Leela James is a very powerful songstress who has definitely made a name for herself with this debut. Her live performances bring energy and passion, her lyrics represent creativity and inspiration and over all is a talent to most certainly to not be missed. James lays her vocals down impressively on tracks like ‘Music’, ‘Soul Food’, ‘When You Love Somebody’, ‘Don’t Speak’ and others. Vocally she is reminiscent of those old school soul artists like Millie Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Esther Phillips, Ann Peebles and other husky voices. She brings truth to the table, in a preaching/gospel style, just like back in the day. ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ has production by Raphael Saadiq, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, James Poyser, Chucky Thompson and Robert Randolph. Leela served as co- writer for this superb debut. It’s an album that will satisfy any one with an appetite for good music. On stage she looks like a background singer for the Supremes with her huge afro but her petite body and big voice shocks the audience. Her appreciation for classic soul tunes; turns modern soul music towards a different light. She has opened for talents such as Stephanie Mills, Macy Gray and the Black Eyed Peas. Fortunately, justice is in action and James got a deal with a highly established label called Warner Brother Records. She states in an interview that she grew up in an environment that was swamped in gospel, blues and funk, and this debut fixes her influences in a modern production. Tracks like ‘Rain’, ‘Mistreating Me’, ‘My Joy’, and the incredible beat of ‘Didn’t I’ are great.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

Degi MacFarlane and Mark Mac are legendary names within the genre of drum and bass. Solo producers in there own rights, team up to form 4Hero and ‘Two Pages’ is there second contribution to the world of music. The success that this release received was phenomenal and they continue to bring creative yet energetic records. Guest appearances range from Ursula Rucker (a worldly known female poet), Ish (a USA independent rapper), and other female vocalists from the streets of London, all appear on this fabulous, and colorful album. ‘Loveless w/ Ursula Rucker’, is a strong drum and bass feel, but has a more liquid, almost chill out vibe to it. With poetic words on top of fast rhythms uplifts you, while the sweet strings and upright jazz bass’ play in the background. ‘Golden Age of Life’, has a gospel choir at the start with an unusual harpsichord on top, providing a unique production style, which 4Hero never fails to deliver. This song has a UK soul singer who has a lot of talent but I don’t know the name of her. ‘Planetarium (A Theme from a Dream)’, is possibly one of my favorites because of its beautiful musical landscape and chord changes. ‘Escape that’ features a UK singer, again with a lot of potential and talent. ‘Spirits in Transit’ is a mellow number, with the usual intricate drum arrangements created by Degi and Mark. ‘The Action’, ‘Wishful Thinking’, ‘Universal Reprise’, ‘We Who Are Not As Others’, and more are all stunning and unique tracks from ‘Two Pages’. With nineteen tracks all on one disc, you can’t go wrong. 4Hero definitely delivers a strong UK sound, and imprints them firmly on the underground-circuit scene.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

This is a compilation for all those deep jazz and rare groove music- lovers out there. With artists like Fertile Ground, Billy Wright, Open Sky Unit, Jazztronik, and Caveril Payne, it’s a superb blend of underground-talent and quirky production. My favorite being ‘Morris Wilson – Rusty Mcdusty’, with its awesome bass line and funk instrumentation. ‘Masada – Nena’ has a vibrant Cuban like samba feel, with smooth vocals over mind blowing percussion sets. ‘Song Of Bebe – Jazztronik’ is a long track something like seven minutes long, but has gorgeous piano with a drum and bass type beat, brilliant! Julian Bahuta’s ‘Julian Bahula/Woza Cindi’ track leans on the salsa, seductive side with pleasant flutes and jazz guitars, with enticing piano instrumentals etc. Another firm favorite is a song by interesting and uplifting jazz vocalist Caveril Payne on ‘When I Open My Eyes’, other female vocalists include Silky Spearman, Sheila Landis, and Navasha Daya of Fertile Ground. Fertile Ground take over the compilation with two tracks ‘Colors Of The Night’ and ‘En Hiver’, both captivating and enduring songs from the modern masters of jazz. Forget the nu-jazz generation; Jazz Bizniz 2 brings the obscure gems that will inspire a new generation to come. It uncovers the tracks that come from the last four decades, giving you the knowledge your musical mind may have missed. It is a spell bounding compilation of deep jazz, skewed-soul and irresistible Afro-boogie grooves. Its one of those compilations that you probably won’t have heard of until you’ve read this review, but will realize only when listened to how much of a classic it is. Tracks like ‘Danser’s Inferno – Sombre Guitar’, and the very strangely beautiful ‘Summers Groove by Zelijko Kerleta’, means that the compilers purpose was to give the ear drum a landscape of unusual rhythms, touching melodies and original production. ‘Zouk by Marius Cultier’ is the most strange song which I really dislike, but over all it is well worth the money. (Luckily I found mine in a sale at Soul Jazz Records in Soho; you won’t find it at a cheap price any where else!).

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

Her professionalism is captivating, her voice is soul stirring and her music makes a mark for the UK soul movement that is forever expanding. ‘Shades’ is released on the highly impressive label ChilliFunk Records in 2004; it features collaborations with Mark de Clive Bowe, Phil Asher, Kaidi Tatham, and other talents. It’s one of the finest and most recent UK soul albums around, and it proves to be a fixed imprint in the underground-circuit. ‘Show Me’, has a Lizz Fields/4 Hero feel to it, with sweet and soulful chords played by Mike Patto. It has a relaxing end to it with a smooth guitar played by Dave “Deluxe” Okumo of Jade Fox. Vanessa Freeman is up and coming, she still has a long way to go, but the music she has to offer it will give her a less stressful journey than those who don’t have the talent to show case. Her voice doesn’t have any American influences, it’s straight British soul, and I find that extremely refreshing. The lyrical topics are of love, hope, pain, and life. ‘The Way’ is a positive, funk-influenced track while the mellower ‘Hand Tight’ oozes with jazzy soul sounds, which is my favourite from her debut. ChilliFunk should be very proud of what they have discovered, because Vanessa Freeman is a special artist. The album’s a musical terrain of break beat, soul, jazz, retro, funk, and pop. If you like Jamiroquai, 4Hero, SpaceK and other acts in the same field, then this debut is for you. It’s an experimental debut with unique production. ‘Notice Me’ has a great groove, with strings and inspiring lyrics. This is a six minute long track, with a bonus track at the end called ‘Veronique’. This again has a Bootsy Collins style arrangement with a more contemporary sounding soul beat and chords.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]

Co-producer Restless Soul creates a 70’s space funk sound with mellow grooves and tight beats. The freestyle of keyboards and deep strings, compliment the energetic voice of Verna Francis. Those who like Nostalgia 77, True Phil Asher and Joey Negro will definitely be impressed by this colourful debut. The lyrics are uplifting with dance influenced beats and the many jazzy instrumentals by trumpets and keyboards. ‘Never too late’ is the James Brown sounding introduction to the debut, with a really cool bass/beat and instrumentation. ‘Down to Earth’ has an obvious house produced beat, but with spacey sound effects and interesting bass lines. Verna Francis is no stranger to the stage, song and dance, and showed interested in these skills since an early age, which is what makes ‘Down to Earth’ a success story in the London underground-circuit. With a voice similar to Jill Scott and Angie Stone, Verna is a very talented and mature artist. The music isn’t the usual soul production, but I think this gives Verna her identity. Her involvement in her early days of school choirs has surely paid off the hard work, as ‘Down to Earth’ is very impressive to all music-lovers. ‘Pause’ is a very confident track, and Verna’s charismatic voice never fails to amaze. The future of UK’s new soul queen look’s bright, having previously performed with Ronnie Laws and Jean Carne, she is making her way slowly but surely. Verna Francis ‘Down to Earth is highly recommended.

Matthew Daniel [Just Soul]