The latest 7” release from boutique label SOUL DIRECTION features one of those “cult” groups that soul collectors really relish. Said group is SHARISMA and like most cult artists they released very little music (in this  case, none!) and not too much is known about them – I guess that’s why they achieve cult status! Anyway, here’s what we know. It seems that Sharisma were a quartet – two guys, two girls and (oddly maybe) even the soul sleuths at Soul Direction can’t trace their names! It’s thought  that sometime in 1969, the foursome opened a show in Wilmington, North Carolina for so ..read more

Soul was originally an American art form- but things are now a lot more complicated! And to prove that, check out some new music from a new (ish) band, GRAM-O-FUN. The outfit are from Estonia and their latest record (winning plenty of dance emporium plays) was  remixed by a gent called JA FUNK – an Australian who now works out of Lisbon, Portugal. And guess what their tune’s called? ‘Complicated Plant’ – wow, see what we just did there!!! Musically, this one’s a disco throwback with a funky undertow, hence its popularity in the aforesaid dance emporia! It features a bouncing, loping bass ..read more

It’s become something of a ritual – the annual UK visit of the legendary FOUR TOPS and the equally iconic TEMPTATIONS! However, 2024’s UK tour is shaping up differently.  We’ve learned that Duke Fakir and the Tops will be here but not the REAL Temptations – i.e. the Otis Williams-led group. Instead UK fans will be treated to the “Temptations Revue” – led by one time “real” Temptation, Glenn Leonard! Joining those two groups will be TAVARES, though given the recent death of Pooch Tavares there’s no details on the current line up If you’re interested, here’s the dates for your diaries… Live ..read more

We’ve been enjoying quality smooth jazz from THE PARK AVENUE EXPERIENCE for a few years now. The “Experience” is an Italian a trio marshalled by FABIO PUGLISI of Soul Basement fame. The band create a sound that’s a cool cocktail of classic Bob James grooves, a dash of Shakatak with a garnish of Ibizan chill. Fabio is the first to  admit that the music the band create isn’t meant to push many envelopes – it’s meant to create a gentle, relaxing ambience, perfect for down moments! Enjoy what the Park Avenue team offer via their latest 5 track  EP – ‘West Coast Pier Sunset’. The tunes ar ..read more

American gospel singer MANDISA (Mandisa Lynn Huntley) died on Thursday 18th April. She was aged 47 and the news was announced via an Instagram posting: “We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time. Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world.” No more details are available save that The Franklin, Tennessee Police Department is curre ..read more

After what seems like an awful long time, entertainment/media multi-tasker, VANESSA WILLIAMS is making a music comeback! Her team have told us that Ms W has just  formed her own recording label, Mellian Music, set up her first publishing entities,  and signed a joint venture agreement  with Mod Squad, LLC, which is distributed by GoDigiPath, LLC, in association with  ADA Worldwide,  Warner Music Group’s independent label and artist services arm. To give the venture real heft, Vanessa has drafted in Steven C. Beer,  who’s worked with Lady G ..read more

1959 was a remarkable year in the history of modern jazz because it yielded four highly influential and enduringly popular albums: Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue, Charles Mingus’ Mingus Ah Um, Dave Brubeck’s Time Out, and Ornette Coleman’s The Shape Of Jazz To Come, all classics of the genre. Another landmark jazz release that year, though often overlooked, was the second album by a bespectacled 29-year-old New Jersey pianist with Russian and Welsh ancestry who had contributed majorly to Kind Of Blue: Bill Evans. Fusing elements from classical music – both romanticism and impressionism – with the l ..read more

PX Records celebrates its first anniversary by announcing the opening of three record stores in the brand’s Soho, Holborn, and Chelsea venues where they’ll be promoting albums by all the artists on its roster: namely UK soul outfit Mamas Gun, US saxophone legend Scott Hamilton, Jamiroquai keyboardist Matt Johnson, and jazz duo Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi, all recorded at PizzaExpress Live venues. Since the launch of PX Records in April 2023, the label has released nine records from artists across a range of genres – from jazz to hip hop, and dance to country. The successful albums have seen over 1 ..read more

The gang over at UK soul label IZIPHO have let us know that their latest vinyl 45 is now good to go. It’s a splendid old school soul double A sider EVERY DAY I TRY/ BABY GIRL from a sort of “mystery” soul stylist, MEL DAY (below) who’s backed on the recordings by the equally mysterious TITO LOPEZ COMBO. When we announced this release back in March we knew very little about Mr Day, naively thinking (from the sound of his songs ) that the recordings (very much in the preaching manner of the great Joe Tex) were old tracks resurrected by the resourceful team over @ Izipho. However, we’ve had our s ..read more

You probably know that it’s RECORD STORE DAY again, this Saturday 20th April. There’s lots and lots of goodies on offer and amongst the gems at the famed Putney SOUL BROTHER shop is a 12” single mix of CHINA BURTON’S in-demand soulful dancer, ‘You Don’t Care About Our Love’. This BIG, BIG track was first released in 1979 by on Logo Records and original copies now fetch something like £400! ‘You Don’t Care About Our Love’ was Mark “China” Burton’s only record and it was recorded in March 1979 at Lansdowne Studios, Notting Hill, with producer Adam Sieff and arranger John Altman. China’s memoir r ..read more