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THE JUICE – FEATURED TRACKS 2007

 

Jahah

Simone

Anise – Situation

Jeremiah

Steve Wallace 

Rhythm Republik -

Robert Anton

Trish’n’Tom

Heather Park

Anthony Dixon

Elaine Stepter

David Mensah

Rogiers

 

 

Maya Azucena

Gwen Miller

April Hill

Gemma Genazarro

Kendra Ross

Trizonna McClendon

Alison Crockett

Dominique Elise

Illusive

Me’na

Karizz

Stanley James

Elaine Stepter

Ultra Nate

 

 

Since January 2007 I have been contributing to The Juice on Solar Radio on Monday nights – www.solarradio.com - midnight UK time. This is mainly (but not entirely) new and pre release product – Quite a number of these have been first plays.  I have therefore been receiving a lot of material by download, and I have kind of forgotten to include these in the reviews.  This is therefore a quick catch up of some of the material featured on the show but not featured on the site elsewhere.  I will fill it in with more detail and links as time allows!

 

Jahah http://www.myspace.com/bz70

 

Atlanta Producer/Soul Music Artist JAHAH (Mama’s Only Son) releases new album, The Melting Pot.

“JAHAH takes his sound where a lot of artists should have taken it years ago!!! He is worlds ahead of the game! I dig this shit!” - DJ Rasta Root (Smokin' Needles Records/A Tribe Called Quest) on JAHAH’S latest release, The Melting Pot

Atlanta-July 3rd 2007-Acclaimed soul artist JAHAH releases his new album The Melting Pot in the US. The album has already been released in Japan on the label Day-Track (www.day-track.com). This is his second release in Japan and his 3rd in the US. JAHAH states, “I’ve sold over 10,000 albums in Japan which is pretty good for an independent artist. My goal with The Melting Pot is to build up my fan base and spread my music to a wider audience”.

JAHAH’S solo career began in earnest after his first solo album, 2000’s “EAR FOR MUSIC” got the attention of OUTKAST with the song Can’t Believe. Though the deal with OUTKAST fell through the cracks, JAHAH’S name buzzed around Atlanta has the new kid to watch for. Artist such as Speech (Arrested Development) and Fox Sports enlisted JAHAH for his songs and production skills.

JAHAH’S newest album, The Melting Pot provides plenty of funk, R&B, soul and jazz influences. The Melting Pot is what good R&B/Soul music is supposed to sound like. Its 70’s Motown with a contemporary feel that most of today’s artists can’t achieve. JAHAH effortlessly bridges the gap between old school soul music and contemporary R&B with a high caliber of creative energy that runs the stylistic gamut in what’s regarded as his hottest album yet.

Jahah kindly let me have an advanced copy of this and we featured it on the Juice, early in the year and now that it has got a release it is getting the attention it deserves.  As with Jahah’s previous two albums there are always a handful of tracks that the UK latch on to and this is no exception with several falling into that category, like Caramel Honey Browm (yet another with the failsafe rising to the top sample), Soul Music. Get on the floor, but all round top album, though I do find that Jahah’s voie is something of an acquired taste.

 

 

Simone www.myspace.com/astral22

 

Given to me by my good friend Armand/ Astral 22 whose podcasts are getting rave reviews on the Modern Soul Scene.  This tracksubsequently piked up by soulchoonz and available for download at www.soulchoonz.com, and getting good feedback in the Uk

 

Anise – Situation   http://www.myspace.com/jmagemusic

 

Funnily enough saw the producer – Jeremy Mage -only last Friday (19 august 2007) as he plays keys for the Easy Star All Stars who are currently in the UK.  This rough edit was played to good reviews, and Jeremy tells me that when he gets time he will put a full backing to the track and enhance it for the future.

 

Jeremiah http://www.jeremiahonline.com/

 

Jeremiah possesses one of the most fantastic and rich vocals and his slow, moody music (in the main) is guaranteed to effect your emotions.  Jeremiah was interviewed on the show and Addicted to You and Get away were featured tracks from the album Chasing Forever

 

 

Steve Wallace  http://www.stevewallacemusic.com/

 

Steve Wallace’s albums are reviewed elsewhere on the site, but he is multitalented as a singer, musician and producer, and he is always open to new collaborations and new projects and in this vein he has carried out some remixes, one of which we featured on The Juice and is now regularly being played around the world.

 

But I have several remixes, maybe to feature at a later date, a Roy Ayers Vibe remix of his own I’ve been searchin, A remix of Fell’n’Luv which is nice and punchy and I like it, this may be the next one I’ll drop!.

 

There are to Maya Azucena mixes, 2 much and My all.  It is the latter that is kicking up a storm.  The story is that Maya was performing her Junkyard Jewel release gig in New York, DJ Spinna was on the decks.  Steve approached Spinna with the track and convinced him to drop it as a surprise, which he did.  Maya hadn’t heard it and her head turned! Now getting plays with Maya’s approval. So I certainly felt honoured that for a while a t least  I was the only one apart from Spinna who had this!

 

Rhythm Republik - http://www.myspace.com/rhythmrepublik

 

Rhythm Republik are a collective built by and based around Mabili Kregg Ajamu, and their album is reviewed fully on the site.  We featured Flowers in a cage on the show in recognition of the work and effor, and the kindness afforded to me personally, by Mabili.  His outfit recently did a Prince special at BAM which I understand went down a storm. Mabili is a key mentor to the fantastic talents of Steve Wallace and Lenora Jaye, and his is passionate about the music and especially live.

 

Robert Anton – album review already on site - http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part31.html and from a varied album we selected to play Insane.

 

Trish’n’Tom - album review already on site - http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html I featured the track Soul Music in a Hip Hop World which is a track that is worthy of attention and from a very good album.  The album is deserving of more attention in my view.

 

Heather Park – Steve Francis Heather’s producer, manager sent me two raw cuts from her forthcoming album Fallen and Staywith me till dawn, which we played.

 

Anthony Dixon http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part31.html Anthony Did a PA performance at my Indie Soul Cocktail Party in March 2007 and sent me some tracks in advance of his album release which we featured on the show,

 

Maya Azucena http://www.mayaazucena.com/ Again Maya’s new acoustic album Junkyard Jewel was due and she sent me some tracks in advance of the release and we played Junkyard Jewel

 

Gwen Miller http://www.gwen-miller.net/  http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html What happened a slow and bluesy number is a standout track in my view.

 

April Hill -

 

Gemma Genazarro -

 

Kendra Ross www.kendraross.com

 

Trizonna McClendon http://www.myspace.com/trizonnamcclendon - this was an album from 2006 which I missed but when I caught up with it two tracks Sunshina and Lemonade and Trizonna, both excellent and different tracks caught my eye.

 

Alison Crockett – www.alisoncrockett.com An advance download of Save Me became available and was featured

 

Dominique Elise – www.myspace.com/dominiqueelise  had the pleasure of meeting Dominique in March 2007, where she attended my Party, one of Steve Wallace’s back up singers and recently cut her own album with the best tracks being Fading Fast, Low face down and Emergency.

 

Illusive

 

Me’na http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html

 

Karizz www.myspace.com/karizzmusic  A remixed and remastered version of Pretty Eyez

 

 

Stanley James http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part31.html

 

Ultra Nate http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html From a very varied album I believe Feel Love is far away the best track which we featured on Pre Release, kindly supplied by Fiona at The Bloom Effect.

 

Elaine Stepter http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part29.html Can’t remember exactly but Woman am I was I believe the first track that I played way back in January 2007

 

Rogiers - http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html My gift is a track that we have played twice, once when Rogiers was interviewed live from Atlanta in July, and the other time much earlier.

 

David Mensah http://www.lifeandsoulpromotions.net/part30.html Food of love is a fantastic track which I am still playing a lot.

 

 

We have also featured interviews – a New York Special with Steve Wallace, Jeremiah, Maya Azucena and Anthony Dixon, and live from Atlanta Ron Hill (harmony in Life), Trei, Salakida, Gabbie McGee, Marlon Saunders, April Hill, Rogiers. Melissa Young