Editorial STUFF
B&S issue 1037 boasts a delicious double cover with UK R&B queen Lisa Stansfield and US authentic soul sensation Leon Bridges taking up pole position. Other tasty interviews include award-winning songwriter and jazz/R&B vocalist, Kathy Koskins. Sophisticated soul/funk specialists Mamas Gun and we are thrilled to include UK soul/contemporary R&B great, Jaki Graham - we’ve missed you Jaki! As we run down the best festivals on the planet, we compliment it interview wise with a catchup with Ralph Lawson, curator of Leeds newest festival, Inner City Electric. And if that little lot wasn’t enough, after a 2-year rundown, the B&S chart singles of all-time chart finally reaches its conclusion. To celebrate this fact, we have interviewed our all-time B&S chart #1 artist. Don’t worry, I won’t give our winner’s name or indeed, the track name away just yet…but it’s a cracker! Also in this issue: we throw a 15th-anniversary spotlight on mighty Italian funk/soul label, Record Kicks. Label boss/DJ Nicolò Pozzoli gives us the lowdown on what makes the label tick and why he has been successful in his mission to bring soul/funk to the masses. We have live reviews from retuning funky divas, En Vogue, at the Indigo, O2. And also in London, soul/contemporary R’n’B hot property, Jacob Banks, at the O2 Forum, Kentish Town. B&S’ Frank Elson also check’s out the happenings at Club Full Of Soul in Blackpool, Lancashire. Sharing their knowledge, our expert columnists/music lovers are on hand to enthuse about the genres they love: Bigger (R’n’B), Richard Searling (Northern Soul), Ben Lovett (Dance), Ralph Tee (Modern Soul) and Jon Harrington (Blues) Lastly, and by no means least in this issue, we say a fond farewell to troubled superstar DJ/producer Avicii, who was sadly taken from us way too young. Thank you for your inspiring the music, dedication and spirit. May you forever rest in peace. Till next issue... Lee Tyler @LeeTyler13 @BluesandSoul (SOME ITEMS MENTIONED ARE CONTAINED IN OUR PRINT ISSUE ONLY - LINKS TO BUY B&S MAGAZINE ARE ONSITE)B&S
Innervisions Festival 2018 scorching lineup
It’s July! So that means it’s time to get down to some of THE best shows London and Manchester has to offer as the Innervisions festival brings you the cream of the music crop...
Lisa Stansfield: A deeper understanding
Blues & Soul Magazine Editor Lee Tyler interviews UK R&B/Soul royal Lisa Stansfield. And with new multi-genre encompassing album "Deeper" being released there's plenty to talk about...
Leon Bridges: Sitting Pretty
B&S' Karen Lawler talks to authentic Soul sensation Leon Bridges about sophomore album release, "Good Thing". Also, Bridges' early career choices, love of choreography and UK audiences...
Kathy Koskins: Naturally Inspired
Pete Lewis interviews internationally-acclaimed US jazz/soul singer-songwriter Kathy Kosins around the release of her sixth album, the Kamau Kenyatta-produced “Uncovered Soul”...
The Soul Immigrants: Pizza Express Dean Street, SOHO, London 19/05/2018
Pizza Express seems to be thriving these days they put three gigs on this particular day and it ran as smooth as clockwork, kicking off with Esther Bennet and Duncan Lamont at lunchtime...
Lee 'Scratch' Perry: KOKO, London: 26/3/18
There are few musicians in any genre as prolific as the legendary Lee 'Scratch' Perry. Responsible for some of the finest music to come from Jamaica
Blackstreet + Mya + Case: Indigo, O2, London 30/3/18
Founding member Teddy Riley may not be part of the group anymore, but current line-up show there's still plenty of life in Blackstreet yet...
Jacob Banks: O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London 28/3/18
Jacob Banks took to London's O2 Forum and imminently showed why so many people are excited about him. His voice is stunning, and at points in the show the crowd was silent and in awe...
Lisa Stansfield: London Palladium 21/4/18
It's been more than three decades since Lisa Stansfield debuted on the British music scene and she continues to show that she can still pack one hell of a punch live...
Smoove & Turrell + Izo Fitzroy: Archspace, London 24/05/18
The Jalapeño family were out in full force with Izo FitzRoy and Smoove & Turrell, two popular acts on their roster plying their wares to devastating effect on an unsuspecting Shoreditch hipster crowd...
Cafe Society Swing: Theatre Royal Stratford 1/6/18
The ubiquitous China Moses turns on the heat with sass, sexiness and great scatting on 'Wild Women Don't Have The Blues' (tailor made for her!) and the late night wooziness..
George Benson: Royal Albert Hall, London 27/6/18
Playing a second night at London's Albert Hall, it was little known to members of the crowd, George Benson had picked up a throat infection which would bring the show to an early close...
Joe Bonamassa: Hampton Court Palace Festival 12/6/18
Blues god and star attraction Joe Bonamassa wowed the Hampton Court Place Festival crowd with his new material and plenty of old faves...all of which were delivered in typically stunning style...
Jo Harman: St. John's Church, Fancombe, Surrey 29/7/18
One of the best current British blues singers, Jo Harman has sung with Lamont Dozier and Michael McDonald guests on her latest album. I was lucky to catch this great in the making