Soul Strutter: 07/24/23

Monday, 24 July 2023

Michelle Tabot [2023] - VIBEZ [Self Released] (Full EP)

Singer/songwriter Michelle Tabot was born and raised in Northern Virginia by her Cameroonian immigrant parents.

She moved to Brooklyn aged 19 to pursue her love of music spending years performing at NYC venues. Michelle has featured on other artists recordings since 2017 but released her first solo single "Pretty Round Round" on 1 Jul, which is included on her debut EP "VIBEZ" released on 22 Jul.

The EP begins strongly with the first three tracks "Waiting", the single "Pretty Round Round" and "Vibin'" being our recommendations.

Michelle is now based in Bowie, MD, on the outskirts of Washington D.C.. She made a debut performance in London at the Troy Bar, Shoreditch, only a few weeks ago on independence day 4th Jul. (footage below). As is 'the way' of synchronicity, she is singing Jill Scott's "The Way" only a few posts after posting of Lindsay Webster's live version of it on DW3's album released today.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	EP
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Price:	£6.93

Mike De'cole [2023] - Saturday [Self Released]

The latest single from Mike De'cole is "Saturday" which was actually released on vinyl paired with "Nights Lie This" in Jun '21 with the latter, only, being released digitally in Sep '21.

It is now available digitally as many may have missed it on limited edition vinyl.

Mike De'Cole McDaniel is from the south side of Chicago, now living in Minneapolis. He released his debut album "So It Was Written" in 2016. In 2018 he released a four track EP "Simply Wonderful" which brought him to the attention of UK soul lovers and the track "Let's Lay Back" topped the UK soul chart.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.1
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/100
Price:	£1

The Society Hill Orchestra feat. Kat Fontaine & Benny Barksdale Jr. [2023] - I Am Your Melody [Society Hill Records]

Butch Ingram's Society Hill Records release another cover song billed as The Society Hill Orchestra feat. Kat Fontaine & Benny Barksdale Jr.

The song is "I Am Your Melody" written by Jacques Burvick (Aquarian Dream & Starship Orch.) and jazz saxophonist Marion Meadows and originally recorded by Norman Connors.

It featured on Connor's "Passion" album in 1988 featuring session singer Spencer Harrison on vocals who died very young in 1994 aged only 32. Harrison recorded just one solo single in 1991 ("I'll Be Home") and featured on two tracks on Connor's 1993 album "Remember Who You Are" ("Lush Life" and Leon Russell's "A Song For You").

Kat Fontaine released an album "This Time" in Feb '22, which was all cover songs. One of the tracks (a cover of Dee Dee Sharpe's 1980 PIR single "I Love You Anyway") did quite well on UK Soul Chart. Kat was a regular go-to backing vocalist in the Philly International heyday working on may recordings for the label's roster.

If you haven't guessed already, Chuck Barksdale Jr. is a saxophonist originally from Baltimore, MD. He has worked with The Dells (but don't think he is related to Chuck Barksdale) which led to him gaining studio work with The Nite-Liters and it is his sax solo on "Kay-Gee".

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	7.6
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul / Cover Version
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Society Hill Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/88
Price:	£1

DW3 [2023] - Dw3 Live at Spaghettini Vol. 2 [Self Released] (Full Album)

It would appear that the forthcoming single from Lindsay Webster is to be "The Way", an album track from "Reasons" released last Sep ('22). By coincidence, she has recorded a live version of another song with the same title (Jill Scott's "The Way") on DW3's album "Dw3 Live at Spaghettini Vol. 2" released today (i.e. it is NOT the same song as on her album).

DW3 are brothers Eric and Billy Mondragon and friend Damon Reel who have been performing together since 2003. They have a residency at Spaghettini in Seal Beach, CA, where this album has been recorded.

All the songs on the album, they say, they have recorded previously (not sure about "The Way?). One of the surprise highlights is their rendition of The Pasadenas' "Tribute (Ride On)" (their debut 1988 hit which reached #5 UK Pop chart) which still sounds fresh. It's a good album which sounds almost like a studio quality recording which is a credit to their musicianship.

Other guests on the album, besides Lindsay Webster, include jazz pianist Brian Culbertson, and a brace of saxophonists Gerald Albright and Eric Darias.

DW3 last featured here back in April 2020 with their last, self-titled, album.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Soul Jazz / Live
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	24/07/2023
Price:	£7.99

Syl Johnson [2023] - Is It Because I'm Black b/w Let Them Hang High [Numero Group]

A song that has featured her on various occasions by different artists (e.g Ken Boothe, Nicky Thomas as well as Syl Johnson), "Is It Because I'm Black", has been digitally reissued (again) today by Numero Group along with the original B side of the Syl Johnson 1969 Twinight release "Let Then Hang High".

We would guess that they have utilised the image from the 1970 Spanish picture sleeve release.

Numero Group also reissued it in 2021 with "Different Strokes".

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	None
Date:	24/07/2023
Key/BPM:	1A/67
Price:	£1.79

Dario Lessing feat. James Chatburn & Gustav Anders [2023] - Get Together [okwow]

Berlin pianist Dario Lessing, who released his debut album "DNA" in 2020, has a new single "Get Together" which features Australian-born (Sydney), Berlin based, vocalist / producer / multi-instrumentalist James Chatburn and producer Gustav Anders, also from Berlin.

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.3
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	okwow
Cat No:	None
Date:	07/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4A/90
Price:	£1

Emeson [2023] - Over And Over [Lenton Records]

Eddie Emeson Nwolie is Bromley, London, based actor, film maker, singer-songwriter, producer, remixer and writer. He's been making music since around 2011 and has had roles in numerous films and TV series including the long running UK soap Eastenders.

We've learnt that he also has a show, The Rhythm Express Show, on Soul Groove Radio each Thu from 2pm-4pm (UK time).

He's recently, since May, released three singles this year with his latest "Over And Over" on Friday (21 Jul).

Also included below are his two previous singles form this year: "See How People Change" (16 Jun) and "When Love Has Gone" (12 May)

Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.

Click icons below for further information or to connect with the artist.

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Lenton Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	21/07/2023
Key/BPM:	4B/105
Price:	£1