Los Angeles neo-hip soulsters J*DaVeY migrated to the Big Apple - Tuesday, June 29 - to give the city dwellers a taste of things to come performing some new material at SOB's. The crowd, needless to say was highly receptive.
Singer-songwriter Anita Baker faces the threat of jail in a contempt hearing today in Wayne Circuit Court after refusing to sign documents that could turn some of her music royalties over to her ex-husband.
The emotionally drained eight-time Grammy Award winner never read the documents she objected to because she had been crying for two days, her lawyers explained. She was unable to "digest" the documents even when given a chance to read them in court Wednesday (February 24).
"I've been in the music business more than 20 years. We are talking about a multimillion-dollar business," said the 52-year-old Grosse Pointe mother of two teen sons.
Wayne County Chief Family Court Judge Lita M. Popke had ordered Baker to explain why she hadn't followed orders to sign letters giving a court-appointed expert on music industry contracts authorization to seek information from record companies about payments for the music she has written and performed.
By the end of a long hearing Wednesday that included frequent interruptions from Baker fretting about going to jail and asking for a chance to testify under oath, the judge ordered her to return Friday morning and sign the letters or face jail.
"Frankly, I haven't heard anything that amounts to an appropriate legal objection to signing these letters," the exasperated judge declared Wednesday. "I'm very upset that we have been here all day saying she isn't going to sign something she hasn't read."
Baker complained that "experts" have dominated court proceedings since her divorce from Walter Bridgforth Jr. in 2007, and she wanted to speak directly to the judge. Detroit entertainment attorney Howard Hertz, who represents Eminem, among other clients, was appointed by the judge as a music contract expert in an effort to settle the dispute.
"I'm being muzzled," Baker complained. "My attorneys agree that I know more about music contracts than they do. But I'm not allowed to talk. I invented my music out of thin air, but they have to talk for me, 'This little woman can't talk.' If I'd invented Ford, they would talk to me.
"If the judge tells me at the end of the day that I have to sign, I'll comply. But I want her to hear my side. I'm not saying I'm right. I just want to be heard."
The judge, who accused Baker of causing delays in the case for more than a year, ordered Hertz and Bridgforth's lawyer, Hanely Gurwin, to bill her for the time they spent in court on Wednesday.
Her divorce from Bridgforth called for an even split of royalties from two albums made during the couple's 20 year marriage; 'Giving You the Best I Got" in 1988, and "Rhythm of Love" in 1994.
While performing the classic record from Dr. Dre's The Chronic, Ms. Badu greeted the crowd at Fox Theather in Oakland, CA (Friday, February 19) and let the crowd sing and fill in the words. She also dove off the stage into the crowd and surfed the crowd momen tar ily to the enjoy ment of the fans. Hometown girl Goapele opened up the show & comedian Dave Chapelle introduced Erykah to the sold out crowd (with fan shot video below).
History With 'Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America' Premiering on Friday, February 5 at 9pm on VH1.
90 Minute Documentary Narrated by Academy Award Nominee Terrence Howard With Original Score by Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots
NEW YORK, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Few television series were as innovative and influential to pop culture as "Soul Train." Set first in Chicago, "Soul Train" launched on WCIU-TV with local radio and television personality, Don Cornelius on August 17, 1970. After moving the dance show to Los Angeles, "Soul Train" skyrocketed nationally and firmly secured its place in television by becoming the longest running, first-run syndicated series in history. To commemorate the show's 40th anniversary, VH1 Rock Docs and Soul Train present "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America," a monumental 90-minute documentary celebrating the show's impact on pop culture, music, dance and fashion. The film will also feature a rare interview with Don Cornelius in which he reveals exclusive details regarding the launch and early days of the legendary series.
From 1970-2006, "Soul Train" offered a window into African American music and culture, and its charismatic host, Don Cornelius, was the man responsible for a new era in African American expression. A trained journalist, Don created a media empire that provided an outlet for record labels and advertisers to reach a new generation of music fans. He was and still is one of the first African Americans to own his own show. As the epitome of cool, many of his expressions entered the popular American lexicon: "A groove that will make you move real smooth," and "Wishing you Love, Peace, and Soul!"
"Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America" is narrated by Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and features an original score by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots. The documentary includes memorable performances and moments from the show, as well as behind-the-scene stories from the people who lived the "Soul Train" movement, including the cast, crew, and dancers. In addition, popular musicians (Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Snoop Dogg, Aretha Franklin), Sly Stone's first exclusive documentary interview in years, comics (Cedric "The Entertainer," Nick Cannon), music industry executives (L.A. Reid, Clive Davis, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) and actors of yesterday and today will comment on growing up with the show and will share their stories of how "Soul Train" affected their own lives.
"Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America" is the newest documentary in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives. For more information on VH1 Rock Docs, visit RockDocs.VH1.com.
If you haven't yet heard of (Mayer) Hawthorne, chances are you'll be instantly hooked. He's a dreamily original artist, who draws on the noblest traditions of Motown and soul, with an alluring modern quirkiness – a trick last pulled by Amy Winehouse.
Hawthorne's unique "sound" and manner combines the timeless elegance of Barry White or Marvin Gaye with the raised eyebrow of, say, the Divine Comedy. You don't have to take my word for it, either. Ask, oh, Ashton Kutcher and Perez Hilton, or Mark Ronson and Snoop Dogg. They have all recently pegged A Strange Arrangement among the best new records of 2009.
"Soul music isn't the only place my sound comes from," he says. "When I mix drums, for example, I'm not trying to mix them like Smokey Robinson. I want them to sound more modern. I also listen to heavy metal, like Tool and Helmet and Iron Maiden. And some of that comes out in the album, too. You've also got a wailing guitar solo on a track called "Green Eyed Love" that you'd never hear on, say, a Motown record."
He recorded the first Mayer Hawthorne track in his bedroom, playing all the instrumental parts, singing all the vocals, and mixing them on basic equipment ("Mayer" is Cohen's middle name, "Hawthorne" is the street he grew up on). A handful of two-track demo CDs were made, passed to friends "for a sort of joke," and forgotten about. In 2006, Cohen moved to Los Angeles in an effort to make a living out of hip-hop, with a group called Now On. One night last year, he was introduced to music mogul Chris Manak (aka "Peanut Butter Wolf") who owns the influential LA label Stone's Throw Records. Mayer Hawthorne came up in conversation.
"My friend, who introduced us, mentioned it," recalls Cohen. "I was a bit pissed-off, because I was trying to pump my hip-hop career, but I sent the songs to Peanut Butter Wolf anyway. About a month later, he emailed saying, 'I just listened to the tracks. This is awesome... who wrote them?' He couldn't believe they were my tracks. He thought they were old songs I'd got the rights to." Soon afterwards, Hawthorne was signed-up by Stones Throw.
Raphael Saadiq is one smooth cat. Rocking a black tie and a suit coat rapidly shed in the setting sun, he easily won the Xbox 360 crowd over with retro soul grooves complemented with Temptations-esque dance moves. A soul lifer who cut his teeth in the groundbreaking 80s act Tony! Toni! Tone!, his work in the years following the group’s break-up has been met with widespread critical acclaim, but limited commercial success. His 2008 release ‘The Way I See It is changing that scenario. With an old school sound that’s straight up Motown and a style crafted to match, Saadiq seems to have hit his stride.
DJ Spinna 'Sonic Smash' out July 21 on High Water Music
(via press release)
Renowned super producer DJ Spinna is ready to wreck some eardrums with his latest release, Sonic Smash. After working with legends such as formerTemptation Eddie Kendricks, famed jazz artist/vibraphonist Roy Ayers, and prolific Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes, Spinna gets back to his hip-hop roots.
Sonic Smash features a smorgasbord of talented emcees: Little Brother's Phonte, Elzhi of Slum Village, Torae, and others contribute verses. Elzhi gets busy on "More Colors," working in a clever American flag metaphor. South Florida rapper Dynas shows off his mic skills on the spacey "More." If Aldous Huxley was into hip-hop, this would be Brave New World's theme song.
The bulk of the artists on Sonic Smash are relatively unknown. Newbies (and label mates) Fresh Daily, P.Casso, and Homeboy Sandman hold their own on "Get on Down", the thumping cymbals and horns push the verses along with the pomp of a polished marching band. Newcomer and Atlanta native Señor Kaos proves he has chops on "Call me Señor," his lyrics floating effortlessly over Spinna's jazzy piano key melody.
Sonic Smash's 14 well-crafted tracks showcase DJ Spinna's legendary production expertise. The album drops on July 21 on High Water Music.
Check out the first single from Sonic Smash, "New York" featuring Jigmasters.
A fine job by Raphael Saadiq and his musical crew performing an impromptu Jackson 5 favorite "I Want You Back" recorded at the Blue Note in Tokyo Japan Thursday June 25.
In other Raphael Saadiq news, read about his upcoming live DVD out July 21 HERE Raphael Saadiq 'The Way I Am' out now on Columbia Records
Anthony Hamilton made a stop at the WaMu Theater At Madison Square Garden Thursday June 18 on his current tour. Anthony and his touring partner Musiq Soulchild turn the pentecost into the holy ghost with this 'church time' performance duet.
As July 7 approaches, there is one release marking our calendars for quite some time Maxwell's 'BLACKsummers' night'. This being the first part of a trilogy from Maxwell that is surely poised to go straight to number one. Our friend to Hooked On That Keleigh Starr gives us her feedback to one of the most anticipated releases of 2009.
Not many things motivate me to spend time writing a review but Maxwell is one of those things so I thought I would share my thoughts since this is going to be the first HUGE R&B release of 2009.
Track #1 "Bad Habits" This is typical strong Maxwell. The sound will be totally familiar and the track is a "grown and sexy" kinda funky. I can totally see rolling down Wilshire in the Lex with the sun roof open singing my head off to this one. Towards the end I can so hear the Marvin Gaye influence for just a quick second. The band is funky on this one.
Track #2 " Cold" At the open I so hear Prince in this one. The rhythm reminds me of a lot of Prince stuff. This is another one that if an up tempo funk kinda "get your roll on" track. Not the strongest vocals from Maxwell on this one but still fairly solid.
Track #3 "Fistful of Tears" Mid tempo with an interesting strip down piano background. The lyrics are about him getting his woman to act right and honestly I just didn't feel the usual emotion that I feel from him. This track is good but from Maxwell I NEED GREATNESS and this ain't it for me. For the average person it will work but loving music daily like I do I need that song that makes me cry time after time and this wasn't it.
Track #4 "Help Somebody" Another up tempo track but this one didn't make me want to jump in the car and open the sun roof like the 1st 2 did. I do appreciate the content of the song but I felt like the message got lost because the track is very "involved" and the instruments are powerful. Make sure you play this one and listen to the message. We could all do more of this.
Track # 5 "Love You" This one totally did not move me.....not vocals, content, or track......
Track # 6 "Phoenix Rise" With a 9 track album I need you not to have one of them be an instrumental lol. This reminds me of a Quik's Groove type break. Nice but I wanna hear that voice that makes you want to throw your panties on the stage......Ya Feel Me lol!
Track #7 "Playing Possum" OK so we reach the first ballad........ Love the lyrics and the vocals but again I am not feeling the passion I usually feel from him. Its almost mechanic and although it sounds good I am the kind of person who needs it to move me to emotion. Do I like it yes.... but its not all that I needed from the 1st ballad.
Track # 8 "Pretty Wings" We have all heard this one and it was always OK with me.......
Track # 9 "Stop The World" I like this one! It makes me want to break out the Seven Sister wine, candles, and find a man worthy of my time lol! I ALMOST feel the passion in this one but regardless it just works! This would be a good video. ALL MEN SHOULD THINK LIKE THIS!
So all in all the album IS INDEED SOLID. I think most will be glad to hear his voice again because he doesn't sound like he's been away for years at all. He sounds STRONG. Is this the great come back that will blow you away no but its TOTALLY worth your money.
Now that R&B group One Chance has a new lease on life with their new Young Jeezy Corporate Thugz Entertainment affiliation, Robbie Brent from the group and Davon Allen one half of the songwriting team 'The Sikpenz' give us the skinny on a brand new One Chance track "(I Can) Shed A Tear For You".
Irish female Soul sensation Laura Izibor recently held a listening event at Cafe Cira in Atlanta for her upcoming release 'Let The Truth Be Told' set to be released June 16 on Atlantic Records.
