Album in the Crosshairs: Saoul — The Juice (Independent Release)

I dig songwriter-musician Saoul Bumbu’s latest album, The Juice, for a reason similar to why I have a problem with much of modern Pop music recordings: the songs — even the ones performed by highly competent musicians — sound like the artists are simply playing by the numbers. And you then wonder if the culprit […]

Album in the Crosshairs: Annabel (lee) – The Cleansing (Youngbloods)

Learning that I received an opportunity to hear Annabel (lee)’s sophomore release — The Cleansing on the Youngbloods label — resulted in a feeling similar to what happens after visiting your parents and they present you with one of your favorite meals on your way out the door, wrapped and ready for you to enjoy […]

Aural Dive: Saoul Bumbu

Recommended preparation for digging multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Saoul Bumbu’s music is to read how he describes it: “Good Songwriting is the real Pinnacle, no matter what Style or Genre. Write a Tune that still shines when there’s a Power [outage] and all you have is a 6-String and some Candles.” I’ll supplement his quote with […]

Thank You, Gregg Allman. You’re Bigger Than Southern Rock.

I’m saddened to hear that Rock luminary, elder and Allman Brothers Band co-founder, Gregg Allman, has passed on. It’s not hard to say that at 69 years of age — with a willingness and skill to create music that matters — Allman’s earthly departure is a life cut short of inspiring additional thousands of future musicians, […]

Jazz Mix: Incantations II by NuffCed

While today is International Jazz Day, it’s always a perfect time to hear a vocal Jazz mix from DJ NuffCed for New Morning Radio. Warms my heart to hear Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, the High Priestess of Soul and other gems in one set. Press the play button below and vibe …

Download This Soul Music Podcast Now.

If you love modern, independent Soul music creators like Kindred the Family Soul, Angela Johnson, Moonchild and Amp Fiddler, give thanks to Soulsorts’ Roger Williams for this three-hour show of top-shelf tracks. Click the pic below or go here to listen, get the track list and download. Be sure to follow his podcast to get the latest show uploads. […]

Goodbye, Al Jarreau

You would think years of false alarms about the death of seven-time grammy-winning singer Al Jarreau would prepare me for hearing about his actual departure today. But they didn’t. Jarreau belongs to a very small circle of vocalists who won over Jazz, Pop and R&B audiences during their careers. But what makes Jarreau a unique […]

Download: Rare Classic Soul Podcast from Roger Williams

An unexpected benefit of being connected to the social layers of the Web is that you sometimes get to know a few supremely cool people — like the kind of people where you would be completely okay with the idea of hanging out and swapping stories over a couple of beers. Roger Williams (Soulsorts) is […]

Remembering David Mancuso, Loft Lord

When placed in chains, they created spirituals that gave birth to much of the music you hear today. Gave them tough, green leaves — long thought to be degenerative cabbage shoots — and the resulting simmered collard greens they made have graced the menus of countless restaurants. Shut their writers out of the mainstream publishing […]

Goodbye, Sharon Jones

You could call singer Sharon Jones one of the last of a small and talented community of Soulful belters. The community just became smaller yesterday with cancer taking Jones away from us. She was 60 years old. You know the type of belters I’m talking about. Koko Taylor is a name that comes to mind. […]