R.I.P. - David Sanborn (30 Jul 1945 - 12 May 2024)

We've just heard the sad news that jazz saxophonist David Sanborn died yesterday aged 78.  An announcement today on his Twitter/X feed states:

"It is with sad and heavy hearts that we convey to you the loss of internationally renowned, 6 time Grammy Award-winning, saxophonist, David Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn passed Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications."

It goes on to say that he had been dealing with prostate cancer since 2018, but had been able to maintain his normal schedule of concerts until just recently and had already scheduled concerts into 2025. 

His website lists four dates at Blue Note Jazz Club, NYC, for 8-11 Aug '24 and only earlier this month he posted the latest Sanborn Sessions which feature Kandace Springs.

Sanborn began his career in 1959 aged just 14 playing blues with Albert King and Little Milton. His first solo album, "Taking Off", didn't arrive until 1975, performing in Paul Butterfield's Blues Band from 1967-71 and appearing at Woodstock in 1969.

In 1972 he played on "Tuesday Heartbreak" on Stevie Wonder's "Talking Book", in 1975 on Bowie's "Young Americans" and later worked with The Brecker Brothers who he recorded his first album with.

In addition to his solo work, he was a highly regarded session musician and has over 800 credits to his name with far too many artists to list but include: George Benson, James Brown, Al Jarreau, Nina Simone, James Taylor, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Michael Bolton, Bruce Springsteen, Bob James, Chaka Khan and so many others.

We asked Steve Aggasild (SoulAndJazzFlavas) (who relayed the news to us) to come up with some of his Sanborn favourites and he provided us with this very quick list off the top of his head (and we're sure there where will be plenty of others):

David Sanborn - Hideaway - 1980 - Hideaway

David Sanborn - Let's Just Say Goodbye - 1981 - Voyeur

Fatback - She's My Shining Star - 1982 - On The Floor With Fatback

David Sanborn  feat. Luther Vandross & Tawatha Agee - Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - 1983 - Backstreet

Bob James & David Sanborn - Maputo - 1986 - Double Vision

David Sanborn - Chicago Song - 1987 - Change Of Heart

David Sanborn  feat Randy Crawford - Windmills Of Your Mind - 2015 - Time And The River

The James Last Orchestra feat David Sanborn - The Seduction (Love Theme)

We leave you with a live version of the title track of his 1984 "Straight To The Heart" album and a playlist of a dozen including the ones above chosen by Steve.

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

ANDRIELLE [2024] - 4 EVER (ACOUSTIC) [Self Released]

We've been backtracking through some previous posts and came across this single released at the end of March that seems to have passed by unnoticed. We urge you to revisit it as the acoustic version, we believe, is a stunning vocal performance that needs support.

Born and raised in Harlem, NYC, Andrielle Beamon spent years developing an eclectic taste for music accompanying her jazz playing father absorbing the sounds of blues, rock, country and pop music from the age of 4 and playing the flute by age 10.

After years behind the scenes she is now stepping into the spotlight, preparing to drop her self-written and produced debut EP. The first single "PHONE DOWN" in Jun '23 and now her second single of 2024, "4 EVER (ACOUSTIC)". 

It was a jaw dropping moment when we first set ears upon this beautifully delivered ballad.  Sadly, it is perhaps far too subtle for many DJs who just seem to play dance oriented music. Hopefully we're proved wrong as this is a superb and classy vocal performance that deserves airplay

With the 'acoustic' tag, we wondered if there was a previous non-acoustic version and there is a music video for it on her YouTube channel (below) that doesn't appear to be available on the download sites.

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:	8.8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	22/03/2024
Key/BPM:	9B/48
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

GeeJay [2024] - What's the Sun Without the Rain? [Self Released] (Full Album)

A song that is more than likely to be a candidate in our end of year reckonings is "Stronger Than You Think" from GeeJay.

They have their debut album "What's the Sun Without the Rain?" lined up for release on 28 May.  It will be available digitally, on CD and vinyl and is available to pre-order now from their Bandcamp store.

Only three songs are currently available to listen to and include "Stronger Than You Think" (5 Mar), their last single "Have A Little Faith" (26 Mar) and their current single "Sun And Rain" (16 Apr).

GeeJay are vocalist and songwriter Gina Jane (aka Georgina Tunbridge) and producer, saxophonist and keyboardist Jacob Lobo who met whilst both working as baristas in a coffee shop in Harringay (London). They started jamming on the coffee shop's old piano and soon developed their own sound fusing soul, funk and jazz with urban hip-hop. They are now a couple and had their first baby together in Jul '23 which curtailed their performing and recording activities but not their writing.

They released a debut EP "Thru Channel" followed by "City" in 2019. The same year they won Yamaha’s Funk It Up Competition which won them the opportunity to play at the Love Supreme Festival.

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:	TBC
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital / CD / Vinyl
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	28/05/2024
Price:	£7.50 / £10.99 / £22 (£27 for Splatter Vinyl)

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Unfound Records [2024] - Daddy’s In The Shitter! [Unfound Records]

Well this made us smile on a 'miserable', back to work, Monday. With a title like that then you just have to listen to see what it's all about out of curiosity. We have to say that we've heard far worse songs so we thought we'd share it and hopefully put a smile on your lips.

It is, of course, tongue in cheek and this outfit has released a series of retro style comedy songs this year. 

Credited to Unfound Records, the vocalist has good chops but we have no idea who she is, presumably a session singer who sounds a bit like the big voice diva singers such as Martha Wash etc. 

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

Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	Y
Genre/Style:	70s Soul / Comedy
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Unfound Records
Cat No:	None
Date:	11/05/2024
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

James Monroe [2024] - Frontiersman Of The Galaxy / Funky Lady [Numero Group #NUM4800]

Another Numero Group digital reissue of an obscure 1977 recording. This one is from Lennie LaCour's Magic Touch label by James Monroe with "Frontiersman Of The Galaxy" / "Funky Lady".

It also appears to be his only release although 45Cat has merged this recording with another James Monroe who was a bluegrass artist, so almost certainly not the same artist.

It's a new one on us with the top side having a modern soul/crossover appeal and must be known as it commands between £300-£400.

The flip is rather pleasant which has 70s style spoken word/rap intro that repeats later, some funky licks but also a nice falsetto harmony section around 1:30. It's difficult to pigeon-hole as it's unusual so give it a whirl.

Both sides were released last year on "The Magic Touch Singles Vol. 6 (1977)". by Tuff City who have released ten volumes, the last Vol. 10 in Feb this year.  You can find them all on Tuff City Bandcamp store.

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

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Modern Soul / Funk
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4800
Date:	13/05/2024
Key/BPM:	9B/107 / 9B/106
Price:	£1,79

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Life Force [2024] - Slow Dancer / Funky Mama [Numero Group #NUM4653]

A digital reissue today by Numero Group of two tracks from Life Force's self-titled album from 1977. It appears to be their only release and was on New York label Strawberry run by Randy Irwin who produced the album, which was reissued on vinyl in France & Benelux in 2013 by Favorite Recordings.

The vocalist is Mark Worthy who also wrote "Slow Dancer". Other group members were Ben Wolffolk (Bass), Livie Graves (keys), Eddie Hilton (drums), Danny Wolffolk (trumpet) and Don 'Count' Williams (sax) who wrote the jazz/funker "Funky Mama".

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

 

Details

Rating:	8.2
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	70s Soul
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	Numero Group
Cat No:	NUM4653
Date:	13/05/2024
Key/BPM:	8B/88 / 8B/124
Price:	£1.79

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Staple Singers [2024] - Africa '80 (Live) [Omnivore Recordings] (Full Album)

A week today, the first two parts of the four part HBO Documentary "STAX: Soulsville U.S.A." will premiere. 

To whet your appetite Omnivore Recordings has restored and remastered (by Michael Graves)  "Staple Singers (Live)" (1983) under a new title "Africa '80 (Live)".

Their tour of Africa was sponsored by the U.S. Government. The album includes many of their biggest hits such as "Respect Yourself",  "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", "Touch A Hand Make A Friend", "Let's Do It Again" along with a few singles e.g. "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (Vee Jay 1960 B side) and "Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)" (Epic 1967).

Also included is a live version of "A House Is Not A Home" recorded by Mavis Staples as a single and album track on Volt in 1969.

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

Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul
Format:	Album / Live
Media:	Digital
Label:	Omnivore Recordings
Cat No:	None
Date:	10/05/2024
Price:	£8.99

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Stevie Wonder 74 Today

Stevie Wonder celebrates his 74th birthday today. What can we say that hasn't already been said about the musical genius? 

So here are 20 songs from the 60s whilst still a teenager including some favourites and lesser known sides. 

Copyright © 2009-2024 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved