“The goal is to bring back quality music. Music that engages people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually” says Clarence Smith, founder of Essence Magazine and now CEO of You Entertainment, who along with producers Duke Jones and Jacques Burvick, are the guiding forces behind one of this year’s most refreshing collectives, the Cafe Soul All-Stars, a stellar cast of renowned musicians respected for the mastery of their respective instruments. This debut is a riveting collection of songs and guest artists including Grammy Award winners Peabo Bryson and George Benson, Glenn Jones, Vesta, Christopher Williams, Roy Ayers, Kenny Garrett, and many others singing new, never before released material. Destined to become a staple in every true R&B lover’s collection.
Trumpeter Albert Jones is affectionately known to all friends and followers as “Duke”. A nickname he acquired from his aunt, because of his love of music at an early age. A native of New York City via White Plains. Duke began playing trumpet at the age of nine. In elementary school and through Woodlands High School, Duke played and formed a band with The Lewis Brothers and Sharon Bryant. The group, which ultimately became the popular R&B / Pop success “Atlantic Starr”, recorded their first two albums, “Radiant”(1980) and “Brillance” (1982), both featuring Duke. This led to the recording of Duke’s debut solo album for CTI Records entitled “Thunder Island
Throughout the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Atlantic Starr was one of the most successful outfits in R&B. Little is known, however, of the group’s heady jazz and groove roots. Imagine the brassy ensemble funk of early Kool & The Gang or Earth, Wind & Fire on spirit-centric labels like Black Jazz or Strata-East, with vocals reflecting the freedom of mind and spirit in both lyric and timbre. This is the land from which platinum-selling Atlantic Starr came. This is Newban. Founders Albert “Duke” Jones Jr. and Porter Carroll Jr. were students in Greenburgh, New York, when they recruited a horde of classmates in forming Newban–named such because they were, after all, a “new band.” John Shearer, a friend of Jones and photographer for Life magazine, was a neighbor of legendary audio engineer Malcolm Addey and arranged for Newban to record with Addey at the famed Bell Sound Recording Studios.
Newban and Newban 2 were released on Guinness Records in 1977. Guinness, however, was one of many labels during the late ‘70s that juked numbers and intentionally undersold and under-promoted albums for tax write-offs to keep parent imprints in the black. Co-founder and drummer Carroll and the majority of the members landed a deal with A&M Records and became Atlantic Starr. The Newban masters, however, remained safe and secure in the closet of Addey’s home on Riverside Drive in Manhattan. “I just called him up and said, ‘Listen, we got some things we can do after all these years,’” Jones says. Addey was with it, and returned the tapes for a nominal charge – in pristine, digitally re-mastered condition. Neither Jones nor Addey stopped believing in Newban, which is why he feels this BBE release could be the re-emergence of something lost some 35 years ago. “It might really make some noise with someone behind it,” Jones says about the “new” Newban compilation. “We could get together tomorrow.” The Newban 3 album will be coming fall 2023, will be bringing fresh new sounds with the eclectic philosophy of todays social and emotional needs of modern society. AS ALWAYS , UNPLUGGED AND FREE
A Great talented Brazilian vocalist from Bahia, Salvador Brazil
Singer, Songwriter and Cultural Producer.
Interesting also is the Latin versions of popular R&B numbers. Brian McKnight’s “What’s It Gonna Be” is given a very tasty makeover by Edmon, as is his BRILLIANT remake in Portuguese of Maxwell’s 1998 song “Everwanting To Want You To Want”.
Eric Benét’s gorgeous 1996 “Femininity” is given an interesting and quite respectful remake in English by Edmon as well, and showcases in English what a great talent he is. What I particularly like is the chorus is sung in Portuguese!
But the real showstoppers are the original songs by familiar names. If anyone could do a great job of sounding like Jean Carne it is the beautiful Marva King on “Once Again I’ll Call”. I imagine these are what were Brazilian songs – this one “Verbos Do Amor” – and remade in English. The intricacy of the romantic Portuguese tongue sometimes falters when translated, but not so on this album.
Denise Stewart thrilled us on the Café Soul All-Stars album and also makes an appearance here with the deliciously Latin “Kiss Me”. Throughout this album there is a spoken word but I am not sure who does this. Where it does pop up it is very well placed and does nothing but add to the track and not detract from it.
A new name to me is Diana Booker. Her song is called “Future Lovers” and is another translation from Portuguese. The lyrics in English are really beautiful, poetic and have had some intelligent thought behind it. Diana’s able vocals and the seriously soulful music become one with the passion of the lyric and elevate this high above anything that is being churned out in America at the moment
But there are too many fine cuts here to describe them all. Any one of these songs on this album alone would be enough to prompt an immediate purchase. You won’t go wrong adding Soul of Brasil to your collection.
CAFÉ SOUL ALLSTARS – JAZZ AT SEA- 2005 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL AFTER PARTY CRUISE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO MEXICO
“The goal is to bring back quality music. Music that engages people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually” says Clarence Smith, founder of Essence Magazine and now CEO of You Entertainment, who along with producers Duke Jones , are the guiding forces behind one of this year’s most refreshing collectives, the Cafe Soul All-Stars, a stellar cast of renowned musicians respected for the mastery of their respective instruments. Initially recorded live at sea in the gulf of Mexico over six nights. Featuring Duke Ellington orchestra trumpeter Chris Albert, Rene McClean , son of Saxaphonist Jazz Legend “ Jackie McClean ‘ .
Bassist “ Alex Blake “, Keyboardist “ Don Sands “ , drummer “ Steve Williams “, Keyboardist “ James Farley of the group “ Jazmyn “ featuring “ Debbie Gilchrist “. trumpeter and producer “ Duke Jones “. This
Recording is the beginning of the CafeSoulAllstars band. These are the original live recordings during the cruise. A later collection of songs and guest artists including Grammy Award winners Peabo Bryson and George Benson, Glenn Jones, Vesta, Christopher Williams, Roy Ayers, Kenny Garrett, and many others singing new added material was released titled “ CafeSoulAllstars Love Pages “ in 2005. Now for the first time the original Jazz recordings Of the “ CafeSoulAllstars “ Live “ JAZZ AT SEA “ now being released on the “ Bassline Live “ record label . ‘.Destined to become a staple in every true Jazz lover’s collection.
PIANIST HEY RIM JEON
Brilliant Pianist from SOUTH KOREA newest album.
Currently teaching Piano at the prestigious BERKLEE SCHOOL OF MUSIC in BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS. Hey Rim jeon new recording is dedicated to her father, featuring TERRI LYNN CARRINGTON on drums. A collection of classic jazz songs with a new approach.
Album artist: Melanie Andrews
This is the first solo album by multi-platinum Singer songwriter, Melanie Andrews. Its a SMOOTH JAZZ/R&B ALBUM with Melanie’s silky-smooth lead & background vocals with chilled-out live music tracks from some of the BIGGEST Jazz/R&B musicians in the industry including,Ten (10) time Grammy Winning Group “TAKE 6”, Paul Jackson, Jr., & Chuckii Booker to name a few.
A Catch of Great Music
Featuring:-
AFRICAN VOCALIST ” MURIEL MWAMBA ” FROM ZAMBIA AFRICA,
Artist/Actor/Poet – ” Andre Lafelle “
Violinist ” Maliq Khaliq ” New Jazz Fusion recording ” No Looking Back ” produced by Jazz great, drummer ” Lenny White “
© basslinelive.com A division of Bassline Live LLC.