Editorial STUFF
We say Happy Holidays with a stella line-up to keep out the winter chill whilst throughly warming your soul (forgive the pun) - An interview with Queen of Soul ARETHA FRANKLIN backed up by a who's who of top tallent in the guise of MARY J BLIGE, RE-FORMED LABELLE, LEDISI, NU LIFE and our one to watch this month is Mo Philly new girl SHANTEL. We say happy 40th birthday to the STYLISTICS (you're catching us up!). Sharon Davis asks Mo Philly's JIMMY LEVINE what's new as MOTOWN prepare to roll out the red carpet for their 50th Birthday in January. We blow out the new year candle with DJ SEMTEX, who tell's us about the future of DJ'ing in the shape of DVD-DJ mash-ups. We have competion's galore, as you can win JOHN LEGEND CONCERT TICKETS (at a venue of your choice), SEAL; SOUL ALBUMS AND R&B WINTER COLLECTION ALBUMS - with the first ever R&B DVD mix CD by of course - SEMTEX. In our try before you buy hmv B&S listening post - we have BEYONCE, JOHN LEGEND, LEMAR and KANYE WEST'S (concept album) for you to listen to, and then purchase at rock bottom (VAT Reduced) prices. So go on, give it a sneeky listen!!!! We bring you daily updated NEWS, REVIEWS and OPINION from the cream of music writing including our columnists - SOUL'S ANDY DAVIES and the JAZZ WORLD'S FINEST SNOWBOY who are at the ready to share the months news, reviews and opinion in their respective genres... If you missed the first, then do not worry as you can still checkout B&S MOTOWN writing legend SHARON DAVIS who returned to Blues and Soul to write the MOTOWN TRACKING COLUMN that so many of you have missed. Volume Two is just a click away on the left navigation - Don't forget to contact our columnists with stories, reviews and to let others know of gig news. Looking forward to huge 2009!B&S
Extra tickets for Beyonce's new U.K dates
Superstar Diva Beyonce has added new dates to the U.K leg of her 'I am...' world tour. Tickets go on sale this Fridays - so, be quick or be very disappointed!?!
Win John Legend tickets
John Legend has confirmed he playing three dates in March 2009 at three venues, where he will be performing hits from his recently released third studio album - Evolver. You can win a pair of tickets to each venue...
Win Motown 50.................... Yesterday > Today > Forever
You voted for the songs featured on this album, so it seems fair that we give a few copies away... For your chance to win a copy of 'Motown 50 - Yesterday>Today>Forever.' Just answering our simple question.
Win ' A Complete Introduction To Northern Soul'
There are albums and there are albums... And then, there are comprehensively superb Northern Soul albums! Four of them in-fact!! All cramed under one roof in the aptly named 'Complete Introduction To Northern Soul. ' And you can win it...
WIN R&B Collection
Win a copy of the number one ultimate 'R&B Collection' - for the biggest and best hits of the year with an exclusive DVD Video Mix by DJ Semtex
Aretha Franklin: The Queen's Christmas Speech
Aretha Franklin, has racked up more awards and accolades than virtually any woman in music history—from the much-coveted Presidential Medal of Freedom to being named one of Time magazine’s most important people of the 20th century.
MARY J. BLIGE: Just Fine
Pete Lewis top ten interviews 2008: 10 Billy Ocean 9. JAY SEAN 8. DARYL HALL 7. INCOGNITO 6. MICHAEL MCDONALD 5. DAVID SANBORN 4. ADELE 3. LITTLE JACKIE, 2. NATALIE COLE and No1. MARY J. BLIGE enjoy...
Labelle: The Return Of Silver Soul
Some musical reunions work, some don’t. It’s all a matter of chemistry and often the manner in which the parties involved split up. Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash uniformly agree - It’s as if they never went away.
THE STYLISTICS: Sweet Harmony
With The Stylistics currently celebrating their 40th Anniversary, original group member Herb Murrell looks back with Pete Lewis on the four-decade career of Philadelphia’s premier sweet soul vocal group.
LEDISI: SHE, OF GOOD CHEER!
There’s a veritable spate of holiday sets – Aretha Franklin (amazingly her first), Brian McKnight, Al Jarreau and Patti Austin to name a few. Joining their ranks, and as far as we can tell – the first ‘neo-soul' artist
NU LIFE: Divine Aspirations
Having already encompassed a MOBO Award, a sell-out tour of the UK, plus a royal performance before The Queen, British urban gospel trio Nu Life this month finally release their long-overdue debut album ’A Woman Like Me’.
SHANTEL: TIME TO SHINE
With it's stated aim being "to re-introduce the world to the traditional sound of quality soul and smooth R&B", LA and New Jersey-based Mo-Philly Music Group launches in the UK via 'Arize' - debut album from Shantel Joseph
JIMMY LEVINE: A Thoroughbred among Mo-Phillys
Some interviews don�t turn out in the way intended and this was one of them! Had spent quite a time preparing for this chat but nothing could have prepared me for the next hour of my life. Oh, do read on, there�s nothing nasty co
SEMTEX: DVD Pioneer
Lee Tyler talks to HIP HOP alchemist 'Dj Semtex' about his new mix DVD - part of the compilation 2 x CD and 1 x DVD 'R&B Collection.' A first for the R&B genre and a first for the DJ who agrees - this is the future...