speeding tracks up but this one just about gets away with it.

Do What You Gotta Do - Kem (Encore Re - Work)

LJ Reynolds Travelin

Travelin'

Future Classics & Forgotten Treasures — Selections for the Adventurous Music Listener (Founded in 2007 by Lexis)

Exclusive Premiere: Enlightment "Faith Is The Key" (Taken from Greg Belson's DIVINE DISCO Comp.)

Music Is My Sanctuary

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Gianfranco Giraldo

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