Shuya Okino "Destiny"

Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive return with a groovin' full length album. A great blend of boogie & dancefloor soul that nod towards 70's jazzy soul with a killer list of guest vocalists, N'Dea Davenport, Clara Hill, Navasha Daya,  Pete Simpson & Diviniti. Each guest bring their unique styles on 2 tunes each, 1 cover & 1 original. This project is an awesome follow-up to the stellar "United Legends".

Elephant & Castle "Sweet Someone"

Plug Research is without a doubt the most consistent & tastemaking label in America. Their latest release comes from musician, producer David Reep under the guise Elephant & Castle (which is name for an area in London in which he lived). Interstellar cosmic-ness with lush soundscapes, orchestration & 60's inspired harmonies that can be described as modern day "Pet Sounds". Kind of a Zero 7 meets Brian Wilson kinda vibe.

   01 Sweet Someone feat. Aaron Ferguson (Bonus) by Plug Research

Jack Freeman "Lynnie's World"

Houston's soul prince Jack Freeman with a banger of a new single built summertime headnodding car rides & getting your 2-step on the floor. Nice hiphop soul groove produced by Free & features a sweet verse from MC Yves Saint both from the collective Niceguys. Get the free download below.

Van Hunt "Savage, Sincere Look Of Pleasure"

Grammy winning soul funk master Van Hunt is at it again with another KILLER free download from his upcoming album releasing in Sept. "Savage, Sincere Look Of Pleasure" is a seriously ragefully funker sung with raw emotion. Download NOW!

 

 

Erik Rico "Feeling Wonderful"

Soul funk producer, musician, singer & SOUNDROTATION fav Erik Rico is celebrating the relaunch of his website, LifeNotesmusic.weebly.com with the release of his new EP "Feeling Wonderful". You might remember the glorious tune "Wonderful" from his debut album. Now he is reissuing it along with 3 ALL NEW versions of it, not remixes, new production, new vocals taking the lyrics on an ancestral electro soulful afro journey. Cop em on the widget below & check out the re-release video of the original.

Deborah Bond 'Madam Palindrome"

Last month we alerted you about the return of DC soul diva Deborah Bond with the release of her 1st single & the promise of the full album coming soon. I am super excited to announce that that day IS HERE!!! Her HIGHLY ANTICIPATED follow-up to "Day After" has finally arrived & it is a WINNER! "Madam Palindrome" is what soul music is all about. The perfect mix of sultriness, funkiness & breeziness with the right amount of warm acoustic energy & jazzy inflections that makes it PERFECT for summer drives, the terrace, entertaining, romancing. It's got it all. The biggest surprise is that she has a duet with UK cult legend (& one of my all time FAVORITES) Lewis Taylor.  Need I say more? Do yourself a HUGE favor & COP one of the best releases of the year & decade at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deborahbond2.

   Perfect by BoraBond

I'Ced "Besides My Mind"

To coincide with the release of his debut album this week, I,Ced & Record Breakin' have teamed up with my good man Kenny Fresh at Frsh Slcts to release this mix of b-sides, unreleased mixes & other vault goodies mixed by I,Ced himself. Get a download of the mix as well as a few other exclusives here!

  

Nikki Jean "Pennies In A Jar"

Philly based singer Nikki Jean formerly of Nouveau Riche set her sites on a cross country journey to collaborate with some of the greatest songwriters of all-time. After a few replies, she found herself working with Thom Bell. Then she landed in Nashville for weeks writing with members of the Country Music Songwriters Hall of Fame like Bobby Braddock. Then on to Martha's Vineyard to write with Carly Simon. More replies & Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb, Carole King, Lamont Dozier & Burt Bacharach were all on board. The result is this stellar debut where soul meets country meets orchestration meets hip hop.
Available on Amazon!

Wes Felton "Me & Ms. Washington"

DC based renaissance man Wes Felton is ever hard working & back with a new release of poetic eclectic soul & hip hop about the complexities of love & relationships. It also features his tribute to the late Gil Scott Heron with help from Mr G & Jon Bibbs.


 

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Ayah "Back For More"

After a bangin' album sampler last year and leak after leak of new joints, the collaborative team of producer, DJ legend Jazzy Jeff and Canadian singer Ayah are "Back For More" a 13 track album of soulful hip hop r&b with Jeff's classic clever production and it's FREE!!!!!!


 

Tokyo Dawn present The Heart Volume 2

Tokyo Dawn Records is back with a stellar installment in their series "The Heart", the series that pays a musical homage to the iconic symbol of the core of the human being, representing love & passion. The feel of Volume 2 is a bit jazzier & a touch more organic than the 1st with killer global jazz and r&b from artist including Japanese producer, pianist Kan Sano, Canadian jazz megastar Diana Krall, Danish collective Boom Clap Bachelors, Chicago singer, musician Sean Haefeli, UK producer Marc Mac of 4hero with LA based Erik Rico. There's also highlights of upcoming projects on TDR including Colonel Red. The compilation officially releases at the end of the much but you can purchase a pre-release download on their site!

Soul Cycle featuring Gretchen Parlato "You've Got A Friend"

The NYC based soulful jazz unit Soul Cycle is steady on the move. Gearing up for their next album "Homebrew" slated for release in September, they're offering the 1st peak. Check out this refreshing cover of the Carole King classic featuring the beautiful, silky & breezy voice of Gretchen Parlato.

  

Emily King "Seven"

After a buzzing debut album on a major label (& the agony of little label support), NY based singer, musician Emily King puts that all behind her & moves forward with the release of this glorious independent EP. "Seven" songs of beautifully crafted blend of soul, folk & pop.

LaTina Webb "Hush EP"

You may be familiar with the name or at least the voice of LaTina Webb from being the voice behind Maxwell since day one of his touring career. LaTina has also toured & had studio sessions with some of the best the music industry has to offer. Now, thee L.A. based singer has taken time to work on her own music. Check out her debut ep, a great project of fun & soulful electropop.

Zo! "Just Visiting Three"

Multi instrumentalist, composer, producer Zo! triumphs again with the release of his third installment in his "Just Visiting" series where he takes some of his favorite classics & rarities from music's past & recreate them as only he can. This time he takes on a wide range of classics & of course enlisted the help of The Foreign Exchange family members Phonte, Jeanne Jolly & Sy Smith as well as his musical brothers Eric Roberson, Anthony David & Nicholas Ryan Gant. This installment is so killer, it's seems criminal that it's a FREE DOWNLOAD! Get it here!

Banda Black Rio "Super Nova Samba Funk"

Banda Black Rio, led by saxophonist Oberdan Magalhaes, pioneered the soul funk movement of Brazil in the 70's. Often they'd been called the Earth, Wind & Fire of Brazil. Now the band have been revived by Magalhaes' son William and he has brought this revival the Far Out Recordings, which is probably the best label for modern & progressive Brazilian music. This revival has the passion & spirit of old again linking Brazil & New York for a feel good blast of soul funk that also takes in hiphop, samba, pop & bossa. The album including a few guest appearances from Brazilian legends & icons including Cesar Mariano, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Elza Soares, Seu Jorge as well as GOD PT3  from NYC famed Mobb Deep Crew. Check out snippets below & purchase the album here!

   Banda Black Rio - Super Nova Samba Funk by Far Out Recordings

Slakah The Beatchild "The Cure"

Toronto based producer, singer Slakah The Beatchild continues in his momentum with the release of his self directed video for his 1st single "The Cure" from his sophomore album on BBE "Something Forever - Special Edition". Get a free download of the song along with the instrumental, acappella & other info here!

Red Hot & Rio 2

It has been 15 years since the stellar Red, Hot & Rio cd took the world by storm, merging the most relevant progressive of the time collaborating with some of Brazilian music's legend & paying tribute to the sound of Bossa Nova all the while raising money for the fight against HIV / AIDS. The Red Hot Organization is back with the second volume, this time paying tribute to the politically charged late 60's Brazilian Tropicalia Movement, which changed the culture of that country forever. And in true Red, Hot & Rio fashion, you'll find collabs & contributions from some of the global music community's shining stars including John Legend, Aloe Blacc, Quadron, OmMas of Sa-Ra, Madlib, Mia Doi Todd & more as well as Brazilian artist & legends Caetano Veloso, Marisa Monte, Bebel Gilberto, Seu Jorge, Clara Moreno & many more. Get more info, listen to some of the project & a free download of the track below here!

Hawthorne Headhunters "If You Were My Baby" & "Teleport"

Since the release of their 1st EP on HVW8 in 09, & two members leaving to pursue solo venture, St. Louis compadres Black Spade & Coultrain continue on bringing that serious madness as Hawthorne Headhunters. Gearing up to release their 1st full length, which is gonna be distribute by the Plug Research label, they unleashed the 1st single & b-side from the album & they are 2 BANGERS!!!!!! Check them out & purchase them on iTunes!

   Hawthorne HeadHunters "If You Were My Baby" Single by Plug Research

Jesse Boykins III "Way Of A Wayfarer"

The NYC based progressive soul Prince is back with a killer EP. "Way Of A Wayfarer"grooves & pulsates with acoustic organicness & lush soundscapes that are even a bit ethereal at times.

"After my release "The Beauty Created" 3 years ago, I took some time to truly discover my art, my spirit, my voice, my style, my love for life and its mysteries. That journey has taken me around the world, exposed me to various cultures and people and has enlightened and influenced me along the way. "Way Of A Wayfarer" is me sharing with you those moments and those lessons, in hopes that can inspire you to share your moments and lessons with the rest of the world. That is the only way, the universal way. Schwaza."

The vision of a lover thru his travels, in search of his present self - Jesse Boykins III

Check it out & get the free download here! 

  

I,Ced "Angel"

It's now 5 days from the official release of musician, producer, singer I,Ced's solo debut album "All In My Mind" on the Record Breakin' label. As a bonus, they have released a bonus track not available on the album as a free download. Dig in & make sure to order the album on their website!