From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2005-08-26 14:58:35
I have been asked many times in interviews why I am a fan of "Nu Soul".
One of the reasons why is because many of the artists have immersed themselves in the musical
styles of the 1970's so much that a 1970's kid (like me) can't help but like the attempt (and
in some cases the end result). For me these folks get much respect for using the music of the
1970's as an inspiration and jumping off point for their music. Presented below is an attempt
to break it down.
Kevin's negative review yesterday (which I agreed with and it's why you have never heard me
mention that CD here except to say that I listened to it.....lol), in response to Mark Anthony
Neal's of Rahssan Patterson's latest CD reminded me of this.
That CD is a good example where the end result is something less then what the aspiration is.
However I do give the brotha credit for making the attempt.
Here is the breakdown, using some of the artists that we are currently (or perhaps are about
to) play on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio (along with a few "knee-gro radio" artists) as examples
* The Curtis Mayfield/Gil Scott-Heron/Roy Ayres/Norman Connors Style:
("kozmic funk")
Examples:
Donnie
Andreus
Marlon Saunders
Julie Dexter
Fertile Ground
Cooly's Hot Box
Oktobrworld
Mia Miata's
Jazzhole
etc.
* The Jimi/Sly/Shuggie Style:
("black hippie")
Examples:
Nadir
Victor Wooten
Sonny Boy
Martha Redbone
Martin Luther
Like So
Amp Fiddler
Adriana Evans
Susaye Green
Scott Free
etc.
* The Marvin/Stevie/Donnie/Bill Withers/EWF Style
("singer/songwriter pop star")
Examples:
Frank McComb
Anthony David
Ascendant
Gordon Chambers
Rahssan Patterson
Alicia Keys
John Legend
Desi Hill
Brian McKnight
Nichole Wright
Eric Robeson
Louise Perryman
etc.
* The Al Green/Chaka/Womack Style:
("soul shouter")
Examples:
Anthony Hamilton
Leela James
Angela Johnson
Angie Stone
Matte'
Sharon Lewis
etc.
* The P-Funk/Ohio Players/Prince/Time Style:
("funkateer")
Examples:
Slapbak
Weapon of Choice
Clones of Funk
Freekbass
RioSoul
John Hickey Band
Rapheal Saddiq
AfroFunk Experience
Stozo Da Clown
Unified Tribe
etc.
* The Betty Wright/Marlena Shaw Style:
("stay away from me if you know what's good for you, it's my time of the month")
Examples:
Erykah Badu
Jill Scott
Alison Crocket
Saundra St. Victor
etc.
* The Barry/Isaac/Teddy P Style
("love man on the make, in trouble if they approach the above")
Examples:
Will Wheaton
Tyrone Causey
etc.
* The CTI/GRP Style
("phunky jazz")
Examples:
Cassius White
D-Erania
Skip Martin
Monet
SounDoctrine
Kne-O'Chaw Hampton
Eban Brown
Phat Funk Clique
etc.
The artists listed are just loose examples and of course these stylistic categories do
overlap, but I'm trying to make a point.
And that is for the first time since the "mainstreaming of hip hop" in the 1990's, we now have
a large body of artists who paint with a pretty wide brush against the landscape of the 1970's
and who can serve as credible "replacements" for the aging group of artists who defined Black
music in the 1970's. That makes me happy beacuse that means there is a strong liklehood that
there will be a large body of people still making the kind of music that I grew up listening
to, still doing so far into the future (probably after I pass on).
However there are a couple of issues:
1. The Mass media (and therefore a "brainwashed" public) seems to be only focused on just two
of the "styles" that I Identified above ("The Betty Wright/Marlena Shaw Style" and "The
Marvin/Stevie/Donnie/Bill Withers/EWF Style "). And in my view that is a bad thing, because
it prevents many good artists from being heard.
2. One thing that distressed me as I compiled this list was that there is a signifigant
stylistic category missing. Where have the Black male vocal groups gone???
(I have a few theories....)
Any thoughts on any of the above????
--------------------
Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
--------------------
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