Monday, 10 January 2022

R.I.P. James Mtume (3 Jan 1946 - 9 Jan 2022)


Having just celebrated his 76th birthday last week, James Mtume died yesterday (9 Jan 2022). Most will probably associate with his 1983 hit "Juicy Fruit" as part of the group Mtume which included Reggie Lucas, Philip Field and vocalist Tawatha Agee

However his musical journey started many years prior to that at college in the late 60s with Kwanzaa and then as a member of Miles Davis' group as percussionist (1971-75). He performed with a number of other groups such as Kochi, Mtume Umoja Ensemble, The Heath Brothers (his father was jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath and this group was his father's and uncles' Percy & Albert 'Tootie' Heath) and The Players Association and formed Mtume in 1977.
He was born James Heath Jr. in Philadelphia in 1946 and later changed it to Forman after his step father who was another jazz musician (pianist) James 'Hen Gates' Forman who played in Charlie Parker's group. At ten years old he was rubbing shoulders with jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins! He later played alongside Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gato Barbieri, Ramsey Lewis. Whilst at college in the late 60s he joined a black empowerment collective known as Kwanzaa which is when he changed is name to Mtume (meaning 'messenger' in Swahili).

He met guitarist Reggie Lucas when they were both members of Miles Davis' group (Davis' group members at this time also included Michael Henderson, Lonnie Liston Smith and Al  "Night Of The Wolf" Foster amongst others) who he would have a long-term writing partnership with writing hit songs such as "Never Had A Love Like This Before", "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin'", "Two Hearts" (and many others) for Stephanie Mills, "The Closer I Get To You" (which Mtume recorded in 1978 on their debut album with Tawatha Agee) & "Back Together Again" (Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway), "Say You Will" & "Prance On" (Eddie Henderson), "You Know How To Love Me" & "Under Your Spell" (Phyllis Hyman).

In the mid 80s he left contemporary music disillusioned with the attitude of record companies regarding using it as a means to make money rather than artistic merit.

Below is a playlist of some of his best recordings with Mtume and a handful of songs he co-wrote with Reggie Lucas (who died in 2018 aged 65).

The Bleeding Edge - The A List of Hot New Soul Releases w/e 9th Jan 2022


This week's playlist of the better new neo soul / R&B / urban releases. 

Here's a playlist of some of the last week's better new releases either not posted or not included in this week's "The Dirty Dozen"

The 'A' List

Includes 25 tracks (84 minutes of music) but is intended as a skip 'n' pick list.

The Bleeding Edge - The B List of Hot New Soul Releases w/e 9th Jan 2022


This week's playlist of the better new neo soul / R&B / urban releases. 

The 'B' List

This playlist represents the 'also rans', ones that didn't make the A list. They won't be given a full posting and are presented for those who like the more urban and R&B and quirky tunes.

The 40 tracks equate to almost 2hr 12 mins but intended as a 'skip 'n' pick' list.

DJ Kool Keith [2022-01-06] - Soulful Vibes


A one-off extended podcast from DJ Kool Keith of mainly new(ish) releases with the odd oldie thrown in for good measure.

You can catch up with all his previous shows on Podomatic.


Playlist: 
Malaya - Anxiety
Robert Crawford - Don't Stop
The Nombres - Trivialities
Magoo - Time To Dance
Magoo - Let's Have A Boogie (feat. Heryo) (T-Groove Remix)
Dynasty - I Can Tell
YK Osiris - Applying Pressure (feat. Snoop Dogg)
Cashma - Body Love
Jamelle feat. LB199X - Juice (Gedi Edit)
Taxie - Rock Don't Stop (feat. Perri)
Unity & The Downbeats - Love Dream
Snoh Aalegra - Whoa (The Realm SOS Mix)
Magoo - You Can't Hide Your Love
Kinzmen - I Made It
Rick Littleton - Dance
Givhan - Lovergirl
Givhan - Woodward (Gina's Song) (Gedi Edit)
Anna Raye - Will You Love My Child
Thee Illusions - Will You Love My Child
Johnny Horton & Nature - Shake Your Booty
Ty Juan - Say No More (feat. Sons Of Funk)
Mary J. Blige - Diamond Life (The Realm Remix)
DionRacii - That Girl (Gedi Edit)
Sorry Drummer - Healing Hands
Bobby Harden & The Soulful Saints - Feels So Good
Demuren - Slowly
Vanessa Hillman - Tongue Tied
Norma Sole - Home
Capers - 1Hundid
Kenny Lattimore - Nothing On You
Kenny Lattimore - Never Knew
Konstantin Klashtorni - Midsummer Dreamin'
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic - Smokin' Out The Window (Gedi Edit)
Bel Air - To The Beat
Jane Handcock - Whatever You On
Laura Yasmin - How Many Times
Paul Randolph feat. Hubert Laws - Fancy Free
Thai Chi Rosè - Morning After
Ryylo - Faith In Him
Kels - Slow Ryde
Jaszy Shavers - Coy (Gedi Edit)
Tica Holiday - A Little Lit (A Little Bit)
TJ Taotua - Tonight (Martinez Remix)
Thuy - In My Bag
Taija Kerr - Shoyu Rice
Jae Via - Neighbors
Londxxn - Nonsense Can Wait
Tarrey Torae - In Time
Dre Walker feat. J-Wonn - Overnight Stay
Cole G. - Found U
Hassan Farrow - I'd Do Anything
Worrell - Ready For Love
Yuphoric - Unbreakable Habits
Sola - Feels Like A War
Takiyah feat. Sakorey - 222 (Gedi Edit)
Tommy McGee - We Ought To Be Together
Honey Renee - Missing Your Love
Carlene Graham - I Believe In Love
Yah Yah - Touchin Me
Angelae Stone - Four Forty Four
Dynasty - Still In Love
Bey Bright - Sure Shot