**Jimmy Castor's 2 New EP's (OvaThaTop Funk/Jazz/Latin/Doo Wop/Rap)
R&B Pop Crossover 
Pop R&B Crossover with a Groove.
If you go to the website of Jimmy Castor you will find that he's got two brand new EP's. Big deal you might say if you are just a casual fan. However those of us who are in the know will recognize the historic importance of this event. It means that Jimmy Castor, the E-MAN" himself is back. And true to form he does not disapoint us. His singing and playing hasn't missed a beat in 30 years.
Website = http://www.jimmycastor.com/
You can Listen to It
Here and There
**Like So - Like So (Rock/Pop/Soul)
If Lenny ever made a good album it might sound like this. Another one of the "secret pleasures" that I have been listening to multiple times over the past few months. If you have been waiting for a band that that could be a a "logical sucessor" to Living Colour for about 12 years and have been consistantly disapointed by the mediocre albums of Lenny Kravitz (like I have been), then don't even think twice, you need to own a copy of "Like So" - Like So. Fronted by Aisha Cohen, Like So is a bonafide Black Rock n' Roll band playing well written romantic pop songs that appeal across the chasam of race. Lenny Kravitz needs to pay close attention to this, because it's a top flight album that sounds like what the record company hype told us that he was supposed to be?
**Martha Redbone - Skintalk (Soul/Funk/Slow Jams/Rock)
Martha Redbone is one of the most prolific FUNK artists of the century. (how's that for a mouthful?) Her first album called "Home of the Brave" could be thought of literally as "female bookend" for the album "Urban Misfit" by Sonny Boy. That first CD combined influences from Stevie Wonder to Sly Stone to Shuggie Otis and more that truly makes it a psychedelic soul" classic. Now with her second CD "Skin Talk", Martha Redbone takes us to "love land" while still retaining her FUNK edge. There are some SERIOUS slow jams here on this CD in addition to her brand of acid drenched Shuggie Otis/Sly Stone influenced FUNK.
**Little Richard - King of Rock n' Roll (the complete Reprise Recordings) (Soul/Funk/Rock/Blues/Gospel/Jazz and everything else you can think of)
This is yet another album that if you are a historian of "Great Black Music From The Ancient To The Future" is something like discovering yet another "rosetta's stone" that helps you to understand more clearly how to connect the dots together with respect to our great musical legacy. This three CD set is a compilation containing music that was originally created by Little Richard during the timeframe of the late 1960's and early 1970's. It is a repackaging of several different LP's that were created at that time, that for one reason or another weren't commercially sucesful. As many of you will recall this was one of his many "comeback periods". What we have in this poorly titled three disk collection is actually something that is quite close to a masterpiece. We get Little Richard playing then contemporary funk, blues, jazz, rock and gospel. Some songs remind me of Sly Stone. Some songs remind me of Ceedence Clearwater, some songs remind me of Isaac Hayes, some songs remind me of Al Kooper/Shuggie Otis, etc.in their "style". But it is NONE of those people it is in fact none other than Little Richard and it is Little Richard at his creative best.
**Krush - "Krush" (Soul/Funk/Jazz/Go Go)
Many of you here have already heard this SLAMMIN CD because we have been playing online and many of you have already writen in with your commentary on it. In my opinion when all is said and done, this is going to be one of the top releases of the year. Those of you who haven't heard it yet, need to take a listen. Those of you who have already listened to it need to head on over to the KRUSH website and order it. You have NO EXCUSE not to do it, you have already told us that you like it, so now why wouldn't you take the next logical step and order it?
Website = http://www.cloutent.com/Krush/
**"Lackawana Blues" (Music From The HBO Movie) (Rock n' Roll/Blues/R&B)
This is an outstanding soundtrack album from the equally outstanding HBO movie. Good source material for those who are interested in the roots of Rock n' Roll.
**Defunkt - Journey "Live" (Stone Cold Funk)
Some folks who are under the mistaken idea that Funk music died in the 1980's probably never really checked out DEFUNKT. Journey "Live" is a great CD that is not only a GREAT FUNK ALBUM, it clearly demostrates just where FUNK MUSIC was supposed to have gone in the 1980's. As such it brings a tear to my eye that the music did not evolve in that direction. It's a live set (including my favorite "Strangle Me With Your Love") recorded in Europe in 2004 and led by Soul-Patrol favorites Joseph Bowie and Kahil El Zabar, Dufunkt (pronounced "de funk") represents the 1970's funk and 1970's Jazz, finally at peace with each other and taken to a whole new level with the addition of "new wave" (punk?). If you are a "stone cold funkateer" this album is for you (nuff said).
**Donna Summer - "Gold" (Rock/Disco/Funk)
You want evidence of the true greatness of Donna Summer then look no further. Listening to this two CD compilation was almost like finding "lost money". Track after track, hit song after hit song re awakened me to the magic of Donna Summer. I had simply forgotten just how good she was as an artist and what a fantastic hit making machine she was as an entity. Yes there are a few "mindless disco tracks" on here, but even on those, the majesty of her powerful singing voice comes through. The big surprise here is that when viewed in the context of her complete body of work the true range and diversity of the career of Donna Summer emerges. It was always there, but it's easy to forget just how good she was. The rockers ROCK, the funk joints FUNK, the ballads are drenched with emotion and the disco is erotic as hell. Even if you always thought that you didn't like her because of the "disco tag", you owe it to yourself to pick up this set and re-evaluate her within the context of what should really be considered a career worthy of swift inclusion into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Other Comments : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=music
**Bettye Swann - "Bettye Swan" (Soul/Country)
First up is Bettye Swann. Born Betty Jean Champion in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 24, 1944. She spent her first nineteen years growing up in Louisiana. She later moved to California to pursue her dream of making it as a singer and writer. At age 20 she signed a deal with Money Records. Her breakthrough single and biggest hit was "Make Me Yours" in 1967.
Within a year she signed with Capitol Records cutting Country and Pop sides. She recorded with Buck Owens "Today I Started Loving You Again", which became very popular. Bettye almost made it to the hit Country variety show "Hee Haw" which Owens starred. It was determined however. that having her on the show doing an interracial love song would damage Buck's career. This incident did not stop Bettye as she recorded other songs such as "Stand By Your Man", "Cover Me" and "Sweet Dreams" a song that was a big hit for Mighty Sam McClain.
Bettye continued recording through 1970 and then left the music business. She explains that " The best thing about show business I loved was actually singing, making music and interacting with people. It wasn't always 100% fun and there were some rough times, really rough times, so I just stopped."
The recording on EMI/Astralworks features standout cuts such as "Closed For The Season", "These Arms of Mine", 'Stand By Your Man", "Sweet Dreams", "Don't Touch Me", and "I'm Lonely For You.
**Chaka Khan - "CLASSIKHAN" (Soul/Jazz/Pop)
Next on our list is the amazing Chaka Khan who just gets better with age. Her latest release on AGU Music-Earthsong / Sanctuary Records is called CLASSIKHAN and it features the London Symphony Orchestra. Chaka reflects that most of the songs are songs she grew up with like "Stormy Weather" and "Round Midnight", have been a part of her since she was a little girl. "It was like they haunted me and I just needed to do them. I felt I was successful in regard to my honesty and intent for what I wanted to accomplish with this record."
While the marketing campaign for this recording hasn't had the promotional push as perhaps Queen Latifah or Jill Scott, the content speaks for itself. Jazz, Country, and Pop tunes are represented by standout tunes such as "Hey Big Spender", "Crazy", "Is That All There Is, "Teach Me Tonight", and "To Sir With Love". I'm here to let you know that this CD is definitely deserving of wider recognition.
**D-Erania - "Offerings of Love" (Soul/Jazz)
Our next artist hails from Chicago and is a fellow Soul-Patroller who we can definitely look forward to hearing more things from. "Offerings of Love' is the new Jazz entry from saxophonist D-Erania. Bob Davis kept telling me about this great new Jazz artist that I needed to hear, so I contacted their label and got the music. From start to finish this recording covers various elements of Jazz. Straight-ahead improvisation, Jazz-funk, and Smooth Jazz stylings from a great group of musicians. Standout cuts include " Y.J.T.", "Jahari's Home", and "Let's Groove". Hats go off to D-erania, Anthony Morgan, Sammy Torres, Joe Rocha, and Derrick Bounds. There is even an appearance from Pittsburgh-bred guitarist Fareed Haque on the title tune.
Website = http://www.d-erania.com/
**Alison Crockett - On Being A Woman (soul/jazz/neo soul/funky in yo' face black female 3am eroticism)
This independently produced CD is off the chain. Formerly with US3 and King Britt/Sylk 130 (two of the best groups of the 1990's), Alison Crockett seems like she is "ready" to drop a bomb like this on us. It's a rarity among the so called "neo soul" crowd because she isn't afraid to take on Badu head on and in my opinion she "Out Badu's, Badu....". For example she does a great cover in here of Janet Jackson's "When I Think Of You", but it's done in her own style (she slows it down and Funk's it up). Now think about the great job Erykah Badu did on covers like "4 Leaf Clover", "So What", "Funkin for Jamacia" and others. Alison Crockett does the same thing with "When I Think Of You" (she now owns that joint as far as I'm concerned). In short Alison Crockett isn't actually afraid to challenge Erakah Badu! I love this CD and I predict big things for Alison Crockett, if she can get some airplay (which of course we will give to her on Soul-Patrol.Net Radio). She's a great artist, with some great original material as well that is also the equal of Badu's originals and I hope that people are willing to give her a listen. It's got a slot in my "3am rotation", put this on while you are just laying there with your lady...
**Adriana Evans - Nomadic (soul/rock/funk/latin)
This Independently produced CD sounds like it is derived directly from the mission statement of Soul-Patrol or perhaps even the Black Rock Coalition. This is obviously an artist who isn't afraid to take risks. A decade after having major label (and knee-gro radio) success and damn near the creator of the term "neo soul", Adriana Evans has totally reinvented herself in the guise of a woman who wants to create her own definition of what success really is. The closest thing I can compare the feeling I got when I heard this album, is the feeling that I got when I first saw the transformation of "Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles into first saw the "LABELLE" - Nightbirds. This album is kinda like a musical Declaration of Independence (from knee-gro radio) for this lady and I defiantly want to take the journey along with her. It's fresh, funky and certainly a plesant surprise from an artist who should actually be a HUGE STAR right now (if all things were equal) but since this world is a cruel place, dictated by people who don't actually give a damn about true artists who produce truly GREAT music Adriana Evans new CD is likely to only heard by the few of us left who actually care about the music.
Bob DAVIS (of Soul Patrol's List)
Jam & Lewis
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