Soul Strutter: 03/25/23

Saturday, 25 March 2023

Maysa [2023] - Music For Your Soul [Blue Velvet Soul] (Album Samples)

Baltimore's Maysa Leak has been in the music business since 1991 staring out singing in Stevie Wonder's backing group Wonderlove then joining Incognito around 1992 who she has sung with continuously off an on.

Her eponymous debut solo album arrived in 1995 and she is about to release her 14th solo studio album "Music For The Soul" on 31 Mar 2023.

The album contains 19 tracks and we have received album samples from DSG ahead of its release on Friday and have been given approval to post samples to give you a taste of what's to come. Four tracks have already been released as singles i.e. "Just Say", "Make Sure, You're Sure", "Whatever" and her last "I Don't Mind" so are posted in full from Spotify.

I think the new tracks 'most likely' to get most attention are the up-tempo ones which include a remake of Phyllis Hyman's, Mtume & Lucus penned, anthem "You Know How To Love Me", "Runnin from Myself", "His Love" (feat. the ubiquitous Frank McComb) and "I Wanna Believe", "Down With Me" (feat. Chris Walker) along with "Beautiful" which is reminiscent of recent Hil St. Soul material whose album topped the UK soul charts for several weeks.

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01 - Relax Your Mind

02 - Music For Your Soul

04 - Down With Me (feat. Chris Walker)

05 - Beautiful

06 - Time Can Heal (A Broken Heart)

07 - One Step Away

08 - Spirit 222 (feat. Chieli Minucchi & Thomas Akuru)

12 - Runnin from Myself

13 - I Still Believe

14 - His Love (feat. Frank McComb)

15 - I Wanna Believe

16 - Love Life (feat. Noel Gourdin)

17 - You Know How to Love Me

18 - Let You Down

19 - Lord I Thank You (feat. Kirl Whalum)

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Blue Velvet Soul / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	31/03/2023
Price:	£TBC

P.D. Williams [2023] - Funk Love and Soul [Self Released] (Full Album)

On 9 Mar '23 P.D. Williams (Paul Daniel) from Richmond, VA) released an album titled "Funk Love And Soul" which we posted from Bandcamp as it was only available from there at the time but it has now gained a wider release as of 24 Mar.

Williams composed, wrote, arranged and produced all songs except "9 To 5 (Life Is Going No Where)" which was co-written by Trilla t and Hassan Washington. The album was recorded at Elephant Ear Studios in Richmond. Williams also plays several instruments on the album including bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, piano and percussion.

As it says in the title, it's quite a funky affair and gets, a bit rock-like in places, with the opening, title, track "Funk Love and Soul" along "Let's Talk About Life" and the very Stevie Wonder'ish "Dream" standing out on first listen and "Pressing On" may be a grower.

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	Y Tracks 4 & 10
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Funk
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	09/03/2023 / 24/03/2023
Price:	$10 / £7.99

Valentino Maltos [2023] - Prototype / Just Look Up [Izipho Soul #ZP89]

The second release from Izipho Soul, scheduled for a release on 6 Apr '23, consists of two tracks from the genre-fusing debut album "Anolog Future" by three time Grammy winning Texas-based saxophonist/producer Valentino Maltos.

Pat 'the Ear' Biggerstaff has selected for the A side an interpretation of OutKast's "Prototype" featuring the breathy vocals of Louisiana born, San Antonio-based, Kiikii Star (Kristi Gaddy). We note that as well as Outkast's Andre Benjamin and Antwan Patton on writing credits that Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble's name are also included?

The song was also recorded by Raheem DeVaughn twice (at least) on, what appears to be, a Bandcamp only release "The Street Experience Volume 4" (2009) and then again in 2020 on Jeff Bradshaw's "Stronger" album feat. Raheem Devaughn & Robert Glasper in a much mellower form. Pat also tells us that several hip-hop artists have also covered the song.

It is flipped with an original song "Just Look Up" with the superb gospel tinged vocals provided by MarQuell. MarQuell is a new name to us and a bit of digging revealed that he released an album "Up Close & Personal" in 2011 along with three singles, the latest "Isolated" in 2020 on which writer's credits are given to Mark Ledesma, his real name who is now based in San Antonio, TX.

Two fine selections that probably passed most of us by, so great that they are now being highlighted. Check out the full album which also has a cover of Stevie's "Don't Worry 'bout A Thing".

Pat has asked that Phil Ward be thanked for recommending this release to him.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP89
Date:	06/04/2023
Key/BPM:	9A/97 / 11A/89
Price:	£13

The Krash Band / Oneness [2023] - So I Can Make This Change / Hard To Know [Izipho Soul #ZP88]

Now well on their way to their 100th 7" vinyl release, Izipho Soul has another two releases scheduled for 6 Apr '23.

Both sides of this single are taken from Numero Group's "Eccentric Soul: Sitting In The Park" (2016) compilation which was named after, and dedicated to, Bob Abrahamian's passion and devotion to celebrating and documenting unknown Chicagoland group harmony music. He assisted Numero Group on many compilations.

Sadly Bob suffered from depression and took his own life in 2014 aged only 35. He hosted a radio show titled Sitting In The Park where he played obscure soul group harmony records from his personal collection, primarily by Chicago groups, and interviewed many artists. Podcasts for all his Sitting In The Park shows are still available. His family donated his massive collection of over 35,000 singles and LPs to the Stax Museum.

The single leads with the A side of the only listed single "So I Can Make This Change" for The Krash Band from 1976. The original is the only release on Liberated Record out of Gary, IN, and credits 'with Evelyn Holder' who was the lead vocalist.

The OneNess song, "Hard To Know" was recorded for Cincinnati's AMG label in 1977 but never released. It has been restored from a damaged tape. They were previously known as The Auditions who released just one (listed) single in 1973, the only release on Chicago's Freckless Records.

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Details

Rating:	8.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Sweet Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	7" Vinyl
Label:	Izipho Soul
Cat No:	ZP88
Date:	06/04/2023
Key/BPM:	11A/72 / 11A/86
Price:	£13

Gene Moore [2023] - Alright [Motown Gospel EGS]

Motown gospel artist Gene Moore released one of the singles of the year, "Beautiful" feat. Indie.Arie in Jan and it is now paired with a new funky gospel single "Alright", today. Both are from a forthcoming EP/album "Introspection" due on 14 Apr '23.

A son of a pastor, Moore was born just outside Houston, TX, but didn't start singing until he was 15. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Radio and Television minoring in Advertising with the intention of pursuing a career in journalism. However, he landed a spot as a gospel announcer on KWWJ Gospel 1360 AM transitioning to Contemporary Christian Music at 89.3 KSBJ-FM and realised that music is what he really wanted to do.

He signed to Motown Gospel in 2013 but it took several years whilst Motown figured out what to do with him before his debut album "The Future" was released.

Moore is a highly respected background singer for artists such as Kirk Franklin and India.Arie. His critically acclaimed 2017 Motown Gospel debut album "The Future" earned him a Stellar Award nomination for New Artist Of The Year. The follow up "Tunnel Vision" arrived in 2019.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Gospel Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Motown Gospel EGS
Cat No:	None
Date:	24/03/2023
Key/BPM:	3A/104
Price:	£1

Maral32 [2023] - UR LOCATION [Self Released]

I believe that Maral32 is Marshal Rainge from SeaTac, WA, originally from Antelope, CA. There's not much information available for him but he seems to have started releasing music in 2020 and his latest single "UR LOCATION" was released in the week on 21 Mar '23.

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Details

Rating:	8.5
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/03/2023
Key/BPM:	10B/72
Price:	£1