Blue-in-Green:RADIO is a contemporary soul/funk/jazz/Latin internet radio station broadcasting an array of incredible shows from presenters and DJs from across the world.
It's been three years since Louise Golbey's debut album 'Novel' was released so news of a brand new EP unveiled in 2017 is massively welcome news.
With releases dating back as far as 2008 ('Acoustic Sessions' available on iTunes), 'Love It or Leave It' marks an excellent introduction to woo prospective new fans of Golbey's music and acts as a solid release to have them trawling through past releases to play catch-up on an incredible career.
For those new to the name, Louise Golbey's passion has taken her to the stage of some of London's most iconic stages, including The Jazz Cafe and Ronnie Scott's and to share a stage with soul luminary Omar (who also contributed a guest vocal to 'The Outsider' on Golbey's 'Novel'), and to perform as the opening act for the incredible George Benson and Roy Ayers.
Having already secured airplay on Radio 2 with 'Family Tree', 'Love It or Leave It' has five other songs of excellent caliber smoothly mixing elements of R&B and soul to deliver great songs like 'I Have Never' and 'Please Don't'.
Again, this is a great release to jump into to Louise Golbey's music or for the long-term fans among us, a great release to add to a long line of great releases.
Sundays on Blue-in-Green:RADIO finds us in a 90s State of Mind so here's a small handful of acouple of recent additions to our 90s playlist to indulge in. Tune in to 90s day via our website www.blueingreenradio.com or find us on iTunes or TuneIn.
'My Oh My' [Smoothed Out] by Chantay Savage
Most known for her breakout cover of 'I Will Survive', Chantay Savage actually followed that album up in 1999 with 'This Time'. Featuring a number of great songs, many of which have been included in the 90s State of Mind playlist, this song serves as a great introduction to a classy album.
----- 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore' by Faith Evans featuring Mary J Blige
A track from two of the defining voices of 90s R&B, Mary J Blige guested on Faith Evans debut album on Bad Boy Records with their cover of Rose Royce's classic.
----- 'Sensitivity' by Ralph Tresvant
Released in 1990 from Ralph Tresvant's debut solo album, this incredible song stands as a 90s standout as well as a standout from the production catalogue of Terry Lewis & Jimmy Jam.
Here are just a few of the tracks that we've recently uploaded to our Liberation's Frequency playlist on Blue-in-Green:RADIO and very much hope you enjoy... 'It's The Music' by The Mighty Mocambos featuring Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk, Hektek & DeeJay Snoop
Jumping back in time to 2015 to pick out a select few songs from The Mighty Mocambos release 'Showdown'. An excellent album featuring top guest spots including DeRobert, Nichola Richards and Peter Thomas, as well as long-term friend and collaborator Afrika Bambaataa who appears on three of the album's songs.
----- 'Haunted By The Devil' by Nicole Willis & The UMO Jazz Orchestra
Fresh off our exclusive interview with US vocalist Nicole Willis discussing this very project, we're very excited to have added songs from this fantastic new album to our playlist. Substituting The Soul Investigators for The UMO Jazz Orchestra does Willis no harm as she still delivers wonderfully.
----- 'Gave My Heart' by Omar featuring Leon Ware
Omar's 'Gave My Heart' EP boasts some fantastic remixes from the likes of DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rob Hardt, Scratch Professor and The Reflex, all of which you'll find amongst our selection but here's the original version of the duet featuring the legendary Leon Ware to whet your appetites.
Since debuting with The Soul Investigators on Timmion Records in 2005 and taking the soul world by storm with the undeniable classic floor-filling record and soul connoisseur’s gem, 'Keep Reachin' Up', Nicole Willis cemented herself as one of the premier artists for these glorious contemporary soul times.
Even with an eight year hiatus between the group's first and second albums ('Tortured Soul' would later follow on in 2013), support and anticipation did not waiver from the devout supporters of the trans-Atlantic pairing of the Brooklyn-born, US songstress and Finalnd's soul and funk power-house band, which has continued to garner sterling reviews.
Thankfully those eight years weren't replicated for subsequent projects with 'Happiness in Every Style' following in 2015 and now, backed by The UMO Jazz Orchestra, we have 'My Name is Nicole Willis'.
Although Willis shares top-billing with the excellent UMO Jazz Orchestra, this album is very much Nicole Willis taking centre-stage. A declaration if you will that is even further underlined by the fact this album sees its release on her own Herakles Records. Musician and producer, Jimi Tenor, tackles horn arrangements throughout the project and joins the production trio of Willis and Pete Toikkanen, guitarist from The Soul Investigators. Musician, author, talk show host and hero to Nicole Willis, Ian F. Svenonius, also jumps on the album's intro and outro, really rounding the project out as becoming one of her most personal efforts.
It's a Nicole Willis release so highlights will always be aplenty: 'Still Got A Way To Fall', 'Break Free' and 'Togetherness' stand tall amongst some fantastic songs, and the re-imagined versions of previous releases, 'One In A Million' and 'Together We Climb' showcase just what The UMO Jazz Orchestra bring to the table.
Whether it's The Soul Investigators, The UMO Jazz Orchestra or the upcoming project with Banda Palomita, Nicole Willis solidifes her passion, ability and intent with every release. With the greatest of pleasures, for the second time on this site, we're able to introduce the incredible... Nicole Willis.
How did the collaboration with the UMO Jazz Orchestra come about?
It had been a thought for some time that a live show with the group would work well, since my prior releases and gigs included horn sections. We began writing some new material for that show which took place at Savoy and developed something slightly different from what I have written before. The writers team was Pete Toikkanen, Jimi Tenor and myself. Jimi is rather gifted at making big band arrangements.
Is there any particular significance behind the album's title, 'My Name Is Nicole Willis’?
I suppose after finding creative differences in work and my divorce from my husband of 17 years, I wanted to reclaim myself. I’d felt I put my own agenda on a back-burner for a rather long time and that I could no longer slip back into uncomfortable or diminutive situations. It was like a push of assertion, that thing we somehow always do to make a change that might be difficult.
Can you talk a little about what went into the making of the new album?
While preparing for the show at the Savoy here in Helsinki, we rehearsed at Ilmala for two days that were recorded. The scores had been written well in advance and had been placed into the possession of the UMO creative team. It was in a television studio with rather high ceilings, concrete walls that were covered in heavy curtain. We got quality recordings, which were edited, thankfully from the initiative of Jimi Tenor. He also recorded the vocals. Mixing was a combined effort. I was quite insistant, and in the end was truly pleased with the result.
What led you to revisit some of the older songs in your catalogue, like 'One in a Million' and 'Together We Climb’?
Those two songs are actually from my last album release. So yes, kind of newer, really. It wouldn't make sense to work with UMO and not have these songs that are all arranged with horns originally. In fact most of my catalogue with The Soul Investigators could have been ideal to perform with them. Jimi has arranged extensively with the group and myself. It just worked out.
How did the opportunity to include Ian Svenonius on the album present itself?
We pursued it. I had been in touch with Ian from time to time over the years and been his fan for about 20. Social media, that blessing & curse, makes it easy to stay in contact. I always look forward to what he does and return to his recordings throughout time. A hero for me.
You appear to constantly be diversifying, from your work with The Soul Investigators to the 'Big Fantasy'/'Tear It Down' EP and now to this project: do these reinventions come naturally?
As a matter of fact, yeah. I don’t like to pigeon hole myself. If one does not feel that they can do anything then they won’t. Also must be careful of taking the reins on your destiny. I would suggest that for anyone. Make your own decisions about what you do. I like so many genres of music, that it is easy to find inspiration everywhere.
Have you given any thought to what your next project might be?
Possibly some kind of future disco for record. I already have a new live band, Nicole Willis & Banda Palomita. I’m really pleased with that.
Who would be a dream artist for you to either record or perform with?
I’ve just had that opportunity to work with Ian Svenonius on my recording. We tried to set up him joining in live with UMO but it didn’t work out. That would be me set for the next two decades!
Acting as something of a prelude to our GetToKnow radio special on Ubiquity Records (initially airing 16th October on Blue-in-Green:RADIO at 6pm), we thought we'd whet your appetites with a brand new edition from our 5 Songs About series. Music from the fantastic Ubiquity Records is under the spotlight here so let's dive straight into the catalogue of this extraordinary record label...
'Take My Time' by Breakestra featuring Choklate
Breakestra solidified themselves as one of the leading names in contemporary funk with the release of their debut album album, 'Hit The Floor'. But what some fans may not have known is that an EP actually preceded the LP and that it's an essential purchase. Not only does it house an excellent Quantic remix of 'Hiding', there's also an alternate take of the album's opening number 'Stand Up' presented here as 'Take My Time'.
- 'Playboy Bunny' by Shawn Lee featuring Darondo
The ever-prolific producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, Shawn Lee, could never not be included on any list to do with Ubiquity. In this case, we've opted for one of the two collaborations between Lee and vocalist Darondo that appear on Lee's 'Soul in The Hole' album.
-
'Got To Be A Love' by Greyboy featuring Sharon Jones and Quantic
The man whose first album kicked off the onslaught of Ubiquity releases that would follow on from it. DJ Greyboy, who kicked off his career with Ubiquity in 1993, has a gem of a record from his 'Soul Mosaic' release which partners him with the awesome Quantic and the late - but oh so great - Sharon Jones.
-
'Love is A Hurting Thing' [12" Mix] by Gloria Ann Taylor
Dipping into the Luv N' Haight catalogue for this entry and although there is a lot of fantastic releases to pick from, we're opting for a stunning house-esque number for this 12-inch mix of the title track. Reissued in 2015 from recordings from the 1970s, Gloria Ann Taylor has an excellent release that you should be scrambling to get your hands on.
-
'Shy As A Butterfly' by The Mighty Sceptres
From the album that paired long-term friends and collaborators, Angeline Morrison and Nick Radford (aka Frootful), together as The Mighty Sceptres comes this Almighty track. With additional production throughout the album by Chris Pedley of The Baker Brothers and mixing duties tackled by Benedic Lamdin (aka Nostalgia 77), fingers crossed for another release from them in time, but in the meantime we have this fantastic record to keep us happy.
'Songs in the Key of Grease' marks the official debut collaboration of vocalist Mavis "Swan" Poole and drummer Jeremy "Bean" Clemons under the guise of Soul Understated.
Individually, their credentials are practically bursting at the seams, with Mavis Poole having sung with Prince and securing features on projects with Motema saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin's excellent album 'Retox' as well as Jesse Fischer's Soul Cycle album, 'Flipped'; while Jeremy Clemons boasts having performed with monumental jazz vocalists Andy Bey and Gregory Porter.
So backed by all of these credentials, naturally expectations would be high for the duo's debut EP which thankfully delivers on all fronts: theirs is an exciting blend of contemporary soul and R&B with songs ranging from the arresting uptempo numbers like 'Wibble Wobble' and 'So What', the lush ballad of 'Fantasy' and the jazzy neo-soul stylings of 'The Way I See' which is another strong highlight.
The songs are backed by an array of excellent musicians throughout including the dynamic and accomplished piano virtuoso, Marc Cary, who appears on 'Junkie' and 'So What', and Maurice "Mighty Moe" Hagans who contributes congas to 'So What'.
'Songs in the Key of Grease' has already secured 'album of the week' in September's Nu Skool Soul show on Blue-in-Green:RADIO and not only serves as a great introduction to Poole and Clemons' musical union but hopefully also as the first of many releases under the 'Soul Understated' banner.
'Songs in the Key of Grease' is available to purchase from Amazon and iTunes.
The legendary jazz vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald, once said:
"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't
think you can go wrong"; when applying that theory to the musical efforts
of trombonist Mosche Snowden... there is only love and inspiration.
Mosche is very much an embodiment of where an unrelenting
passion for music can take you.
Currently riding high from the recent release of his brand new album
'Compendium', this Washington DC-based talent has an ever-growing resume that
currently includes supplying original compositions for Washington's annual Chamber Dance Project,
Ballet & Brass 2016 and Ballet Brass & Song 2017, performing for
various pre-game shows on FOX and taking the music from 'Compendium' all over
the United States and setting stages alight wherever he goes. And it's on the live stage where Mosche is
really starting to establish himself, and where 'Compendium' finds its true
home. With musical influences ranging
from Stevie Wonder to James Brown and fellow trombonist, Kenny Carr, Mosche
seems to have taken elements from each and delivers through feverish and
innovative live performances.
Planned as part of a series, the music on 'Compendium'
showcases the diversity of his influences: 'Next Level' and 'Rue Noir' will
definitely have people off their seats while numbers like 'I Will Always' are
more lush and sentimental affairs. When
writing and putting the project together, Mosche describes the process:
"There's really no method to the madness, when it comes
to writing I could be doing anything from sleeping, watching movies to driving
and lyrics or a melody will come to me. When it comes to producing I like to
create from the mood that I'm in at that moment."
Mosche’s music is born of passion and the love for his craft
is evident in whatever medium someone chooses to embrace his music. Fingers crossed for more in the Compendium
series to come but in the meantime the first of hopefully many projects is
awaiting attention. As Lady Day herself states
at the outset… if there is only love and inspiration in the music, how could he
go wrong?
'Compendium' is available to purchase from iTunes.
The Soul Immigrants have established themselves as a name in the UK's contemporary funk scene to be revered as highly as any band you could compare them with. Initially formed in the 1990s, by Emrys Baird and Nitin Sawhney, the band has seen its fair share of evolution over the years but it's design has always remained intact: the focus on old-school sensibilities with their own distinctly contemporary twist.
In 2015, fans were treated to an exciting stage in Soul Immigrants' evolution with their album, 'The Hustle Is On!', which is a classic modern-day funk and soul record. It's a statement that doesn't warrant a discussion. Preceded by the singles 'The Ghetto (There's No Way Out)' and 'Sunk Without The Funk', the album is packed full of fast-paced funk and sweet soul songs like 'Yard of Hard', 'Take Him Back To The Projects' and 'Golden Summer Rays'.
Now in 2017, evolution has taken the Soul Immigrants into a new direction. Re-imagined as a trio for their brand new EP, this stripped-back approach works wonders when tackling the four chosen songs for their project, 'Covers For Lovers & Others'.
Emrys Baird tackles vocal and guitar duties with long-term collaborator, David Bouet on drums, and rounding out the trio is David Dower on Organ and Rhodes; another member of the Soul Immigrants alumni, saxophonist Ian Bailey, marks a welcome feature on the EP's opening number as well. The EP boasts an exciting tracklist but even more exciting are the rules that were put in place to decide upon them:
1. 'Ebony Eyes' (Emrys Baird: "Find a [hidden gem] on an absolute classic album such as Stevie Wonder's 'Songs In the Key Of Life'")
2. 'Layla' ("Pick an anthem and change its genre; rock to Latin on this one")
3. 'Ain't No Sunshine' ("Take on a giant of a tune but do it your way or what's the point?")
4. 'Coming Home' ("Mel [Torme]'s been coming home for well over 50 years so in the rewrite he stops off at a bar with dire consequences")
As far as tackling cover versions go, this would make an exciting concept for a series of these EPs imposing these rules as a springboard for each EP. And as expected, everything comes together superbly: Ain't No Sunshine' is certainly the gamble that pays off, but the re-imagining of Eric Clapton's classic may be the show-stealer here.
As always, it will be exciting to see where evolution takes The Soul Immigrants next... as fans wait patiently for a new album of original material, which is already in the pipeline, for now there's a brilliant EP that deserves your attention.
'Covers For Lovers & Others' is available on Spotify and iTunes. Click here to read our exclusive chat with Emrys Baird following the release of 'The Hustle Is On!'
