James Brown got all of the headlines, be they for his fancy moves, his fancier suits or his brushes with the law. But the JB Horns, those great groovers who provided the punctuation to every grunt, gasp and squeal, remain an underrated element to the legend. You May Also Like:Read More

Do you know what today is? It’s our anniversary. R&B songs from the 1990s don’t come a lot in the rotation in that endless soundtrack running in my head, but this sweet, jazzy little Philly soul-cum-New Jack Swing slow jam stands out in my book You May Also Like: RichardRead More

His name is linked forever with the town, and the sound, of Memphis. But Booker T. Jones’ influence moves beyond Beale, into hip hop and today’s rhythm-and-blues — something that’s underscored on The Road from Memphis You May Also Like: How Booker T. and the MGs Defined Bob Dylan’s 30thRead More

Just as Mike and the Mechanics’ “The Living Years” reminds me of my father, there’s now a song that brings fond thoughts of my dear mother, to whom I dedicate this song. During this time of year, a lot of us reflect a lot on what our mother means toRead More

A new offering from Sade’s forthcoming 28-track two-disc ‘The Ultimate Collection’ turns every candle-lit romantic notion about her music on its ear.

Enough with the ‘Silk Degrees’ already. Let’s explore elsewhere in Boz Scaggs’ lengthy catalog.

In a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career dating back to the early 1950s, the Isley Brothers stayed on the move — transforming themselves from gospel shouters to doo-woppers to early rock ‘n’ rollers to nasty funksters to lover-man balladeers. You May Also Like: Let’s Celebrate Summer With Jamiroquai’sRead More

“Mississippi Mile,” a country-inflected blues, finds John Oates right up close, even as his band sets about making this rafter-rattling ruckus.

by Derrick Lord This was just what Ike Turner fans had been waiting for. The Clarksdale, Mississippi native returned to his roots with a barrel-house style blues recording that brought him back as a force on the music scene, earning two W.C. Handy Awards from the Blues Foundation for bestRead More

by Nick DeRiso Forgive me if I thought this was going to be trumpeter Nicholas Payton’s further ruminations on the turbulent brilliance of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Instead, Payton really means it. You May Also Like: Nicholas Payton – ‘Smoke Sessions’ (2021) Miles Davis’ ‘Bitches Brew’ Broke Every Rule: ‘AnRead More