From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2005-03-20 18:44:07
**Jimmy Castor's 2 New EP's
(OvaThaTop Funk/Jazz/Latin/Doo Wop/Rap)
If you go to the website of Jimmy Castor you will find that he's got two brand new EP's. Big
deal you might say if you are just a casual fan. However those of us who are in the know will
recognize the historic importance of this event. It means that Jimmy Castor, the E-MAN"
himself is back. And true to form he does not disapoint us. His singing and playing hasn't
missed a beat in 30 years.
http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_castor
<a href="http://www.soul-patrol.com"> JIMMY CASTOR OFFICIAL WEBSITE</a>
**Like So - Like So
(Rock/Pop/Soul)
If Lenny ever made a good album it might sound like this. Another one of the "secret
pleasures" that I have been listening to multiple times over the past few months. If you have
been waiting for a band that that could be a a "logical sucessor" to Living Colour for about
12 years and have been consistantly disapointed by the mediocre albums of Lenny Kravitz (like
I have been), then don't even think twice, you need to own a copy of "Like So" - Like So.
Fronted by Aisha Cohen, Like So is a bonafide Black Rock n' Roll band playing well written
romantic pop songs that appeal across the chasam of race. Lenny Kravitz needs to pay close
attention to this, because it's a top flight album that sounds like what the record company
hype told us that he was supposed to be?
**Martha Redbone - Skintalk
(Soul/Funk/Slow Jams/Rock)
Martha Redbone is one of the most prolific FUNK artists of the century. (how's that for a
mouthful?) Her first album called "Home of the Brave" could be thought of literally as "female
bookend" for the album "Urban Misfit" by Sonny Boy. That first CD combined influences from
Stevie Wonder to Sly Stone to Shuggie Otis and more that truly makes it a pscyadelic soul"
classic. Now with her second CD "Skin Talk", Martha Redbone takes us to "love land" while
still retaining her FUNK edge. There are some SERIOUS slow jams here on this CD in addition
the her brand of acid drenched Shuggie Otis/Sly Stone influenced FUNK.
**Little Richard - King of Rock n' Roll (the complete Reprise Recordings)
(Soul/Funk/Rock/Blues/Gospel/Jazz and everything else you can think of)
This is yet another album that if you are a historian of "Great Black Music From The Ancient
To The Future" is something like discovering yet another "rosetta's stone" that helps you to
understand more clearly how to connect the dots together with respect to our great musical
legacy. This three CD set is a compilation containing music that was originally created by
Little Richard during the timeframe of the late 1960's and early 1970's. It is a repackaging
of several different LP's that were created at that time, that for one reason or another
weren't commercially sucesful. As many of you will recall this was one of his many "comeback
periods". What we have in this poorly titled three disk collection is actually something that
is quite close to a masterpiece. We get Little Richard playing then contemporary funk, blues,
jazz, rock and gospel. Some songs remind me of Sly Stone. Some songs remind me of Ceedence
Clearwater, some songs remind me of Isaac Hayes, some songs remind me of Al Kooper/Shuggie
Otis, etc.in their "style". But it is NONE of those people it is in fact none other than
Little Richard and it is Little Richard at his creative best.
**Krush - "Krush"
(Soul/Funk/Jazz/Go Go)
Many of you here have already heard this CD because we have been playing online and many of
you have already writen in with your commentary on it. In my opinion when all is said and
done, this is going to be one of the top releases of the year. Those of you who haven't heard
it yet, need to take a listen. Those of you who have already listened to it need to head on
over to the KRUSH website and order it. You have NO EXCUSE not to do it, you have already told
us that you like it, so now why wouldn't you take the next logical step and order it?
http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_krush
<a href="http://www.davisind.com/redirect/?d=newsletter_krush"> KRUSH WEBSITE</a>
**"Lackawana Blues" (Music From The HBO Movie)
(Rock n' Roll/Blues/R&B)
This is an outstanding soundtrack album from the equally outstanding HBO movie. Good source
material for those who are interested in the roots of Rock n' Roll.
**Defunkt - Journey "Live"
(Stone Cold Funk)
Some folks who are under the mistaken idea that Funk music died in the 1980's probably never
really checked out DEFUNKT. Journey "Live" is a great CD that is not only a GREAT FUNK ALBUM,
it clearly demostrates just where FUNK MUSIC was supposed to have gone in the 1980's. As such
it brings a tear to my eye that the music did not evolve in that direction. It's a live set
(including my favorite "Strangle Me With Your Love") recorded in Europe in 2004 and led by
Soul-Patrol favorites Joseph Bowie and Kahil El Zabar, Dufunkt (pronunced "de funk")
represents the 1970's funk and 1970's Jazz, finally at peace with each other and taken to a
whole new level with the addition of "new wave" (punk?). If you are a "stone cold funkateer"
this album is for you (nuff said).
**Donna Summer - "Gold"
(Rock/Disco/Funk)
You want evidence of the true greatness of Donna Summer then look no further. Listening to
this two CD compilation was almost like finding "lost money". Track after track, hit song
after hit song re awakened me to the magic of Donna Summer. I had simply forgotten just how
good she was as an artist and what a fantastic hit making mechine she was as an entity. Yes
there are a few "mindless disco tracks" on here, but even on those, the majesty of her
powerful singing voice comes through. The big surprise here is that when viewed in the context
of her complete body of work the true range and diversity of the career of Donna Summer
emerges. It was always there, but it's easy to forget just how good she was. The rockers ROCK,
the funk joints FUNK, the ballads are drenched with emotion and the disco is erotic as hell.
Even if you always thought that you didn't like her because of the "disco tag", you owe it to
yourself to pick up this set and re-evaluate her within the context of what should really be
considered a career worthy of swift inclusion into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
--------------------
Bob Davis
earthjuice_at_prodigy.net
--------------------
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