White Jesus Black Problems US Tour

 

 

Fantastic Negrito Presents: White Jesus Black Problems

 fantasticnegrito.com

Savage Ocean - Free Yourself

Tracy Cruz: Electric Soul

 Tracy Cruz: Electric Soul

By Shelah Moody

San Jose’s dynamic singer/songwriter, who caught the world’s attention with her community service and multiple awards, speaks about her motivations, her musical influences and current projects.

Streetwise Radio: Where were you born and raised, and what is the earliest music you remember hearing as a child

Tracy Cruz: I was born in Quezon City on the island of Luzon in the Philippines and was raised in San Jose, CA. The earliest music I remember hearing as a child were songs from Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind and Fire, and more. My mom absolutely loved R&B/Soul so I grew up listening to her magnificent music collection.

Streetwise Radio: What led you to gravitate to R&B music?

TC: I gravitated towards R&B music because of the heartfelt lyrics, passionate singing and beautiful arrangements. R&B music really pulls at my heartstrings because I can feel the music in my soul and relate to the life and love messages.

Streetwise Radio: How would you describe your vocals and your style of music?

TC: My vocals have depth and rich tones. My style of music is expressive, eclectic Soul.

Streetwise Radio: Tell us about your latest projects.

TC: I’ll be releasing a new single “Find A Way” was produced by Rodney Jones. He has worked with Eric Roberson, Conya Doss, D Maurice, and more. I’m currently working on my new album “Sun After The Reign” which I’m hoping to release sometime in 2022.

Streetwise Radio: Tell us about some of your community outreach and mentorship projects.

TC: I have taught youth singing classes for 15 years through my school, Tracy Cruz Vocal Studio, as well as other private music schools and after-school music programs. I’m also a voting member of the Recording Academy, a member of Pinayista (Filipina entrepreneurs and creatives) and a board member of Oakland School for the Arts CTE Art Advisory Board.

Streetwise Radio: How do you feel about the rise of Filipino performers on the charts today, such as H.E.R. and Bruno Mars?

TC: I am very excited about the rise of Filipino performers today! H.E.R. and Bruno Mars are incredibly talented and I’m definitely inspired by their innovative music, drive, and consistency.

Streetwise Radio: What element of your Filipino culture do you bring to your music?

TC: I bring the songwriting elements of Original Pilipino Music into my own music. I absolutely love singing and writing ballads. Like R&B/Soul music, it also pulls at your heartstrings.

Streetwise Radio: What advice would you give to independent artists like yourself who are promoting their music in the Bay Area?

TC: My advice is to be kind and supportive towards others. Make sure your great talent matches your attitude and you’re out there supporting your fellow music creators and professionals. Eliminate jealousy and envy. Eliminate the “all about me” mentality. Have a collaboration over competition mentality. It’s important to build your music community as you build your own career. Build professional relationships, stay consistent, and stay true to yourself and your music!

Streetwise Radio: What artist would you most like to collaborate with and why?

TC: Diane Warren. She is my favorite songwriter and has written so many hits. I want to learn more about her songwriting process. When I was a little girl, I used to read liner notes because of her impeccable songwriting.

Streetwise Radio: Where can we hear your music and follow you?

TC: You can listen to my music www.tracycruzmusic.com, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon, etc. Follow me on:

www.Facebook.com/tracycruzmusicpage

www.Twitter.com/tracycruzmusic

www.Instagram.com/tracycruzmusic.

You can also listen to the music of Tracy Cruz here on Streetwise Radio.

Natalie Cole Fans, Friends and Family Tribute to be Released During Black Music Month

 

                                                 

                                                       Shelah Moody and Natalie Cole

“I think the women who are successful (in music) are the ones who are very aggressive. They’re very distinctive. They’re writing their own material, which I need to be doing more of, thank you very much. But I must say that I’ve been one of the lucky ones in that I am able to interpret other people’s music very well, so, in other words, other writers. I think that it’s very jammed, jammed out there; there’s women coming out of the woodwork. You really have to have something very very special these days, because there are like, clones. And so, it’s nice to be able to be unique.”—Natalie Cole

San Francisco— Veteran music journalist Rani Shelah Moody, in collaboration with Island Stage Magazine, is proud to present an unforgettable Family, Friends and Fans tribute to seven-time Grammy winner Natalie Cole.

The mini-documentary, produced by Moody masterfully edited by Xavier LeBlanc, features rare photos, reflections, commentary and testimony from those who knew the iconic R&B/pop singer best.

Contributors include Benita Hill Johnson, (Cole’s longtime friend and personal assistant), R&B vocal duo Chrystal and Chyna Johnson (Cole’s goddaughters), Marcellina Hawthorne (Cole’s former backing vocalist), Sakai Smith (vocalist and member of the rock group Train) Mary Isaacs (Jamaican vocalist who covered Cole’s hit song “A Little Bit of Heaven”) and Ronald Edwards (fan and music historian).

The tribute also includes original audio from a 1988 interview that Moody conducted with Cole at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort in Honolulu, Hi.

“Natalie Cole was the most elegant performer I’ve ever met said, Moody. “In 1988, I was a journalism student at the University of Hawaii and I was reviewing her concert for our college newspaper. I ran into one of her former classmates from the University of Massachusetts. After the concert was over, he called Natalie’s room from the house phone and asked if we could come up and say hi. In her hotel room, Natalie was entertaining several people including her cousin, Eddie Cole. Natalie greeted us warmly, and gave me a 15-minute interview. The conversation went smoothly; it was like speaking to my sister or my best friend.”

Natalie Maria Cole (1950-2015), singer, actress and activist sold more than 30 million records worldwide; her hits include “This Will Be,” “I Got Love on My Mind,” “Inseparable,” “Our Love” and “Unforgettable” (a digital duet with her father, renowned vocalist Nat “King” Cole.”

To view the Family, Friends and Fans tribute to Natalie Cole, go to: https://youtu.be/Yf_hWey-YfA

and: www.island-stage.com

Xxxxxx

Second Line for Betty Wright By Shelah Moody

       

“In order to get something

You got to give something

In order to be something

You got to go through something

Be a cook in the kitchen, a lady in the streets

You can't show your teeth to every guy you meet

It's alright to be a little sweet

But be a mama with the kids and you know what in the sheets”— Betty Wright

        Without artists like Betty Wright, there probably would not be a Beyoncé or a Megan Thee Stallion.  Wright, the Grammy-winning R&B  singer is known for her hits such as “The Clean Up Woman,” “No Pain, No Gain” and “Tonight is the Night,” died of cancer on May 10 at age 66.

          Wright is just one of the music legends, including Little Richard, Ellis Marsalis, Bill Withers, and Andre Harrell to transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

        Wright, the first black woman to score a gold record label on her own label, was one of the architects of the black female storytelling tradition, a line of soulful lyricists and performers who paved the way for empowered singer/songwriters such as Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Megan The Stallion. 

          In the 1970s, my cousin Valerie had a massive vinyl collection; shelves and shelves of R&B records that took up most of the living room space in her tiny Pasadena home. That’s where I discovered the legendary Betty Wright. 

       I spent many summer vacations exploring Valerie’s vinyl collection; and one evening,  she played a record that caught my attention. My cousins and I giggled under the covers when we heard the lyrics. I call it the teenager’s guide to losing your virginity. The correct title is “Tonight is the Night.” https://youtu.be/M3VklaglsEU. The melody is as engrained in my memory as the lure of the ice mid-afternoon cream truck on sweltering southern California summers.

       My 13-year old mind had not even begun to grasp concepts such as the blues aesthetic, black feminist thought or the sexual power of the divine feminine. To me, the song was nasty and sweet at the same time, something we had to sneak and listen to. The 1974 hit combined spoken word and music, making Wright one of the first female rappers, before Teena Marie started talking square biz.

      Basically, the song is about a young woman waiting for her lover to come over so that they can make love for the first time. 

      On the actual record,  Wright sets up the song with a narrative of presenting the song to her mother before releasing it to the public.

        “Now I never intended recording this song

          It was a personal poem

         That is until the day that my producer

         Happened to thumb through the pages of       

          my notebook

         He came across the words and he said 

         We got something with these words

         It’s happening every day

         And people wanna hear about it Betty

        “Tonight’s the Night” was a savage track even in the seventies. Classy, bourgie, rachet. Tonight’s the night that you make me a woman...

        “Oh,but what if my mama should come home early

And catch us doin' what we're doin'

Not only will I never live it down

But my whole family relationship it'll all be ruined

But we've gone a little bit too far now

Oh, to turn around

So let's just pray

That true love is what we've found…”

       This was the first song I’d heard that depicted the art of seduction from a woman’s point of view.

      As for “ The Clean Up Woman,” https://youtu.be/r0ssMVL9I1Q, written when she was just 17, well, it’s basically a woman’s guide on how to keep your man once the seduction phase is over. In the song, Wright confesses to losing her man to the clean up woman.

     “I took this man's love and put it on a shelf

And, like a fool, I thought I had him all to myself

When he needed love, I was out havin' fun

But I found out that all I had done

Was made it easy for the clean up woman…”

      Imagine how cute the video for “Clean Up Woman” would be in post-pandemic culture, where sanitizing is the new sexy.

         As for “No Pain, No Gain,”https://youtu.be/9KZG3O5sW; it is sort of an instructional guide to maintaining a healthy relationship so that you do lose your lover to the clean up woman. Wright says that you have to be a lady in the streets and a  you know what in the sheets. I can only guess that you know what was 1970s code for what Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion boastfully call a savage. A savage. The two young women have taken the objectification on the black female body and a stereotype that grew out of the transatlantic slave trade,  and used it as a term of empowerment, a badge of honor.

         Oakland based producer Larry Batiste paid tribute to his friend in a recent Facebook post.

     “In one of our conversations, I asked, how did she come up with the idea for the song ‘Clean Up Woman’ at the age of 15,” said Batiste. “She said that she used to eavesdrop on her mom and aunties’ gossip before they would catch on and shoo her out of the room. She said the words just flowed onto the page.”

LEGACY 

    In her later years, Wright was called upon to mentor artists such as Diddy, Joss Stone and DJ Khaled. I’m gonna miss Betty Wright, with her sultry contralto and sharp wit. Without her; there would probably be no 5/9/20  love fest between Jill Scott and Erykah Badu on Instagram. 

       “Man, having Sister Betty get out of here really hurts,” said dj and music historian Harry Duncan, who hosts the radio show, “In the Soul Kitchen” on KCSM. “I play more of her music on my show than almost any other woman soul singer. I am very familiar with her history as an artist, songwriter and creative catalyst in the whole Miami soul sounds of the ’70s and I talk about her and her contributions. We just have to enjoy each other and be grateful for every day we’re here.”

Cleopatra Records Announces June 5 Release of New Album, Blues Comin’ On

by Blues Veteran Joe Louis Walker

— New Single Out Today —

Artist: Joe Louis Walker
Title: Blues Comin' On

Single: “Old Time Used To Be”
Label: Cleopatra Blues

Los Angeles, CA, April 22, 2020 — Soulful blues phenom and Blues Hall of Fame inductee Joe Louis Walker is joined by a host of talented friends and peers on his superb new studio album, Blues Comin’ On.

The album features guest performances by fellow blues icons Keb' Mo', Eric Gales, and Albert Lee, plus Detroit soul singer Mitch Ryder, harmonica virtuoso Lee Oskar, Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen, punk rock vocalist Charlie Harper, legendary session player Waddy Wachtel, and so many more!

This album explodes with the passionate playing and soulful melodies that have made Walker a favorite among true blues aficionados including the Rolling Stones.

The first single to be released is the “Old Time Used To Be,” which features guest appearances by Keb' Mo' and John Sebastian of The Lovin' Spoonful.

"From the opening track to the final note, the guests and fellow musicians on this album made this one of the best musical journeys I’ve ever had. I hope it’s the same for you!" reveals Joe.

Originally from San Francisco, Joe Louis Walker, a Blues Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Blues Music Award-winner celebrates a career that exceeds a half-century. His musical legacy as a prolific torchbearer for the blues is proven by his 26 albums.

A true powerhouse guitar virtuoso, unique singer, and prolific songwriter, he has toured extensively throughout his career, performed at the world’s most renowned music festivals, and earned a legion of dedicated fans.

NPR Music has called Walker “a legendary boundary-pushing icon of modern blues,” and within the blues world, he is already being referred to as a living legend.

The pre-release single, “Old Time Used To Be” can be listened to through this link: https://promo.theorchard.com/ItdOxWrtA4si4sebe8DD

The release date for the full album is June 5, 2020 and will be available on a digipak CD and also on a wildly popular white vinyl will be available as a limited edition.

Album Track List:
1. Feed the Poor featuring Jorma Kaukonen
2. Blues Comin’ On featuring Eric Gales
3. Someday, Someway featuring Carla Cooke & Lee Oskar
4. The Thang featuring Jesse Johnson
5. Old Time Used to Be featuring Keb’ Mo’
6. Come Back Home featuring Mitch Ryder
7. Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man featuring Waddy Wachtel
8. Awake Me Shake Me featuring Carla Cooke
9. Lonely Weekends featuring David Bromberg
10. Seven More Steps featuring Albert Lee
11. Uptown to Harlem featuring Jellybean Johnson
12. 7 & 7 Is featuring Arlen Roth & Charlie Harper

CLEOPATRA BLUES, a division of CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based record label in business since 1992. They are located at 11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703, Los Angeles CA 90025 — 310-477-4000

www.CleopatraRecords.com
Facebook: Cleopatra Blueshttps://www.facebook.com/Cleopatra-Blues-584680441701352/? https://promo.theorchard.com/ItdOxWrtA4si4sebe8DD https://promo.theorchard.com/ItdOxWrtA4si4sebe8DDfref=ts

Twitter: Cleopatra Blueshttps://twitter.com/cleopatrablues 

Media Contact:

Kaati Gaffney

Blues Festival Guide

RBA Publishing & Publicity

775-846-8238

Rbapublishing@gmail.com

Singer Peabo Bryson in Hospital After Heart Attack

"Both his medical team and family are optimistic for a speedy recovery,” said a rep in a statement obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The family requests privacy at this time, although "thoughts and prayers of friends and fans are welcomed and appreciated."

Jagged Edge, Paramount Theatre Oakland Apr 20, 2019 — 8:00 PM — Oakland, CA

Doors open 60 minutes before show time.

Tickets: $80.00 | $68.00 | $48.00 | $42.00 | $36.00
No Balcony Seating
Tickets also available through Cal Performances
All ages require a ticket
(ticket prices include facility fee)

#MuteRKelley

                            



#Metoo #TimesUP #OMG have you had enough of the hash tags yet? Lol some you readers and listeners are in the ‘know’ but for those who live a busy life I will give you the 411. In the wake of the recent Hollywood sexual scandals many social media movements were created to combat sexual assault and the immodest treatment of women in general. In today’s postindustrial days the millennials use # or “hash tags” to generate a buzz around a general slogan. It’s basically an easy way for people on the internet to find a cause or a movement.
    Now that you have the basics I can explain the #MuteRKelley title.
Spotify music which is a digital music platform has decided to change its policies on which artists they plan to promote on its platform. Spotify’s new policy focuses on “hate content” and “hateful conduct. Now don’t ask me how or who will be the judge but this is gonna get crazy. So with that being said Spotify has decided to drop R Kelley from its automated playlists and has decided to scale back any promotion of the artist. Apple music has followed in suit and has ceased promotion of R Kelley’s music on some featured playlists. As we all know and expect the rest of the major digital outlets to jump on the bandwagon and create similar policies. As R Kelley has been in the news as of recent and whether he’s guilty or not women need to feel comfortable, safe, and empowered. It’s our job as a people to work together to achieve a level of equilibrium amongst each other. I feel it’s great that we can come together socially as a people and take a stand against issues that stain the fabric of what makes America great….. Diversity Creativity Ingenuity Raw Unfiltered Flashy Brash Caring Innovating. That’s why many people are on the fence about “censorship” of artists who will decide what is accepted and what isn’t??? But we do know one thing in light of the #MuteRKelley  Spotify and other large music outlets are not going to be silent about the content that is played on the platform. Although you can still find R Kelley’s entire platform in the libraries of the streaming service… lol  #imGone
AMERO

Boyz II Men

About Boyz II Men

Hailed by the RIAA as the most commercially successful R&B group of all time!! Already four-time Grammy-winners and noted as one of the most successful male vocal groups of all time, Boyz II Men was recently honored with two Grammy nominations for the 2009 awards. The categories were “Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals” for “Ribbons In The Sky” and “Best R&B Album” for Motown- A Journey Through Hitsville, USA, helmed by mega-producer/music veteran Randy Jackson. Coinciding with the Grammy nods, the trio released their first-ever, full-length live concert DVD, bringing the full concert experience to new and old fans alike. Now Playing on Streetwise Radio Soul City. 5pm Pacific Time.

Will Downing - Black Pearls

Will Downing's voice is one of the most distinctive, loved and instantly recognizable voices in R&B. His flawless, emotive, buttery-smooth and agile honey-toned baritone, along with his impeccable phrasing and jazz-fueled agile runs, seamlessly bridge the worlds of R&B and Jazz. "I pinch myself everyday because I can't believe that after all this time I'm still making music for a living," shares the charismatic singer/songwriter. "19 albums and 28 years of recording later and I'm still blessed. Truly Blessed!!"  Shanachie Entertainment will release Black Pearls (July 8, 2016).  Black Pearls exemplifies the caliber of songs that Downing has long been associated with. An accomplished composer in his own right, Downing takes on the ultimate challenge on Black Pearls as he reinvigorates chart-topping gems originally performed by some of the greatest female voices to grace R&B. He rekindles the soul and ignites a fire in songs made famous by Chaka Khan, Deniece Williams, Randy Crawford, Cherrelle, Jean Carne and Phyllis Hyman, among others. While remaining true to the essence of the songs, Downing transforms them with the sweet nuances of his own irresistible signature sound. "Phyllis Hyman started this whole project," confesses the Grammy nominated singer who has been dubbed the "Prince of Sophisticated Soul." "I was having a conversation with a friend who also worked with Phyllis. We both agreed that "Meet Me On The Moon" was our favorite Phyllis tune. My friend suggested I remake it. I called my keyboardist/arranger Mike Logan to help with the song. After completing it, I thought maybe this is a great opportunity to pay tribute to other female artists that I have always loved. That's how Black Pearls was born!"

Black Pearls opens with the album's first single and 1988 Cherrelle hit "Everything I Miss At Home." Downing originally met Cherrelle in the 90s during a USO tour. The charismatic and charming vocalist jokes, "My sister calls 'Everything I Miss At Home' the 'you better do right song.'"  Will's sublime performance hits all the right notes, signaling for an enchanting journey ahead. "'Don't Ask My Neighbors' has always been a favorite of mine," shares Downing. "The subject of communication will never grow old." Downingadmits to being a long-time fan of The Emotions, not only as a solo act but also as backing vocalists for the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Angela Winbush has been a good friend of Downing's for years and he returns the favor with an impeccable and unforgettable version her #1 hit on the Billboard R&B charts, "Your Smile." "Everyone that hears the beginning of this song does one of two things. They either throw their hands in the air and say 'That's my jam' or they look at me and say "no you didn't!'" Do it he does! Will Downing will leave you breathless with his stunning version.

When you hear the opening four notes of  "Get Here," you instantly know what song it is thanks to Brenda Russell, who wrote and recorded the song and Oleta Adams, who later scored a major international hit in the early 90s. Black Pearls unites Downing with many close associates including his wife, the beautiful and talented singer Audrey Wheeler, who has worked with everyone from Chaka Khan and thePointer Sisters to Freddie Jackson and Narada Michael Walden, and that is just the short list. Celebrated saxophonists Najee and Kirk Whalum also make appearances on Black Pearls.

"Street Life" will put you in the groove as Downing serves up a swingin' version of the Randy Crawford/The Crusaders hit featuring the tenor of saxophonist Najee and the funky keyboards of Mike Logan. Black Pearls keeps the hits flowing with Chaka Khan and Rufus' timeless 1977 hit "Everlasting Love." Together with Chris "Big Dog' Davis, Downing wrote a riveting arrangement of one of Deniece Williams' signature tunes, "Black Butterfly," a powerful anthem written by Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil. Dexter Wansel's "Nights Over Egypt," is given a jazzy and exotic treatment and features stellar flute work from saxophonist Kirk Whalum. Phyllis Hyman's "Meet Me On the Moon" is a standout, as Downing's crystal clear and velvety smooth vocals, impeccable diction and tender phrasing conjure up the greatest of love stories.  Black Pearls closes with the magnificent "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" which features an orchestra and full horn section.

Black Pearls will be released everywhere on July 8th and can be pre-ordered now at Itunes and Amazon.com

GRAMMY WINNING ARTIST ESTELLE ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE 'LOVE LIKE OURS'

NEW YORK, NY- VP Records announces the completion of a new album deal with Grammy(R) winning R&B artist Estelle. The full length reggae album is scheduled for a fall 2017 release. The first single, ‘Love Like Ours’ featuring reggae star Tarrus Riley is available June 16th with a music video to follow.

The melodic and captivating ‘Love Like Ours’ gives fans a first taste of the upcoming album that will showcase the pivotal influence reggae music has had on the London, England born singer. Raised in a religious, Senegalese/ Grenadian household, Estelle's musical upbringing included a variety of Afro-Caribbean, Gospel, Hip-Hop and dance styles with a healthy dose of reggae music.

Since 2008 and the release of the crossover radio hit "Come Over" featuring reggae star Sean Paul and produced by Supa Dups (Sean Paul, Drake, Party Next Door), fans have been encouraging Estelle to record a reggae album. This project will bring their desires to life with a unique fusion of lover’s rock, afro beats and dancehall flavors anchoring her soulful, R&B vocals. "When I told some friends about doing this album" said Estelle, "they were like - 'finally!'" She continued, "everyone who knows me, understands the deep connection I have to reggae music." Estelle has joined forces with Supa Dups again on this project and her fans excitement for the full album is brewing.

"Love Like Ours" draws you in with smooth guitar and keyboard hooks and keeps the listener engaged with upbeat, feel good lyrics. "The song is shaping up to be the lover's anthem of the summer" said VP records President Randy Chin.

Estelle's performing credits include multiple nominations and a Grammy(R) win for "American Boy," her collaboration with Kanye West, The number one radio record anthem 'Thank You', a number one hit on the Billboard Top 200 with ‘Conqueror’, the epic duet with Jussie Smollet and a recurring cameo role on the FFox Network series Empire. She is also a featured character role on the Cartoon Network series Steven Universe. 

Estelle has shown a wide and expanding range of talent and with this album, will complete the musical circle, showcasing one of her earliest musical influences. The singer concluded, "I’m happy to give the people what they have been asking for and I’m proud to share another piece of my life and art with the world.”

‘Love Like Ours’ exclusively premiered on The Jamaica Gleaner today.

Follow Estelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estelledarlings

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Estelle/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleDarlings

Julian Taylor Band

                                                  


Artist: Julian Taylor Band 
Title: Coke Bottle Candy 
Label: Aporia Records Inc 
Genre(s): R&B / Soul / Groove 

“In an era when music lovers seem to be required to like one thing, one style, one genre, we get the protean of the Julian Taylor Band – confident enough in their own abilities to delimit the genres and let the soulful beats resound from wider horizons.” 

These words from acclaimed Toronto poet Robert Priest beautifully encapsulate the Julian Taylor Band’s new release Desert Star, a double magnum opus reflecting Toronto’s rich musical tapestry. Blending vintage soul, rock, roots, and a touch of hip-hop, the album is a re-birth of sorts for Julian Taylor, one of the country’s most gifted and multi-faceted singer-songwriters. 

The Julian Taylor Band began as a blank canvas. They played anywhere and everywhere, as often as possible, knowing that a great band lives and dies by its live reputation. The R&B covers in their sets soon became the wellspring from which a new catalogue of original independent releases arose, landing on their debut Tech Noir, and setting the stage for the creative torrent unleashed on the sophomore Desert Star. 

Taylor describes Desert Star himself as modern rhythm and blues: Deep grooves, powerful horns, and just the right amount of pop smarts. A relatively straightforward formula, yes, but Taylor ultimately envisioned the album as four distinct parts, stemming from sessions at various Toronto studios with producers Saam Hashemi, Bill Bell, Brian Moncarz, and David Engle. 

“We’re really lucky that we’ve got a core fan base that’s been completely supportive since the beginning,” Taylor says. “There’s definitely been a musical evolution, even though the notion of R&B-meets-rock has always been a part of my sound. It’s just that I’ve learned so much more about songcraft in recent years, and collaborating with the guys in this band, as well as my co-writers and producers, has been a big part of that.” 

“The idea to put out a double album really grew out of this huge amount of material we were working, about 70 songs,” Taylor says. “We whittled it down to 22 we felt stood on their own, and at the same time hung together as a cohesive, listening experience. Because we recorded the album over a long period of time in a lot of locations, it was a challenge to maintain a consistent vibe. But everyone was committed to serving the songs, and that’s always been my approach to making music.” 

The first taste of Desert Star came early in 2016 with the release of the single “Just A Little Bit,” which received significant airplay in Canada, as well as in the U.S. and Germany. Follow-up singles “Heard Good Things” and “Set Me Free” were warmly embraced as well, with the latter spending eight weeks on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20 chart, where it peaked at number two. A couple more singles preceded the album’s release, the greasy funk jam “Fever” and “Get Loud,” which, although written in 2014, is in tune with today’s social climate with its refrain, “If a change is gonna come, we must get loud.” 

It’s a message Julian Taylor has been conveying, perhaps not so directly, ever since he emerged on the Canadian scene. With combined Caribbean and Indigenous Canadian heritage, his unique perspective is a refreshing take on the country’s diverse musical landscape 

Desert Star is named after a flower that grows in some of the planet’s harshest terrain, and for Taylor it made perfect sense as a symbol for his music. Beauty can also be resilient, and if one flower can bloom in a desert, many more can as well. The Julian Taylor Band is planting those seeds now, one listener at a time. 

Written by Jason Schneider 

http://juliantaylorband.com/about/ 
https://www.facebook.com/thejuliantaylorband/ 

>Angeltown Recordings proudly introduces its sophomore release with an amazing masterpiece which is nothing less than delightful. Written, arranged and performed by Stephanie Cooke, "You Changed Me" is also the second single from her forthcoming album, "My Heart," and delivers on every level from her sultry vocal style and passionate lyrics to the perfectly orchestrated track produced by the dynamic duo, Sean Ali & Corey Munkjulius McCue also known as Deepsol Syndicate based out of Chicago, Ill. The rich and sexy bass line leads the way as the beautiful colors develop into this alluring story of romance. Quite the musical journey. 

This one promises to keep the dancers dancing and the Soulful House Music Lovers wide open and ready for the next release.