Editorial STUFF
Welcome to our 2014 closing / 2015 opening party! Well almost! lol â¦As we usher out the expiring year, with our customary comment on the movers and shakers who contributed to the previous packed 12 months of quality music, we also run our eye over the artists who we feel will be THE contenders of tomorrow - proclaiming them as artists who are âset to trendâ, as we are sure they will be! ...Talking of which, we are as pleased as punch to have dynamite R&B / Soul duo Nico and Vinz grace our cover this issue, after tracking their progress pre their massive hit, âAm I Wrongâ, itâs great to see these two musical marvels enjoying the fruits of their industrious labour. We look forward to hopefully welcoming them back to our top spot on many occasions in the future.... How do you follow that? Well, how about with one of THE coolest actors on the planetâ¦Star of TVâs Luther and a great many Hollywood blockbusters to boot, Idris Elba drops by to talk about his intriguing âMii Mandelaâ project, which brought together a plethora of stars / friends to record an intriguing musical thank you from the actor, who has just finished playing the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, to the people of South Africa. Next up is R&B vocal harmony legends Boyz II Men, who celebrate a brand new album with a slightly different (some say fresh, as do we) direction being taken by this fine threesome... We then concentrate our efforts totally on our stars of tomorrow, as we bring you hot talent by the score in the shape of; JP Cooper, Veronica & the Red Wine Serenaders, (Vanessa Williamâs uber talented daughter) Lion Babe, Rag N Bone Man, Blue 6, Kieran Alleyne, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis AND special congratulations go out to George The Poet and Years & Years, both have made the short list for the Criticâs choice award and the long list (at time of going to print) for the Sound Of 2015 - both feature in our print issue + partially online and I'm really pleased because I do get a vote in the latter, Iâm glad my rallying cries of support for both acts have been heard! Good luck to all artists selected, but especially ours! ...Hereâs to another fantastic year in music, catch you in Feb 2015! Lee TylerB&S
Win Tickets to SO-UK : Centrepoint Sessions at the Indigo2
We have 5 pairs of tickets for you to win, to possibly the biggest UK soul event of the year, taking place at London's Indigo2 at the O2 this April 17... UK greats include; Omar, Loose Ends and Junior +plus many more...
read moreWin James Brown biopic âGet On Upâ DVDâs and posters
We have 3 copies of âGet On Upâ on Blu-ray to give away and 3 movie posters to accompany the those prizes. Our first winner pulled at random will also get their poster signed by Chadwick Boseman himself...
Win The George Benson Ultimate Collection
Celebrating 50 amazing years of making sweet soul, R&B and jazz filled music, 10 times Grammy award winner George Benson releases his first hits collection in a decade - to mark this release, we are giving 5 copies away...
Renegades Of Rhythm UK Tour 2015
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist are here with their vinyl-only Renegades of Rhythm tour in February - to honour Afrika Bambaataaâs influence on hip-hop.
Nico & Vinz: The Right Stuff
Pete Lewis interviews international chart-toppers Nico & Vinz, as the Norwegian-born-and-raised/African-rooted duo release their musically-eclectic new album âBlack Star Elephantâ...
Idris Elba: mii Idris Elba
B&S Editor Lee Tyler talks to UK actor/DJ/producer Idris Elba about the mii Mandela musical project which accompanies his portrayal of South African freedom fighter/president Nelson Mandela in movie The Long Walk To Freedom...
Boyz II Men: It's a Men thing
B&S assistant Editor Pete Lewis interviews Boyz II Men tenor vocalist Shawn Stockman, as the 60-plus-million-selling Philadelphia superstars release their twelfth studio album âCollideâ...
George Tandy Jr.: Melody maker
George Tandy Jr. is well on his way to becoming one of current R&B / soul musicâs most unorthodox talents. The transparent singer, songwriter and keyboardist croons with undeniable sincerity and clarity...
Kirk Whalum: The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV (Rendevous)
After a six-year wait, âThe Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV,â is here with a two-disc, 19-song CD (and a feature-length DVD) - the latest in the award-winning series, which launched in 1998.
Polly Gibbons: Many Faces Of Love (Resonance Records)
I am in love. One listen to this fabulous album and the discovery of the stunning vocal talents of British jazz singer Polly Gibbons, and you may well succumb too.
Next Stop Soweto Vol. 4
Strut Records keep us going with all those rebel grooves again bringing us the freshest sounds in the guise of Volume 4 possibly their finest in the series!
Jill Barber: Foolâs Gold (Outside Music)
Ohhhhh, this is sweet. Canadian singer-songwriter Jill Barberâs debut UK release and most worthy of wide spread attention. Amazingly, her sixth studio album....
Ian Siegal: One Night In Amsterdam (Nugene Records)
British blues and roots hero Ian Siegal has delivered a benchmark live album recorded in Amsterdam at one gig, which means the title âOne Night In Amsterdamâ is spot on! It is magnificent.........
Marc Cary: Rhodes Ahead Vol. 2 (Motema Music/Membran)
"Rhodes Ahead Vol 2." deserves to bring Marc Cary to the collective attention of a much wider public, and further establish him as one of the most exciting and innovative prospects on the global jazz and urban scene today.
