Editorial STUFF

A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR: Since the last issue, we tragically lost our Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. It was a monumental loss to music and her fans alike. Over the years I have been presented with many artists who have been compared and some are even pitched to me as equals to the greatest female soul singer who ever lived. Laughing off most statements and trying to educate others - who obviously have never seen Franklin delivering one of her life-affirming performances - I have to say, as an artist, she is in my humble opinion, without doubt, unparalleled and beyond compare. Her life and what she gave us should be celebrated and that’s exactly what we plan to do. So, ladies and gentleman, please enjoy our Aretha Franklin coverage in this mag and watch this space in future issues... ISSUE 1039: Our impressively talented cover artists this issue are, in no particular order, multi-platinum selling Italian soul/jazz superstar Mario Biondi and multi-platinum selling British blue-eyed soul singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Paul Carrack. How do you follow those, you ask? Well, how about an interview with one of Blue Note’s ridiculously talented stars, soul/jazz singer/songwriter/pianist, Kandace Springs. Or ex-Tony!Toni!Tone! and Lucy Pearl band member, Grammy Award winner, now successful singer/songwriter/producer and authentic soul specialist, Raphael Saadiq. If dance is more your thing, we have a chat with Madhouse Records/Kaoz Theory label founder/producer and house DJ supreme, New Jersey’s finest, Kerri Chandler. Talking of great Dj’s…like buses, you wait ages for one and then another 2 turn up! Dropping a banging debut, we are positively itching to bring you our interview with up-and-coming classic soul, rare grooves and hip-hop beats and breaks DJ’s The Allergies, who are steadily carving out a name for themselves in clubland with their highly skilled turntablist skills. Last, but by no means least, with the release of new album “Zapp VII: Roger And Friends” which features the soul/funk visionary skills of late funk/soul talk box legend, Roger Troutman. We talk to family member/Zapp bandleader Lester Troutman about the new release and how the band celibate Roger Troutman’s music legacy today...We also throw spotlights on 2 very special releases, firstly, the discovery of recordings featuring performances from the late and ever so great jazz bassist, Charles Mingus. We also highlight the release of “Black Velvet” from the Screaming Eagle of Soul, Charles Bradley, another artist we still dearly miss. This posthumous release of mostly original recordings has been put together with care and attention to detail by Daptone Records - well done, indeed a rarity...We feature live action from 2 London events… SW4 dance festival in Clapham and a stunning reggae lineup at Alexandria Palace, which included; Toots & The Maytals, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Beat starring Dave Wakeling, Pama International, DJ David Rodigan and the Trojan Sound System...Also in this issue, Frank Elson check’s out the East Lancs Soul club in Accrington. Duncan Payne continues his new regular feature, The Blues & Soul Years, with a look at the changing time of 1968. And Richard Searling lists his ‘Fantastic Flipsides’ and the tracks which made Wolverhampton’s famous Catacombs Club one of the best known Northern Soul venues in the UK...Lastly, our esteemed columnists Richard Searling (Blues), Ralph Tee (Modern Soul), Jon Harrington (Blues), Ben Lovett (Dance) and R&B’s finest, Bigger, are on hand to share their considerable knowledge on the genres they love. Till next time. Lee Tyler (Editor)B&S