Editorial STUFF
November has never looked so good as we bring you interview action from the best musical talent on the planet.... Kicking off proceedings, Rn'B icon MARY J. BLIGE brings up bang up-to-date with her extraordinary life. LALAH HATHAWAY lets us in on the back to basic creation of her new album. Blues Legend KEB MO exclusively talks to Blues & Soul about adding soul and funk to his CV. While we stay with the Blues theme for an interview the grandfather of British Blues, JOHN MAYER. We throw in a tasty offering from T.PAIN and have just enough time for some glamourous soul mixed with a good dash of top talent, MAYER HAWTHORNE style. 5 of the finest minds in music are on hand as our resident columnists bring you the latest news and views from their respective genres. Look out for Sharon Davis Motown Tracking, Ben Lovett The Grooveyard, Snowboy Jazz column, Andy Davies Modern Soul column and last but by no means least Frank Elson's revered Northern Soul column. These's just enough time to mention our next print edition of Blues & Soul which is in shops on December 5th - subscription links are on site. Till next time...B&S
Matt Schofield UK tour news
Fresh from victory at the 2011 British Blues Awards, Matt is back with a 14-date UK tour. Kicking off on November 2 at the Stables, Milton Keynes, the venue founded by the late Sir Johnny Dankworth and his wife Dame Cleo Laine...
Mary J. Blige: Back in stride again
Pete Lewis meets 50-million-selling, nine-times-Grammy-winning contemporary soul/R&B icon Mary J. Blige. Whose new, tenth studio album ‘My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1)’ drops this month...
Lalah Hathaway: Family Soul
Pete Lewis interviews Grammy-nominated soul and jazz singer/songwriter Lalah Hathaway, as the eldest daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway this month releases her musically-varied fifth solo album "Where It All Begins"...
Keb Mo: New Man With Big Plans
Triple Grammy winner Keb Mo reveals he expected people to hate his new record? He speaks to Simon Redley about being dumped by Sony, and a new sound. Or is it?
George Benson: Guitar Hero
Pete Lewis hooks up with 10-time-Grammy-winning legendary soul and jazz vocalist/guitarist George Benson, who this month continues his already-trailblazing five-decade-plus career with a largely-instrumental new album "Guitar Man"...
Kenny Thomas: Don't call it a comeback
After Pete Lewis' interview with multi-Platinum-selling London blue-eyed soul man Kenny Thomas, we have decided to add previously unreleased interview fodder from the man himself, enjoy!
South Music: 33rd Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards
The 33rd Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards returns to Atlanta... Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson are not the only ones with Georgia on their minds…especially when it comes to music!
The Cat Empire: O2 Empire, Shepherd’s Bush 20/10/11
This is a group and a performance worthy of this venerable music establishment. Indeed, as Felix Riebl, one of the lead vocalist said, they love playing here because of the relative large capacity but it still feels intimate...
Rock the Bells - Atlanta feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Mobb Deep 15/09/11
It was two-and-a-half hour trip back to 1995 all over again – a simpler time full of guts from Phillie Titan cigars blowin’ in the wind, semi-laced Timberland boots stompin’ across the pavement...
The Roots: Labatts Apollo, Hammersmith 19/08/11
tonight was the chance to see the four times Grammy winners/global superstar neo-soul & hip-hop band and experience them first hand. I was ready for surprises, but I wasn't prepared at all for what followed!
George Michael: Royal Albert Hall 25/10/11
Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Orchestra, first night of UK icon George Michael tour, it doesn’t get much better than this dear reader. Having already played to packed stadiums across Europe it was the UK's turn...
Fourplay: The Clapham Grand, London 10/11/11
Fourplay. The so-called Jazz “Supergroup,†who have clocked up two decades since celebrated pianist and film/TV score composer Bob James, grabbed bass legend Nathan East and drum hero Harvey Mason at a recording session...
Gwen McCrae + Electric Empire: Islington Assembly Hall, London 17/11/11
When I saw Gwen McCrae was playing for one night in London, you could say I was somewhat excited. What happened next is something that will stay with me for a long time...
