Ashleigh Smith [2022] - I Can Love You [TopCat Records]

Ashleigh Smith grew up in Georgia singing along to her fathers jazz records by greats such as Ella Fitzgerald but also Stevie Wonder and Prince. In 2014 she won the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition after coming second two years earlier. It won her a recording contract with Concord Records. In the same year (2014) she won Miss Black Texas competition.

Her debut album "Sunkissed" was released by Concord in 2016 which contained several covers one of Chrisette Michele "Love Is You" who she sang backing vocals for earlier. There is a nice alternate version of Hall & Oates "Sara Smile", a jazz cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird".

Her latest single "I Can Love You" was released yesterday (28 Feb 2022) which is jazzy neo soul and as far as I can tell only her third single. She now lives in Dallas and there are several artists with the same name and bizarrely, whilst searching for links, I discovered one is also from Dallas.

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Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul  Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	TopCat Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/02/2022
Key/BPM:	10A/79
Value:	£1

ParHasard [2022] - Help Yourself [Self Released]

ParHasard are a group from Amsterdam who released their tenth single/EP "Help Yourself" on 4 Feb 2022. They have been together since 2019. 

A useless fact 'par hasard' translates as 'by chance' (in French).

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	Y
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	04/02/2022
Key/BPM:	3A/95
Value:	£1

Aria Lanelle Feat. Durand Bernarr [2022] - Last Lovers [Self Released]

Aria Lanelle was born in Boston, MA, and now lives in Texas. She debuted in 2015 with a six track EP "Ultragirl" and followed it with another in 2016 along with six singles and is set to release her third project later in 2022.

In the meantime her latest single "Last Lovers" was released on 8 Feb 2022 which features Durand Bernarr, whose name I thought I recognised as he featured on a single "Hate 2 Luv" with B-Free on last May. He is a regular backing singer for Erykah Badu as well as Anderson .Paak and others.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/02/2022
Key/BPM:	9B/80
Value:	£1

Two Jazz Project [2022] - New Reality [LAD Records] (Full Album)

Two Jazz Project were formed by Eric Hossan & Christian Cafiero around 2010 since when they have released about a dozen albums. The latest "New Reality" was released on 17 Feb 2022.

"Talkin'" and "New Reality" have both been released previously as singles, or at least versions of them have (T-Groove Remixes), but the remainder of the album is new material.

It's a range of different styles and tempos from chill to dance with my choice cut, on first listen, being "Between Us".

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	LAD Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	17/02/2022
Value:	£7.99

Version Excursion - Love Uprising (Otis Leaville v Jackie Wilson v Chi-Lites v Mister 'T" v Joyce Lawson)

As this song was mentioned in the last post (Ida Sands) I thought it worthwhile seeking out all the versions of it (that I know of at least, if you know of any others then do tell). It is also appropriate for the current world events!

Eugene Record of The Chi-Lites wrote "Love Uprising" which was first recorded by Otis Leaville on Dakar in 1970. It was covered by Jackie Wilson the same year and then by The Chi-Lites themselves in 1971. The best version, which chokes me to say it as I love Jackie Wilson, is by Mister "T" aka Alonzo Tucker in 1972 on Dakar. Joyce Lawson did two versions in 1981 on Mutt & Jeff, one being a 'Party Mix' on the flip which was apparently big on the Carolina Beach scene.

Tucker had been a member of The Royals who were also called The Midnighters (a la Hank Ballard & The Midnighters) in the 50s. He was quite a prolific songwriter, writing many early 60s hit for Jackie Wilson amongst other.

The annoying thing for me is that I have a white promo of it but it doesn't have this side on it as it has the deep soul flip "Saving My Love For You" on both sides! Stock copies now seem to sell between £60-£75.