Editorial STUFF

It doesn't get much hotter than this double cover, super producer issue! So ladies and gentlemen, if I may introduce - in no particular order - firstly, in the R&B, Hop-Hop, House and Reggae corner, Mike City. AND, in the soul and jazz corner, we have James Day. Both these distinguished musical heavyweights possess a killer touch when it comes to delivering their own brand of aural deliciousness, within the genres they proudly represent - it’s an absolute pleasure to have these deftly talented black music maestros adorn our covers this issue... How do you follow that? Well, how about a chat with current chart sensation, Dua Lipa? Or dynamic dancefloor guru’s, Rhemi? We have also thrown in a quadruple helping of soul sensations to compliment those already mentioned - we find out about a delicious solo project from Soul II Soul’s Simon Law, we herald the return to the limelight (where have you been?) of Shaila Prosper, we welcome an interview with ridiculously talented, Decosta Boyce, who happens to have a soul CV which that would make James Brown scream! Making up our fantastic 4 is producer Tom Glide, his fusion of contemporary and retro soul has always given his releases a luxurious (must hear) feel... ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: We are front row, centre, at neo-soul queen, Erykah Badu’s Hammersmith Apollo show. Plus one time Curtis Mayfield led - also achieved plenty of chart action in their own right - The Impressions played their last European dates EVER! We were there to review their penultimate show at intimate London venue, Union Chapel... We give our festival coverage some welly (see what I did there?) in our print issue, with exclusive to our print issue reviews from Holland’s North Sea Jazz, East Sussex’s Love Supreme and Somerset daddy of them all, Glastonbury! ...B&S’ Frank Elson check’s out not one, but two Northern Soul club nights at the Greatstone Hotel in Manchester and St Marks in Blackburn... Almost within touching distance of the B&S all-time top 100 chart singles - we continue our top 500 countdown from 140 to 112 in this issue. Artists include; Rose Royce, Sister Sledge, Rufus & Chaka Khan, The Supremes, Prince, Ike & Tina Turner and The Gap Band + many more ‘outstanding’ (too subtle? Lol) bands/artists ...No print issue would be complete without our exclusive to print esteemed columnists covering Soul, Northern Soul, Dance and Blues respectively - all are on hand to give you essential news and share their views on the genres they proudly represent. Until next time…may the music be with you! Lee Tyler (Editor, Blues & Soul Magazine)B&S