--=[ Georgia Anne Muldrow 2 ]=--

Georgia Anne Muldrow - Early (2009)

So FINALLY everyone will have their hands on “Early” – the latest release from Georgia Anne Muldrow but not her latest music. The album is a collection of songs the soulful singer/songerwriter/producer wrote when she was just 17 – 19 years old (about 9 years ago.) The first single “Runaway” gives you a taste of the optimistic, dreamlike lyrics of self love and determination for a better future. What’s interesting is, when you hear young Georgia, you realize how if you’re up on her more “current” music, not THAT much has changed. Her honestly in her content is so beautiful and so unfortunately rare in this day and age, she proves even more that she is clearly before her time… or rather, we are late.
If you’re an Okayplayer junkie, you may have gotten your hands on the “sampler” that floated for a while (this project used to be refered to as “Young G”) and you’ll be happy to know that these are THOSE songs, but the ORIGINAL, Cody-ChesnuTT style in-her-bedroom versions. That sampler was from studio re-recordings of these tracks that still will probably never see the daylight but who cares, these versions are way more organic and representative of the time they were made. For many, this will be their “first” impression and I can only hope once folks get caught in the web, they really get into the growth of Georgia as an artist and not spend too much time bantering about ‘how come she doesn’t sing like this anymore?’ She DOES – she’s evolved from these “Early” songs and listening to her 10 year span of music reveals new things each time you do. Her sound is richer and her will and spirit strengthened.

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Hidden Beach 5 ]=--

Hidden Beach Recordings Presents - Unwrapped Vol. 6 - Give The Drummer Some (2009)

Hidden Beach Recordings is back with Unwrapped Vol. 6: Give The Drummer Some! The acclaimed "Unwrapped" series continues its legacy and returns after last years blazing Vol. 5.0 release produced by Collipark Studios. Vol. 6 to be produced by its latest partnership with drummer extraordinaire- Tony Royster Jr. Now at age 24, he has already had the opportunity to share the stage with such drummers as Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, and Frank Briggs. He is currently touring with Jay Z. Vol. 6 includes the smash hits "Blame It", "Lollipop", "Live Your Life", and "Turn My Swag On".

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Fleur Earth ]=--

Fleur Earth - Es entstehen Wesen [2009]

Cologne based singer Fleur Earth has been dubbed "the German Erykah Badu" but her cryptic street soul got a life of it's own. "Es Entstehen Wesen" with Fleur Earth on the mic and Twit One on the beat is the follow up to the band album " Soul des Cabots " - A marriage of Fleur's abstract soul lyrics and Twit's playful dusty grooves and sounds like nothing else.Featured friends are C:Mone, rhodes player Daan, Hulk Hodn, Retrogott and Frank Nitt of J-Dilla fame.


Please support the artist by purchasing this CD!

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Wolfgang Haffner 3 ]=--

Wolfgang Haffner - Round Silence [2009]

Wolfgang Haffner has been among the world’s most renowned drummers for a long time. He played with outstanding musicians like Chaka Kahn, Albert Mangelsdorff, Klaus Doldinger, Till Brönner or Nils Landgren. His discography as a sideman comprises more than 400 recordings, but as a bandleader and composer Haffner is no longer an insider’s tip. With his 2008 album Acoustic Shapes (ACT 9468-2) he made his way into the “world elite of piano trios” (JazzPodium).

It’s no wonder then that on his latest release, Round Silence, we again find Haffner in select company. The already successful trio, completed by Swedish bass player Lars Danielsson and pianist Hubert Nuss from Cologne, join with a selection of illustrious star guests, each giving the album its refinement through their specific style: Sting guitarist Dominic Miller, US American jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb, singer Kim Sanders and Swedish trombone player Nils Landgren all feature on Round Silence as soloists.

Not only does Haffner know how to play with great sensitivity, he also makes a great composer. He wrote all the pieces on Round Silence himself, showing an impressive simplicity that refrains from factitious phrases of melody, instead utilising a plain and highly convincing language of tones. The fabrics of sound subtly created by Haffner and his band are uplifting – the musicians form a fairytale air-like texture that shines across the musical spectrum. Sometimes it is the wind players, sometimes the guitar or even the human voice lightening up this self-balanced atmosphere and accentuating it with individual peaks.

Even though this album is the work of a drummer, Haffner never pushes himself to the fore. Even as bandleader he sticks to his belief that the music should come first, and does without any cheap showmanship or bravado on the drums. Instead, he shines with precise, varied and discreet playing. Haffner is always aware of his role within the band: “The drummer has an extremely important part. He fundamentally controls the direction of the music. The whole rhythmic base as well as the dynamics of the band are my responsibility.”

With Round Silence Haffner resumes the intimate musical language of his two previous albums, the recently German Jazz Award winning Shapes (ACT 9603-2) and Acoustic Shapes. But here he takes it one step further, dealing with a phenomenon that may seem like the nemesis of every musician: silence. Haffner doesn’t take it literally, but interprets it as serenely played music, free from needlessly hectic activity and tension. This does not however mean that the album is in any way lacking in suspense, friction and passion – Haffner’s writing, and the superb playing of his fellow musicians, sees to that.

Round Silence is an album that skirts around the quiet, calm spaces in the music without soundlessly passing by, and an attentive listener will surely appreciate its subtle rewards.



Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Grooveman Spot 4 ]=--

VA - Urban Shake Down [Mixed by Grooveman Spot][2009]


A wonderful R&B set by Grooveman Spot. He put some great tracks on this one. So good he messed up my 12"comp I'm working on. Rare tracks from Chaka Kahn, Reel 2 Reel, Toshiki, Loose Ends and The Whispers. Don't sleep on this joint!!!

All track info is in the comment section...

--=[ Everette Harp 3 ]=--

Everette Harp - First Love (2009)

Veteran saxophonist Everette Harp has just released his aptly titled “First Love” CD on Shanachie Entertainment. This outstanding project is produced by George Duke.
On “First Love’, Everette, known to many through his many Smooth Jazz albums, will take his audience on an excursion into the more traditional contemporary jazz genre. The project kicks off with “The Council Of Nicea”, a straight ahead leaning piece that includes a tinge of Latin rhythms.
If you like your Jazz on the edgy, funky side, you’ll enjoy “Departure”, while “Texas Groove” and “Soul Fries” gives you funk with a southern backbeat. For those of us who are a bit laid-back, Everette explores the gentler side of Jazz on “Central Park West”, “Before You Leave” and “Blossom”.
On “First Love”, the listener experiences the music that has helped shaped Everette Harp as a musician. What was old, is new again..

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Euge Groove 2 ]=--

Euge Groove - Sunday Morning (2009)

Euge Groove, a pseudonym for saxophone journeyman Steve Grove, began playing piano in the second grade and turned to the saxophone at the age of nine or ten.
“Sunday Morning” is the title for the just released CD by Euge Groove on the Shanachie Entertainment label. Euge is back with a rather soothing collection of Jazz songs, on which he was involved in writing most of the material and co-producing the project.
Euge has settled into a soulful mid-tempo groove on what many of his followers believe is his best work to date. “As You Like It”, “Say My Name”, “On Your Knees”, and the title track “Sunday Morning”, are a few of the standouts.
“Yes”, is a nice vocal track featuring Dax Reynosa, while “Tenderly” is a romantic mood setter.
“Sunday Morning”, the new CD from Euge Groove is the perfect listening experience for any day of the week.

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ Wayne Jones 2 ]=--

Wayne Jones - Forgotten Melody (2006)

From down under (Melbourne, to be exact) comes one of the hottest bassists I've heard, who's assembled an astonishing collection of tunes and performances for this album. This is Waynes first solo release. It's dynamic, fresh, and above all, classy. Wayne's been a top-shelf player in Australia for over 30 years, and brings a group of other World-class Aussie players aboard for this project. The result is amazing. For example, all the low-end you hear on this album comes from Wayne's Status 6-string and his Maton M.G.B. 4 fretless instruments, with minimal studio enhancement. Basically it's all fingers and thumbs! The song choices are superb... six Wayne Jones originals, two from his buds, and a couple of killer covers, namely Paul Desmond's "Take Five" and Marcus Miller's "Run for Cover." The flow on FORGOTTEN MELODY is extraordinary too, by design... from the high-intensity "Tom's Shuffle" to the mellow and engaging title track (the first single) right on through to the passionately energetic finisher, "In Full Flight." Wayne says, "I looked at the progression on this disc like I would plan a show... you have to start with good impact, then go on a journey of moods to the climax." The title may be FORGOTTEN MELODY, but Wayne Jones' debut album is glowingly memorable!

Tracklisting is in the comments section.

--=[ The Whispers 3 ]=--

The Whispers - Thankful [2009]

This wonderful group of gentlemen have been serenading us with their heavenly vocal harmony for over 40 years. Their new CD "THANKFUL" with the hit "For Thou Art With Me" proves that whether singing to the ladies, or to The Master they will not let us down.


Please support the artist by purchasing these CD's!


Tracklisting is in the comment section

--=[ Philadelphia Uncovered ]=--

VA - Philadelphia Uncovered [2000]

Now this is a great idea. Released in 1999, Philadelphia Uncovered actually offers songs people want to listen to as well as boasting a genuine rare quotient. It didn't come easily, though. Since the late '80s the Philadelphia International masters have been split between Sony and The Right Stuff. The result has caused years of haphazard and unsatisfying compilations. Again due to contractual deals, Philadelphia Uncovered starts at 1976 and stops at the early '90s. The tracks from MFSB are past their peak. For a label, if not genre, that often was wanting in the way of female vocalists, Philadelphia Uncovered finds the best tracks coming from them. Dee Dee Sharp's "I Love You Anyway" and Jean Carn's "Was It All It Was" are two of the strong 1979-1987 offerings. The true find of this compilation, Patti LaBelle's phenomenal "I Can't Forget You," is worth the price of the set. The best-known song from this is perhaps the O'Jays' 1987 "comeback" hit; "Lovin' You" proved that the label did have a great knack at going back to its classic sound at will. Despite the P.I. insignia on the CD's cover, Philadelphia Uncovered also features productions for artists on other labels.



* More from The ShadowMan Collection *


Tracklisting is in the comment section

--=[ Vintage Cafe ]=--

VA - Vintage Cafe 3 De Luxe [2009]

CD 1

CD 2

CD 3

CD 4



Tracklisting is in the comments section...

--=[ Sounds of Blackness 4 ]=--

Sounds of Blackness - Unity [2005]

Sounds of Blackness have performed on 5 continents, at the White House, and at various international events including Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics. Sounds of Blackness has recorded or performed with such artists as Prince, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Sting, Elton John, Luther Vandross, Bob Dylan, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.














Sounds Of Blackness - Reconcilliation [1999]

I don't know why I didn't hear about this CD over & over again. Although I think SOB are at their best when they sing about God, they are also quite beautiful when singing about love & friendship. "Twenty four & back again" is as solid an anthem to friendship as I've heard.

This lovely group has shown that they are a force to be reckon with in the music industry. Especially if one, as a Christian, born-again and spirit filled and loves good music wants to listen to music without necessarily listening to the filth on the street.



All track info is in the comment section...