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--=[ Lonnie Liston Smith ]=--
2008-06-08 07:25:00
Lonnie Liston Smith - Loveland [1978]Loveland Link 2Lonnie Liston Smith moved from RCA to Columbia with Loveland, an LP that is sleek and commercial but not without heart or creativity. While Loveland fared well among fans of fusion, crossover and R&B, the keyboardist had long since lost the attention of acoustic jazz's hardcore, which asserted that he had turned his back on his roots and was no longer playing jazz. But in fact, jazz is essentially what Smith is playing on Loveland, although it's jazz mixed with soul, funk and pop. "We Can Dream "(which features Donald Smith on vocals) is strictly R&B, but instrumentals like "Sunburst," "Explorations" and "Springtime Magic" are basically an extension of the spiritual post-bop Smith had played with Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Gato Barbieri. In fact, one of the high points of this LP is an interpretation of Kirk's "Bright Moments." On these spiritual performances, Smith isn't divorcing himself from the influen...
More About: Jazz , Lonnie

--=[ N.E.R.D. ]=--
2008-06-08 02:13:00
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds (2008)Link 2Pharrell, Chad and Shay are back with their latest album, Seeing Sounds. I'm not so sure if I actually SAW the sounds they produced for this album, but I will say that they put together a pretty stellar album that is a slight step up from their last album, "Fly Or Die."All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Hip-hop , Funk Rock

--=[ Kelli Sae 2 ]=--
2008-06-08 02:12:00
Kelli Sae - Kelli Sae (1998)Link 2This album is Kelli Sae's solo debut. Her sound is infectious and intoxicating. It is the type of music that you can put your headphones on in your favorite recliner and let her music take hold of you. In fact, her music takes hold of you and makes you wanna go to your local urban radio station and bitch slap every disc jockey there for not giving it any spins. Real R&B music is finally making a comeback!Kelli Sae ~ CandyAll track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz

--=[ Prince 4 ]=--
2008-06-08 02:11:00
Prince - Xpectation [RARE] (2003)Link 2For those of you who grew up in the 80's you may think of Prince as a rock/pop singer as per his Purple Rain album. However, for those of you who listened to Prince album "The Rainbow Children" already KNOW what time it is! This album is super rare. 9 tracks. All HEAT. Did you ever think Prince was capable of taking it to THIS level? I didn't think so, and boy oh boy I couldn't have been more wrong.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz , Prince , Jazz Fusion

--=[ DJ Kawasaki ]=--
2008-06-08 02:10:00
DJ Kawasaki - You Can Do It (2008)Link 2This album may be short, but it also has a short fuse. Once you set it off in your CD tray it will explode and you will truly FEEL the HEAT this brotha brings to the table this time around! Favorite tracks include: THE WHOLE DAMN ALBUM! Don't sleep! Now does anyone know how I can contact that girl on the album cover...?DJ KAWASAKI ~ YOU CAN MAKE IT feat. Tasita D' MourAll track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz , Hip-hop , Electronica

--=[ Makoto Kuriya ]=--
2008-06-08 02:09:00
Makoto Kuriya - My Music Is Your Friend (2008)Link 2Makoto Kuriya - Always Your Friend (1991)Link 2Makoto Kuriya started his career as a jazz pianist when he was still a student at the University in USA. Kuriya moved to the United States immediately after high school graduation and later graduated from West Virginia University with linguistics major. Kuriya mainly performed on the East coast with famous jazz artists.After returning to Japan, Kuriya released more than 10 jazz albums till now and diversified his works in order to give a new life to jazz, he became a composer and a writer. With ever-lasting curiosity and sensibility for music, Kuriya's activities are expanding with various genres. He not only enlightens jazz but also collaborates it with classical music, produces Japanese pop songs, composes cinema music and creates tracks for club music.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz

--=[ Pamela Luss ]=--
2008-06-08 02:08:00
Pamela Luss - Your Eyes (2007)Link 2Pamela Luss's "Your Eyes" seems to feature two distinctive singers in one. On the midtempo material, Luss shows that she is a superior jazz singer, whether being sensual on "Baby, Don't You Quit Now," finding surprising life in a faster than usual "Over the Rainbow," or swinging on "Our Day Will Come." However, on ballads, her renditions are mostly very straight, closer to cabaret and even light pop than jazz, as if she is fearful of straying from the lyrics and the melody line for more than a moment.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz , Pamela

--=[ The Sheer All-Stars ]=--
2008-06-08 02:07:00
The Sheer All-Stars - Live At The Blues Room (2002)Link 2The Blak International Airlines is now boarding for South Africa, where we find The Sheer All-Stars ! These guys are some of the best musicians on the Sheer Sound record label, a label focused entirely on music from Southern Africa. The Sheer All Stars is a concept originated by Sheer Sound MD Damon Forbes, aiming to incorporate some of the finest South African jazz musicians as a working band. As the name suggests, the make up of the band is an all star one.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz , Jazz Fusion

--=[ Esperanza Spalding ]=--
2008-06-08 02:06:00
Esperanza Spalding - Esperanza (2008)Link 2"Esperanza" is bassist/vocalist/composer Esperanza Spalding's sophomore album. Armed with uncanny instrumental chops, a siren voice that spans three languages, and composing and arranging skills that weave together the best elements of the old-school with the progressive, this 23-year-old has crafted an album that takes a completely fresh and refreshing approach to jazz by borrowing from the rich traditions of soul, pop, world music and so much more.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jazz , Esperanza

--=[ Big Mama ]=--
2008-06-08 02:03:00
Take a real good look at this picture. This group goes by the name "Big Mama ," which is their tongue-in-cheek response to those people whom have reduced them to mere background singers because they're "not pretty enough" to stand on stage to sing lead. Do YOU think they're pretty? I sure as hell do. And they can sing their heads off!Big Mama - Blossom (2007)Link 2Big Mama - For The People (2006)Link 2Big Mama - It's Unique (2005)Link 2If you don't listen to ANY other song within these four records, you GOT to check out "Woman!" I accidentally put this on and boy oh boy these women will destroy most of the R&B groups on the radio today. And the song isn't even in English!Big Mama - Like The Bible (2003)Link 2This is Big Mama's debut album.All these albums contain HEAT regardless of the fact that they sing most of the lyrics in their native Korean language. But that's what DO here at Blak's Lair: we bring that hot ish that will make you realize that there IS good mu...
More About: Pop , Jazz

--=[ Graham Central Station 2 ]=--
2008-06-07 23:55:00
The Jam:The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology [2001][CD 1]The Jam:The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology [2001][CD 2]Graham Central Station, with Larry Graham on bass and Lady Chocolate doing some monster vocals was always one of the greats for pure funk music.Larry Graham, whose percussive and funky bass style(thumpin'-slappin'-pluckin') was one of the main ingredientsto Sly's catchy lyrics, harmonic hooks and rhythmic flightsof the imagination!Larry took it upon himself to form one of the baddest,most influential and most underated bands of the 70's..."Graham Central Station!!" The best of all their albums from 1973-1980 is on here and in addition to Larry's innovative bass playing you also hear early forays into electronic instrumentation with the useof the "funk box", an early drum machine, as well as synthesizers and moog bass around the same time as people like Stevie Wonder,P-Funk and others were introducing them to black music.The gro...

--=[ Wayman Tisdale ]=--
2008-06-07 20:03:00
Wayman Tisdale - Rebound [2008]In the typically lengthy thank-you section included on his eighth CD, Rebound, Wayman Tisdale acknowledges his doctors, as well as the special devotion of associates, friends, and family during a troubled time, as his way of alluding to the bone cancer he suffered in the interim since his last album. "When life tries to get you down," he says at the outset of the title track that opens the disc, "it's the perfect time for a rebound." That is about as much reference as he makes to his physical challenge, however. Otherwise, the listener might suppose that things are flowing as smoothly as ever for him. Certainly, they are musically. Rebound is another characteristic contemporary jazz effort for Tisdale, in which his fluid bass playing is heard within the context of highly programmed rhythm tracks. To provide contrast, a few vocals turn up, the most high-profile of them being country star Toby Keith's turn at Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give Ya ...
More About: Jazz

--=[ The Jazzmasters ]=--
2008-06-06 20:03:00
Paul Hardcastle - The Jazz masters [1991]Jazzmasters Link 2After years of exploring dance and electronic music, Paul Hardcastle moved to contemporary jazz fusion with his 1993 album, Jazzmasters I. Recorded in late 1990 and early 1991, the album features Hardcastle on the majority of the instruments -- everything except the sax and flute, which are handled by Gary Barnacle, and the vocals, which are by Helen Rogers. Given that all the rhythms are programmed, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the album sounds a little stiff in comparison to the average jazz release, but smooth contemporary jazz is about textures, which Hardcastle has mastered. The material may be a little weak and the sound may be a little canned, but Jazzmasters I firmly establishes Hardcastle as a musician who can pull off contemporary jazz quite convincingly.Paul Hardcastle - The Jazzmasters II [1995]Jazzmasters IIThe adjective "timeless" is usually used in praise. The dozen tracks featured here, all of which w...
More About: Paul Hardcastle

--=[ Volta Masters ]=--
2008-06-06 19:46:00
Volta Masters - At Work [2008] At work Link 2Volta Masters Remix Album.. DJ Ichikawa 2005, mainly consists of the Volta Masters formed a project team. Mixes by Theory Hazit, 1773, Precise Hero and moreVolta Masters - Change [2008]Change Link 2Japanese translation:That "Ryuichi Sakamoto / Last ChristmasMr.Lawrence"hippopotamus-install the jazzy "Mr.Lawrence" Beginning with the Studio familiar with, "Joe Hisaishi / Tino Ino name" R & B covers instruction, "Tino Ino Name ", Nujabes, who presided over the Guiness Records also admitted that the main MC = JR Momentan featuring" The Trip Of Your Life feat, JR "," Joe Hisaishi / Oriental Wind "to be arranged KURABUBITSU" Oriental Wind ", "Common / Resurrection" and involves the use of the mellow jazzy R & B, "Just In Love feat, Clever", "DeBarge / Stay With Me" and "Kool & The Gang / Summer Madness" and the pathetic use R & B decorated " Stay With Me feat, Clever Reverie Mix "and a jazzy Hip Hop beet Clever's cute vocals ar...
More About: Underground , Volta

--=[ Christopher Lewis ]=--
2008-06-06 18:13:00
Christopher Lewis - Crisis, A Change Is Required [2Cd][2008]What can someone expect from an album titled Crisis? For most people, the word has a negative connotation.For singer/songwriter/musician/producer Christopher Lewis, however, crisis takes on a completely different meaning. To him, it simply refers to the crossroads that everyone eventually faces in this journey called life and the destiny-altering decisions that must be made during these periods. Appropriately titled Crisis - Change Is Required, the album (Disc #1) contains songs that not only allow the listener to experience these crisis moments, but also gives hope that God will always help you through them. Lewis' vast musical influences can be heard throughout with sounds ranging from urban/R&B, pop, rock and of course gospel. Standout tracks include Joy the reflective Man Inside of Me and Show Me The Way featuring Bishop Paul S. Morton.Disc #2, Honest Heart bonus CD, is a collection of acoustic worship melodies fou...
More About: Gospel

--=[ Brandon Fields ]=--
2008-06-05 22:04:00
Brandon Fields -Brandon Fields [1994]Brandon Fields Link 2He has such a unique, beautiful yet mysterious and soulful sound and all the songs (the ballads and more uptempo ones) were so accessible yet creatively interesting that I had to have more.If you like smooth jazz, but want to break out of the formulaic mold that most smooth jazz albums have today, this is a great place to start.Brandon Fields-Other Places [1992]Other Places Link 2A talented altoist influenced by David Sanborn, Brandon Fields has the versatility to be able to play both R&B/crossover and hard bop. Fields grew up in Orange County, CA, and started playing alto when he was ten. A freelance musician since he was a teenager, Fields moved to Los Angeles in 1982 and has worked steadily ever since. He toured with George Benson in 1985, was a regular member of the Rippingtons, has long been a busy session player, and recorded CD's as a leader for Nova and Positive.* Another Great DWBass Post *All track info is in th...
More About: Jazz , Jazz Fusion

--=[ Jaguar Wright ]=--
2008-06-05 19:00:00
Jaguar Wright -Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul [2005]Jaguar Wright Link 2Jaguar Wright has a wonderful, unique voice. She is an alto, but I thing that her real grit is achieved when she shows off her upper register and "rises" above the arrangements/production. This whole album makes you feel like you are listening to pure soul music like it was in the late 60s and early 70s. The production is ambitious and for the most part it suits Wrights alto. While the album is 67 minutes long, it doesn't grow as weak as some albums of that length or more do. Naturally, some of the weaker selections could've been cut, but the biggest weight of that lenght is the 11 minute + "Do You Want", which is worth every bit of its duration. This is a well rounded sophomore effort and I wish that I'd heard her debut.All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Jaguar

--=[ Milkdipper ]=--
2008-06-04 20:31:00
V.A.Milkdipper Presents - Space Travelers [2008]Space travelers Link 2Jazz, Soul & Funk, Electronica, Breakbeats. Space Travelers features 17 new remixes off of Milkdipper label catalog and it also features new exclusive single Black Magic from DJ Tonk. Heavy hitters on the beats includes DJ Tonk, Ohmega Watts,Think Twice (Specifics),Headnodic (Crown City Rockers), Himuki, Stro the 89th Key (the Procussions), etc...This album is loaded with talented MC's with the likes of Kero One, Light Headed, Zion I, Moe Pope (Project Move),Raashan Ahmad (Crown City Rockers), Fineprint, etc...All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Hip Hop , Underground

--=[ Double ]=--
2008-06-04 18:35:00
Double-The Best Collaborations [2008]Double Link 2Here is the brand new Best Album from RnB singer Double. I thought overall this is a good album however this should have been amazing because I felt that there were a few collaborations that should have made this list but it didn't....Artists include HIRO from F.O.H, ZEEBRA, Mummy-D from RHYMESTER and Kohei from MELLOW YELLOW.DJ KAORI & DOUBLE ~ Miss DJ!!All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Double

--=[ Paris Match ]=--
2008-06-04 17:11:00
Paris Match - Flight 7 [2008]Paris Match Link 2Paris Match's music is a fusion of diverse musical genres including bossa nova, jazz, acid-jazz, soul, blue-eyed soul, AOR, and house.Paris Match is a Japanese musical group formed in 1998 by composer/arranger Yosuke Sugiyama and lyricist Tai Furusawa with vocalist Mari Mizuno. They debuted in 2000 with the album volume one. The group's name is a homage to the British musical group The Style Council, whose album Café Bleu features a song titled "The Paris Match".* Big Thanks 2 Van from Hall Of Jazz *** Paris Match Discography **All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Paris

--=[ Wei-Chi ]=--
2008-06-04 14:23:00
Wei-Chi-One I, Two Eyes [2008]Wei-Chi Link 2The majority of tracks on ?One I, Two Eyes? have been in co-production with Ben Mono, also laying his hands on programming, providing keyboards and the sound design. His album ?Dual? (on Compost CPT 135) has hit the streets with much praise. Another contributing artist is Moonstarr from Canada who is responsible for the future-minded ?New Paradise? which will leave other DJs drooling with elect. Kevin was so turned on by the WEI ?CHI sound, he asked Compost boss and executive producer of the record Michael Reinboth to remix the track. Two songs were produced by the masterminds of collage, Beanfield. Their current album ?Seek? (CPT 160) is enticing people and a real smasher. The Afro-Funk roller coaster ?Light? utilises the dense harmonic vocabulary of John Coltrane, stripped down to the bones and pumping it up in a Hip Hop kinda way whereas the ballad ?Pray for Peace? was recorded entirely with acoustic instruments. Then there´s Fauna Flas...
More About: Electronica , Nu jazz

--=[ Kissey Asplund ]=--
2008-06-04 14:06:00
Kissey Asplund - Plethora [2008]Kissey Link 2Plethora, the debut album from Swedish soul sensation Kissey Asplund is a genre defying journey through jazz, hip-hop, dance music, and soul, all with a fresh futuristic twist. Kissey takes us through a range of day-to-day stories of love lost and found, friendships betrayed, relationships on the rocks and even astral traveling. The album is entirely produced by Paris based hip-hop collective Papajazz.Kissey Asplund ~ Fuss'n'Fight* Another Great Jozee Post *All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Downtempo

--=[ Incognito 4 ]=--
2008-06-03 22:40:00
Incognito - Remixed [1996]Remixed Link 2Remixed features a number of the group's tracks for Talkin' Loud/Verve remixed by stars like Pete Rock and Roger Sanchez. Some of these 12 songs have previously been released, but the bulk of the disc have never been easily available -- most are promotional-only remixes. Frequently these versions, including a steaming "Always Threre," actually improve on the original take, offering deeper, more textured grooves. In fact, it is arguably the finest, most consistent Incognito album available.Incognito - Last Night in Tokyo, Live [1996]Tokyo Live Link 2If you think Incognito is just a studio band think again. This live offering captures a tight, energetic, perfectly balanced band having a great time in Japan. Incognito fans will appreciate the ample song list loaded with favorites, but fear not; this isn't a boring greatest hits concert. There is a jam-session feel on several of the cuts and Maysa really shines with her own versions of Roots an...
More About: Jazz , Incognito

--=[ Jason Champion ]=--
2008-06-03 19:24:00
Jason Champion - Reflections [2008]Reflections is the debut project from one of EMI Gospel ?s newest artists, Jason Champion. If the name rings a bell it?s because Champion is no stranger to the music scene. Discovered by the late Gerald Levert and rising to fame as one part of the ?90s R&B duo Men at Large, it would appear that Champion has traded in his R&B card for an all access pass into the world of Gospel music. However, things aren?t always as they appear. While it?s true Champion is now singing praises to the Lord, he certainly hasn?t left his R&B flare to collect dust on a shelf.Champion, with the help of mainstream and gospel super producer Warryn Campbell, digs deep into his R&B closet to deliver a soul satisfying body of work that will leave you rearranging your favorites with each and every spin. Reflections is amazingly inviting from the very beginning of the project. The music pulls you in from track one and takes you from the days of disco with the sin...
More About: Jason

--=[ Anthony Dixon ]=--
2008-06-03 19:00:00
Anthony Dixon - All Outta Words...[2007]Dixon Link 2My favorites are All Outta Words, Where Have you Been? and Maybe Next Time... The production quality of the CD is on point too!!! This is a refreshing addition to anyone's Neo-Soul/R&B collection.....But DO NOT sleep on this brutha... He's ALL that!!!!All track info is in the comment section...
More About: Gospel , Anthony

--=[ Replife ]=--
2008-06-03 17:29:00
Replife - The Unclosed Mind [2008]Replife Link 2Replife, the stage name for Daniel Gray-Kontar, has been a busy man. After spending his formative years in the Cleveland area heading up the Poetry Slam team, practicing journalism, writing poetry and founding the groundbreaking publication, Urban Dialect, a direct antecedent of Cool Cleveland, Gray-Kontar has found himself on the Left Coast studying at the University of California at Berkeley. As Replife, he matches socially conscious verses with nu-jazz and hip-hop.Replife ~ The Left Side Of ThingsAll track info is in the comment section...
More About: Hip Hop , Underground , Nu jazz

--=[ Marco Benevento ]=--
2008-06-03 15:08:00
Marco Benevento - Invisible Baby [2008]Benevento Link 2Marco Benevento is riding a creative surge. Proof in point is the 30-year old keyboardist's debut studio album Invisible Baby, scheduled for release February 12 on HYENA Records. The collection proves Benevento a sonic innovator in peak form, defying boundaries and blasting through genres to carve out his own universe. Invisible Baby was recorded in a trio configuration with Benevento joined by bassist Reed Mathis (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey) and drummers Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos) and Andrew Barr (The Slip). Having earned a multitude of young fans and critical acclaim for his visionary electric keyboard work as one half of post rock instrumentalists The Benevento/Russo Duo, here Benevento utilizes acoustic piano as his main voice. His instincts, however, for arranging sound in fresh and unexpected ways remain firmly intact. On Invisible Baby's eight original compositions, Benevento runs his piano through projector amps and Les...
More About: Art Rock , Future Jazz , Marco

--=[ Amy Keys ]=--
2008-06-02 20:36:00
Amy Keys - Lover's Intuition [1989]Recalling predecessors Anita Baker and Miki Howard, Washington, D.C.-born vocalist Amy Keys carved a niche for herself as one of R&B's femme balladeer specialists with this sensuous collection. Unfortunately, she failed to achieve either Baker or Howard's level of commercial success, but it certainly wasn't for lack of talent. Keys' deep, rich tone drives such powerful ballads as the dramatic "Crazy Love" (later recorded by Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Ada Dyer, and Sheena Easton) and the pleading "Has It Come to This," this set's third single. Selections like "Even Now," "A Man and a Woman," and the hook-smart title track (from the Gregory Hines flick Tap) are also quite lovely, and prove that a ballad-heavy album need not be boring. Only two of the tracks here are true up-tempo numbers, and ironically they're the sleepiest songs on the album. Note wise, though, Keys' range is quite flexible: She uses a husky, masculine tone on "I K...

--=[ Atlantic Starr ]=--
2008-06-02 19:57:00
Atlantic Starr - The Best of Atlantic Starr [2001]Atlantic Starr's 20th Century Masters may not contain every hit the group ever had, but it has all of the big ones, making this an excellent choice for listeners who want simply the basics. In fact, many of those listeners may find the very conciseness of this collection preferable to 2000's Ultimate Collection, which may contain more tracks but feels more padded.Atlantic Starr was among the top urban contemporary acts of the '80s and fared well in the adult contemporary market as well, but their roots were '70s soul and funk. The East Coast outfit was formed in White Plains, NY, in 1976 by three brothers: lead singer/guitarist David Lewis, lead singer/keyboardist Wayne Lewis, and trombonist/percussionist Jonathan Lewis. After the Lewis Brothers hired lead singer Sharon Bryant, trumpeter William Sudderth, saxophonist Damon Rentie (who was replaced by Koran Daniels in 1981), bassist Clifford Archer, drummer Porter Carroll, Jr., an...
More About: Atlantic

--=[ Trina Broussard ]=--
2008-06-02 18:14:00
Trina Broussard - Inside My Love [1999]@ 320kbps Link 2 @ 320 kbps Link 3The long-overdue release of Inside My Love -- a sublime little set recorded by Trina Broussard in the late 90s -- originally planned for the So-So Def label, but never properly issued at the time! The album's years ahead of most soul of the time -- a great precursor to the Neo Soul explosion that major labels would finally get behind in the 21st Century, but which still left them scratching their heads back in the 90s -- and failing to get music this great out to the market. Thankfully, Expansion have helped fix a decade-old mistake -- and they're letting Trina's warmly soulful sound sparkle beautifully with this well-done reissue. Broussard's got a wonderfully classy approach to her music -- one that's been appreciated in subsequent releases, but which comes through even more clearly here -- a great sense of poise that's almost classic in a Phyllis Hyman sort of way. Titles include "Losing My Mind", "Why...
More About: Trina