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
Charles Bradley Obituary
Commonly referred to as “The Screaming Eagle of Soul”, raspy-voiced 68-year-old sensational Soul/Funk/R&B vocalist Charles Bradley, has sadly lost his battle with cancer...
Win a pair of KitSound Arena wireless headphones
Win a pair of striking wireless KitSound “Arena” headphones by just answering our simple question, then being the first drawn at random...
Mike City: City Life
As Mike City drops the killa album, “Feel Good Agenda Vol. 1”, featuring a veritable who's who from the world of R&B / Soul, B&S' Karen Lawler in on hand to bag a rare interview with this huge talent...
James Day: Following Day
Pete Lewis interviews Massachusetts-based modern soul songwriter/producer James Day, whose independently-released new album “Song, Soul & Spirit” is a soul must-have...
Dua Lipa: Success is Dua
B&S' Karen Lawler talks to Dua Lipa about her new self titled album, pressures around her heavy workload, continued chart topping success and her reaction when Annie Mac premiered her debut track...
Eric Benét: The Benét effect
B&S' Semper Azeez-Harris catches up with contemporary R&B/Neo-Soul hero Eric Benét as he discusses the release of his eponymous album, parenting, collabs and career longevity...
Robert Cray: Natural Blues
During his recent UK tour, Blues great Robert Cray spoke to Chaz Brooks about his hunger for vinyl, his favourite singer/album, recording with the legendary BB King and of course, Donald Trump!
Dax On Sax: The joys of Dax
Saxophonist Dax On Sax has been consistently wowing crowds in Ibiza with his charismatic performances. Now extending his talents in the studio, he has just finished his debut album, "My Vision"...
Mary J. Blige: Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, London 16/7/17
Mary J. Blige is a force of nature, a groundbreaking artist who demands a large audience wherever she goes. She had the perfect setting at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew...
Boz Scaggs + Michael McDonald: Pacific Amphitheater, Orange County Fair, Los Angeles 6/817
Chaz Brooks reviews a classy double-header care of blues stalwart, Boz Scaggs and soul royal, Michael McDonald, at the Orange County Fair in Los Angeles, USA...
Jamaica House: Freddie McGregor, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Protoje, Luciano... Indigo2 5-13/8/17
To mark Jamaica's 55th year of independence, a series of concerts were announced in London, featuring some of the country's finest artists, plus acts inspired by the island's music scene...
Emeli Sande: o2 Arena, London 18/10/17
The o2 Arena is a tough venue to play, and singers really need to be on-point, but Sande looked in her element throughout...
Nicole Willis & UMO Jazz Orchestra: My Name Is Nicole Willis
It's been a while since we last heard of her but rest assured, Finnish based Nicole Willis is back in style, "My Name Is Nicole Willis" gets down to business from the off with a smorgasbord of styles and moods...
Ginuwine, Dru Hill + 112 - 20th Anniversary Tour: Indigo, o2, London 5/10/17
Unsurprisingly the triple-bill of Ginuwine, Dru Hill and 112 sold out in next to no time, meaning a second night was quickly added and also showed that the R'n'B kings can still draw a crowd...