Soul vets will know that RAY HAYDEN is a long standing mainstay on the UK soul and dance scene. He’s worked (remixes and production) with people like Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Will Smith, Mary J Blige, Mica Paris and Martine Girault. In recent years he’s diversified into things multimedia and his movie ‘Brightlingsea’ has picked up plenty of plaudits. Right now Ray’s resurrecting to his OPAZ music project – the collective were big in the 90s; you may remember things like ‘Don’t Say Nuthin’’ and ‘I Don’t Want It’. On May 29th Ray/Opaz will launch their fresh, new single ‘Make You Wanna Danc ..read more

Some years ago, someone released a lengthy DVD box set called ‘The Strange World Of Northern Soul’. Even those with just a passing acquaintance with the scene will, we’re sure agree and acknowledge that the scene   can, at times, be “strange” – even bizarre and weird. I guess most cults are like that! Whatever, to add to that this “strange” assertion you may want to  check out a new album simply called ‘Northern’ from “The Mint 400”. We’ve learned that the “artist” is Mancunian veteran muso, Paul Ashley Wheatcroft who is also know as Hakim Jamal. He was a key player on the so-ca ..read more

Since the start of the year young, Californian band, THEE HEART TONES have been busy releasing a set of engaging singles – things like ‘Forever And Ever’,  ‘Sabor A Mi’  and , ‘Cry My Tears Away’. All were/are retro flavoured  – gentle and properly old school. The band have just released another new single and ‘No Longer Mine’ delivers the same charming, throwback soul sound. Think Lowrider and Chicano soul with bags of emotion. The recording is out now via Big Crown Records ..read more

AFRONOVA are a Swedish music duo (Jules Le Boudon and Cristian Saavedra) and earlier this year their sunshine packed, percussive heavy ‘Kuimba’ won plenty of attention. The collective now follow that with ‘Si Quieres’ – another generous  helping of afrobeat sunshine! The title, by the way, means “if you want” in Spanish and the  tune delivers plenty of catchy dance floor hooks underpinned by signature percussive afrobeats  ‘Si Quieres’ is out now on Traxsource promo on May 3rd / Full release on May 17th 2024 on Afronova Records ..read more

For their latest offering the Los Charly gang are reverting to their own names – JORGE MONTIEL & JUAN LAYA and, drafting in stellar vocalist XANTONE BLACQ, they’re delivering a big sunny, remake of the 2002 dance tune from French duo, Cassius, ‘When The Sun Goes Down’. The trio re-imagine the song as a tropical, disco romp; big, brash and bright! For those who want variety there’s also an “Alternative Version” which strips things back a touch; there’s also  two instrumental versions. Out now via Imagenes ..read more

US Soul/R&B/jazz vocalist-drummer ARTHUR THOMPSON is currently winning Stateside support for his latest single – a convincing and heartfelt cover of the Roberta Flack song, ‘Oasis’. Ms Flack released the lovely Marcus Miller-Mark Stephens penned song back in 1988 and it quickly hit the top spot in all the relevant soul charts. Mr T explains why he chose to cover the song: “‘Oasis’ transports you to a place where you feel safe, encouraged, and loved. It describes a longing for that special someone, a feeling of complete peace when you are apart because of the confidence you have in knowing ..read more

Japanese neo-soul singer NAO YOSHIOKA returns to the fray with a busy new single, ‘My Love’. The single is a collaboration with Dutch muso, JARREAU VANDAL – best known maybe for remix work on Rhianna and Dua Lipa.   The pair were inspired to write the song to show Jarreau’s love for his child and to try to explain how love can transform life. The track features complex rhythms – a touch of the Caribbean… a garnish of afrobeat and a breathy but convincing contemporary vocal. This one’s good to go now via Tokyo indie label, Sweet Soul Records ..read more

By common consent one of last year’s best soul singles came from New Orleans soulstress ERICA FALLS. Her lovely ‘Up’ ticked all the right boxes and had even the most conservative soul scribes in raptures. Mind you why wouldn’t Ms Falls deliver. We enthused about her way back in 2017 when she released the LP ‘HomeGrown’ (yes, no gap in that title). Read about it here – https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/home-grown-soul/. Seven years down the line, ‘Up’ established Erica as a real contender. It was (indeed is) proper grown-up soul music. Beautifully produced and with a chorus hook that hits ..read more

Europe’s brand-leading boutique, vinyl soul label, SOUL4REAL, continues its dalliance with albums with this new one – a superb, properly soulful 14 track compilation of music trawled from the 60s and 70s vaults of Atlantic and Atco. The long player is named for the included Darrell Banks’ version of the Gerald Sims penned ‘Here Come The Tears’. This classic Chicago ballad  was first recorded by the incomparable Gene Chandler but here Banks puts his own, tougher spin on it. As the song gives it name to the whole album, you’d assume that the rest of the music is in the same “deep” vein and ..read more

Last month we were treated to a dreamy, seductive, soulful instrumental groove, ‘Trapped In Paradise’ from a band called MISTER REBOUND. We learned that the outfit was a  new(ish) US music collective marshalled by drummer and multi-instrumentalist Joey Campanella and included members of Durand Jones & The Indications, Orgone, & Turkuaz… people like Steve Okonski (Okonski, Durand Jones & The Indications) on keys, Dave Brandwein (Turkuaz, New Originals) on guitar, Dale Jennings (Orgone, Say She She) on bass and Danke on vocals. We also learned that ‘Trapped In Paradise’ was the ..read more