Favorite Funk of 2015 … Including Glorious Soul by Judith Hill

Judith Hill (Photo: Medill DC / This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. / Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Judith_Hill_crop.jpg)

Listening to entries on fellow funkateers‘ „Best of 2015“ lists made me realize that I missed several great new albums last year. My instant favorite was „Back in Time“, the October release by Judith Hill whose funky soul adds justification to her middle name „Glory“. Her debut was produced by Prince who has a spotty history with regard to picking female protegées who are worth of his musical genius and whose own talents equal their looks.

With Judith, Prince apparently found the perfect match. „Back in Time“ contains many of the elements which I liked during Prince’s heyday (and I am not a full-fledged fan – I am not to keen on many of his greatest non-funky hits; e. g., „Purple Rain“ and „Let’s Get Crazy“). It has raw funk, sultry soul (without the „sexcesses“ we are used to), irresistible grooves, punchy horns annd intricate arrangements.

A Funky Soul Christmas (Playlist & Videos)

My feelings towards Christmas are similar to The Grinch’s (without the greedy aspect). The only thing I like about it are the holiday songs. Therefore I put together a Spotify playlist with great Christmas albums and compilations. Feel free to add yours – the list is shared.

Umfrage für Mai 2014: Baltic Soul Weekender oder ELBJAZZ?

Leider stimmt 2014 nur noch einer der Namen der beiden nordischen Top-Soul-, Funk- und Jazz-Events. Denn aus Gründen, die meiner Meinung nach bisher nicht wirklich überzeugend kommuniziert wurden, findet der Baltic Soul Weekender überraschenderweise nicht mehr an der Ostsee statt, sondern im Center Parcs Bispinger Heide. Diese Verlegung geschah, nachdem 2013 schon Buchungen für den bisherigen Standort Weissenhäuser Strand angenommen wurden.

Ahhh, Good Ol‘ Southern Soul & Blues (Internet Radio Tip)

Although I have many stations of various genres in the favorites list of the network music player of my choice (Logitech Squeezebox Boom – review in German) I often listen to the same station for days or weeks whenever I am in my kitchen (where the Squeezebox is located).

These days, my favorite station is Southern Soul Blues Radio. If you are into the same music, the last three songs I just listened to will give you an idea why.

This brilliant version of „Roof Garden“ just reminded me how & why I got into Al Jarreau

R.I.P., Whitney Houston!

It really saddens me to hear that Whitney Houston, one of the best pop/soul singers of all time (IMHO), has passed away at age 48. During my time as a music journalist, I only met her once (for an interview at Arista Records‘ office in New York City). She was 19 at the time and had just recorded a song which, to me, still is one of the greatest performances she ever did: „Memories“ on Material’s „One Down“ album, featuring Archie Shepp on saxophone.

Heute (Heiligabend) noch nichts vor? Mamsie Tsosane bringt Funk, Soul, R&B und Afro-Pop

Wer heute (Heiligabend, 24. Dezember 2011) um 23 Uhr noch keine Pläne hat, dem kann ich ein ganz besonderes Club-Konzert empfehlen:

In der Trafalgar Lounge, Heidenkampsweg 32, 20097 Hamburg, tritt das südafrikanische Ausnahmetalent Mamsie Tsosane auf.

Mamsie ist in Hamburg vor allem als Darstellerin im Musical „Disneys Der König der Löwen“ bekannt. Vorher tourte sie mit dem südafrikanischen Musical „Umoja“ um die Welt, später war sie unter anderem an André Hellers erfolgreicher Zirkus-Show „Afrika! Afrika!“ beteiligt.