There’s so much here that’s reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire’s classic late-1970s sound — the urban R&B/pop amalgam, the soaring chorus, the stabbing horns — that it takes a moment to pinpoint what’s different. You May Also Like: Bluey of Incognito: The Albums That Shaped My Career

Like The Endangered around this time last year, I came across a EP from a band just getting off the ground that stands out from the current crop of emerging acts You May Also Like: Mike Dillon & Punkadelick – ‘Inflorescence’ (2023)

The last recordings of an early rock legend had none of the crunchy grit of “Dizzy Miss Lizzy.” Instead, Larry Williams reimagined his sound.

Long a shadowy figure, Shuggie Otis had become known more for his absence than for psychedelic soul successes like 1974’s Inspiration Information and writing songs like Brothers Johnson’s No. 5 1977 hit “Strawberry Letter 23” You May Also Like: No related posts.

I love a good surprise. This week it was my discovery of Kid Koala. You May Also Like: Steely Dan, “Kid Charlemagne” from ‘Northeast Corridor’ (2021): Steely Dan Sunday Sue Foley – ‘Pinky’s Blues’ (2021)

Drivetime calls what they do “urban organic jazz” and, actually, that about sums it up. The Philly group blends Latin rhythms, Tower of Power-style grooves and these satiny smooth instrumental lines on Ignition You May Also Like: Bob Sheppard – ‘The Fine Line’ (2019)

Like Linda Oh, Troy Roberts’ journey from Perth, Australia to New York City has left a trail of awards and accolades in his wake and one gets the sense he’s just getting started. And yet, Nu-Jive 5, due next week, will be his fifth album. You May Also Like: WRDRead More

Past associations with Cannonball Adderley and the Headhunters seemed to point toward a new melding of R&B and jazz here. Instead, Michael Wolff and Mike Clark have created a nimble, adventurous trio recording You May Also Like: Cannonball Adderley – ‘Poppin’ in Paris: Live at L’Olympia 1972′ (2024) Rob DixonRead More

Underneath Bobby Rush’s good-timing, groove-slinging persona is a canny musician, someone who traverses musical styles with such a broad, contagious smile that he makes it all look deceptively easy. You May Also Like: ‘Presto’ Proved That Everything I Thought About Rush, and Fate, Was Wrong Rush – ‘2112: 40th AnniversaryRead More

Drummer Mike Clark, perhaps best known for his work with and without Herbie Hancock as a member of the Headhunters, is part of a new band now — the dazzlingly improvisational Wolff and Clark Expedition, with longtime friend Michael Wolff. You May Also Like: Herbie Hancock’s ‘Fat Albert Rotunda’ HintedRead More