Editorial STUFF
"Ahoy there mateys!!!" As the new issue of Blues & Soul online sets sail we welcome some titanic proportioned interviews from some outstanding artists... Amongst our treasure trove of delights we have multi Grammy award winner Toni Braxton who returns with the truly sumptuous album 'Pulse' after 6 years away (where have you been Ms Braxton?). Taio Cruz drops in to show us his dirty pictures (ok, he doesn't - we're far too shy!?) but he gives Pete Lewis the latest news on reaching the dizzy heights on the American charts. We have Raheem DeVaughn oozing soul quality as his new album 'Love War & Masterpiece' proves a mouth watering dish on our interview menu. Keeping with the nautical flavour on this edition of B&S, we are Ocean's apart as we bring you an interview with Billy Ocean ahead of both album & tour. As promised we bring you Pt2 of SHARON DAVIS' enthralling interview with MOTOWN/THE VELVELETTE'S singer CAL STREET. We top this months interviews by giving you the funk, the whole funk and nothing but the funk by way of not one, but two great funk filled gems. The first out of our groovy bag is the Goliath of funk, the funk-myster, the funk mercenary - the inimitable and highly infectious Mr Craig Charles... Which leads me nicely onto our other close encounter of the funky kind as we bring you 'our funkateers for the future' and picking up all kinds of kudos from the right places on the way - The Impellers. We have competitions to win tickets to Cypress Hill @Brixton Academy + various CD giveaways, for your winning pleasure.... And last but by no means least, (and we wouldn't be the same without them) - our esteemed columnists... Please feel free to contact them all with any relevant info that would benefit others... Phil Driver and his Unsigned Soul column phil@bluesandsoul.com if you are both exceptionally talented and unsigned (both must go hand in hand) - you could be featured! THE No1 MOTOWN authority SHARON DAVIS' email address has changed to misssharondavis3@aol.com if you wish to contact her with regard to her essential (read by half of MOTOWN - I kid you not!) MOTOWN TRACKING COLUMN. Jazz fans are thoroughly satisfied as the guv'nor SNOWBOY casts his critical eye on all things jazz snowboy@bluesandsoul.com All the club news and dance tunes to look out for in BEN LOVETT'S monthly THE GROOVEYARD column ben@bluesandsoul.com If you're into dance music then this column is an absolute must! More exciting news this month... We will be welcoming yet another new voice to our online pages with the addition of AFROBEAT/WORLD columnist MICHAEL DE KONINGH - Welcome Michael!... Just time to re-remind you to follow the music news as it happens at twitter/bluesandsoul - please tweet us and tell us what you're up to, we're nosey like that! ....STOP PRESS... STOP PRESS... MORE VINTAGE AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL NEWS COMING SOON...STOP PRESS...B&S
Win Leona Lewis Tickets
Global Singing Sensation Leona Lewis hits the UK & Ireland this month through to July for her debut arena tour and you could win tickets right here on B&S to her appearance Friday the 18th of June at London's o2 arena...
Toni Braxton: From the heart
Pete Lewis enjoys evening drinks at The Dorchester with 40-million-selling R&B superstar Toni Braxton. Whose new, sixth album ‘Pulse’ - her first in five years - drops this month
Taio Cruz: Comes clean
Pete Lewis talks to UK singer/writer/producer Taio Cruz about his naughty new single ‘Dirty Picture’ plus his current, record-breaking US Number One success with his global smash ‘Break You Heart’
Leela James: Soul purpose
Pete Lewis hooks up with LA-born-and-bred contemporary soulstress Leela James. Whose current US R&B Top 10 album ‘My Soul’ marks her debut for the legendary Stax label
Raheem DeVaughn: Class act
Pete Lewis chats to self-styled “R&B/hippie/neo-soul/rock-star†Raheem DeVaughn about his current US Top 10 album ‘The Love & War Masterpeace’ plus his budding acting career
Billy Ocean: I've got somethin' to tell ya
Pete Lewis reacquaints himself with world-conquering, multi-million-selling original King of British soul Billy Ocean. Whose new Top 20 ‘Very Best Of…’ compilation coincides with an extensive UK tour
Eli “Paperboy†Read: Read all about it!
Pete Lewis hooks up with Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Eli “Paperboy†Reed. Whose ongoing fascination with classic Sixties soul dominates his latest album ‘Come And Get It!’
Avery Sunshine: Sunny Delight!
Pete Lewis enjoys an introductory chat with acclaimed Atlanta singer/songwriter/pianist Avery Sunshine. Whose self-titled debut album mixes elements of soul, gospel and jazz
Somi: First Impressions
Pete Lewis chats to New York-based, African-rooted singer/songwriter Somi. Whose current album ‘If The Rains Come First’ has been acclaimed as “an engaging, melodic slice of New African Soulâ€
Craig Charles: The funk, the whole funk and nothin' but the funk
B&S Editor Lee Tyler meet 6music's DJ/ambassador of funk actor/stand-up comedian/poet/author/voice-over artist/T.V presenter - Craig Charles. The only dish on this appertising interview menu is a huge plate of funk...
The Impellers: Funk aspirations
Kath Newman catches up up with four members of funk infused The Impellers after a recent show at the The Brunswick... Top of the interview menu is recent stand-out live slot on Craig Charles' 6music funk & soul show...
Cal Street (Velvelettes): She is really sayin' something (part 2)
We bring you the egerly awaited second part to Sharon Davis' interview with Cal Street (lead singer from The Velvelettes). As we take a walk down memory lane with the artists she worked with and her impressions of being a Motown artist...
Little Axe: Plan B - Brixton 21/05/10
I'd never witnessed Little Axe so i was somewhat intrigued to see what they were like on stage. 'Bought For A Dollar Sold For Dime', their excellent new album out on the prestigious Realworld label has a real live feel to it...
Larry Graham & The Graham Central Station: KOKO 25/04/10
Larry Graham had not hit town for fourteen years - Was the godfather of slap bass going to deliver? After all he was 63 and coupled with travelling problems due to the volcanic ash was even going to turn up? ....Thankfully, yes!
