Nicolay, Sy Smith, Zo! and Carmen Rodgers
Check out Zo! and some of The Foreign Exchange family at the 1st Hit Listening Lounge at Mood’s Music. With our partners the Music Addikts, Harmony in Life and the wonderful Jodine Dorce of Jodine’s Corner, this 1st Hit Listening Lounge was a great celebration of Zo!’s newest release, SunStorm. Check out the pics below… (more…)
On Kem’s first record in five years, he will, no doubt, seduce all female listeners as he promises to kiss his lover’s toes on the sensuous “Human Touch.’’ But this 12-song set runs much deeper than what most male R&B artists offer up as late night, lights-down fare. In fact, that song is more about the point where sensuality and spirituality converge. On first listen, the disc seems unassuming because of its subtlety, but slowly it reveals its layers. The tracks about love, devotion, and transcendence are refreshingly honest and (mercifully) lacking in leering lasciviousness. “Share My Life’’ is emotionally true, while “Why Would You Stay’’ aches with real regret. Kem has developed as a vocalist, and he glides easily from upper to lower register (a few times offering Barry White-like murmurings). Throughout, the production hardly strays beyond the organic keyboards, guitar, and percussion ensemble; and the tight dynamic neatly mirrors the themes about the ties between two people. Kem, who’s had a troubled personal past, also offers up a couple of songs about staring down life’s obstacles, including the jazz inflected “Golden Days,’’ with its lithe spoken word interlude from Jill Scott. Reminiscent of Maxwell’s “BLACKsummers’night,’’ this CD marks a return to the real for today’s often sterile R&B scene.
Listen to the full album here
And let us know what you think
The delivery of the quintessential artist: the message, the music, the voice …
The facile melodic lines she weaves are enough to make anyone a believer. So, if you think you’ve made up your mind about jazz, hold the verdict because the jury’s still out. Dayna Lynn is redefining this American art form for the 21st century by bridging the gap between generations: she is introducing some and reacquainting others with jazz.
Both contemporary and classic, Dayna Lynn’s music is called Progressive Soul-Jazz: where intricate harmonies make a bed for smoothly executed melodies. It combines the heart of soul music with the intellect of jazz. Her songs are carefully composed masterpieces where she is both songwriter and arranger. As food for the mind and water for the spirit, her lyrics create a looking glass through which her listeners see themselves and their world, and are thus motivated to make a change.
Dayna Lynn’s upcoming release, “The Call” (June 2010), is fresh and timeless. The music is familiar yet, unmistakably unique. The title track was written in 2005 and inspired by the violence and ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan. However, it is an anthem for peace everywhere and a herald to all people: peace is the answer. The album is full of soulful grooves and jazz-laced classic songs that seek to galvanize and empower the masses.
A graduate of Chicago’s premiere fine arts high school, The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Dayna Lynn is a singer, songwriter, pianist and flautist. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in vocal jazz from Webster University in St. Louis. She has music directed and composed/arranged music for several musical theatre productions including Congo Square Theatre’s Black Nativity (adapted by Mike Malone) and Ifa Bayeza’s The Adventures Kid Zero.
As part of our “Meet the Artist” initiative we have been keeping you posted about the latest with Macon, Georgia based artist Eazy. Today we have his final full song preview before the release of his first full length album the Raptism this Friday July 23rd at 10pm. The album is being offered as a free download and you should make sure that you have it for your collection.
Hola, my grown peoples. :)
I had to give you one more video from the “1st Hit Listening Lounge” factory with our partners, the Music Addikts and Harmony In Life. If you missed this treat, here’s a little snippet of the “Meet & Greet” with Dwele last week. Be sure to get his album, “Wants,World, Women” in stores now!
Dwele’s Meet & Greet!!!!! from Grown Folks Music on Vimeo.
In this new series we get up close and personal with budding independent soul artist JD Green. JD, a native of Detroit who now makes her homeabase in Louisville, Kentucky is receiving some very well deserved buzz in the Louisville area for the lead single “Make It New” from the forthcoming album diurnal: movements
Today we present the finale of the series… a full review of the album.
In this reviewers opinion diurnal: movements is the sound of the chrysalis being opened. Artist JD Green gifts us with the fruits of not only her labor, but her study, her musical diet, and her musical training in this 18 song debut. After experiencing the set is should become blatantly obvious why I consider this album analogous to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. (more…)
