Soul Express Issue 2/03

ISSUE 2/2003

Quality Time

Lots of excellent quality soul releases this year, including absolutely delicious cream cuts by Tashan, Miles Jaye, Ledisi, Isley Brothers, Earth Wind & Fire, Allen & Allen, Lizz Wright, Kindred, Roy Hargrove's RH Factory, Darwin Hobbs and Kelli Sae, who guest both on Incognito's and Philippe Saisse Acoustique Trio's albums.
An Interview with Ledisi
Soul Singer - The Revival
Read the latest news about the number one lady of the much talked about neo-soul genre. Ledisi tells us about her recently released Soulsinger - The Revival album, the distribution deal with Tommy Boy, her Jazz Cafe gig last March, her future album plans and guest vocal performances on other artists' CD's.
The Soul Scale

"Perfect 10" rating for Ledisi's The Revival version of Soulsinger... Lizz Wright is our album of the summer 2003. Other essential CDs include Leon Ware, Roy Hargrove & RH Factory, Cafe de Soul Part 3, Earth, Wind & Fire and Les Nubians. 5 pages of reviews this time!

The Stax Museum - Opening Events

Patrick Montier reports about the opening events of the Stax Museum, which opened its doors on Friday, May 2, 2003. "The Stax Family spirit is still a strong and beautiful reality", he describes.

The Chef's Special - An Exclusive Interview with Leon Ware

Leon Ware has just released his best album for ages - a real masterpiece reviewed on our Reviews page by Barry Towler. Now it's also a perfect time to have a fresh interview with Leon, readable only in our printed issue. A full discography now also on our Website!

Introducing Tracy Hamlin and Remi

Soul Express is proud to introduce the brightest new talents on the soul scene. This time we introduce and interview Tracy Hamlin - the divine voice on Pieces of a Dream's latest set -
and Remi, whose tracks were included in the excellent Cafe de Soul compilation vol 1.
Jazz-Funk

After a slow start this year, we are really flooded with new jazz-funk releases. In this issue, the best ratings get the brand new CD's by Ronny Jordan and Incognito. Also reviewed this time are the latest sets by Richard Elliot, Jeff Lorber, Paul Jackson Jr, Allen & Allen, Stanley Clarke and Walter Beasley.
Deep

Howard Tate returns with a brand new CD titled Rediscovered. Heikki Suosalo has an interview with Jerry Ragovoy, who has produced and arranged Howard's comeback album. Other deep heroes included in this column are Charles Walker, Sterling Williams, Clay Hammond, Lat(t)imore (now with two t's!), Carl Sims, Stan Mosley and Ann Peebles. Melba Moore has also released a new set, now in the contemporary gospel scene, but according to Heikki, the CD is Melba's best ever set.

Upfront Soul

Like always, Upfront Soul column closes the printed issue with reviews of import soul indie releases from U.S.A. This time, our old hero Miles Jaye returns with a new set on his own label, and another long-time favourite soul throat Jeffrey Osborne is also recording on his own Jay-Oz label these days.
Other CDs reviewed here include fresh albums by Sounds of Blackness, Allen & Allen and Tower of Power.