A sublime debut from the up-and-coming Cecile McLorin Salvant – a fresh new jazz singer with really rich roots – and a vocalist who's equally at home with both contemporary styles, and modes from the earliest years of jazz! There's a really complex approach to this record – both stylistically and referentially – and Salvant wants to show right from the start that she's a force to be reckoned with – a singer who can resonate with the best of the contemporary jazz underground, yet one who's got a special attention to creative roots as well. The tunes are a really surprising blend of well-chosen nuggets and a few original numbers – and Cecile gets some killer backing from a creative quartet that features Aaron Diehl on piano and Rodney Whitaker on bass. Cecile's got a sound that's right up there with the best work by Dee Dee Bridgewater or Carmen Lundy in recent years – yet an approach that's definitely all her own as well! Titles include "Baby Have Pity On Me", "Woman Child", "Nobody", "Le Front Cache Sur Tes Genoux", "You Bring Out The Savage In Me", and "Deep Dark Blue". (Vocalists, Neo Soul) CD

Really unique work from the team of Kevin Sandbloom and Melany Bell – both sweetly soulful singers who intertwine their vocals nicely on the tunes in the set! Kevin's got a bit of a jazzy approach, and Melany a deeper sound overall – and paired together, they really sound great – with this full range that unfolds nicely over spare backings that often just feature a bit of acoustic guitar and percussion – quite a change from the usual indie soul set! Sandbloom's clearly going for some deeper tones with his vocals, and Bell helps bring a good sense of focus to the record when she joins in – and the overall sound is surprisingly sophisticated, given the simplicity of the setting. Titles include "Viva Los Angeles", "Lovechild", "Always", "All That Money", "Smooth Assassination", "Let's Stay Together", "Echoplex", and "Devotion Time". CD

A stunning NuSoul debut from Chicago! Kevin Chandler's one of our best homegrown talents – a fantastic soul musician with equal talents in many quarters. He's a hell of a writer, a great singer, plays incredible keyboards and guitar, and seems poised to become one of the giants of 21st Century Soul! This debut CD is issued on Kevin's own label – and it sparkles like the best underground soul we've been stocking over the past few years. There's killer keyboards on nearly every track, a warmly snug fit with Kevin's deeply soulful vocals, creating a style that's got a bit of D'Angelo, but a lot more jazzy finish with touches of 70s funk and 80s groove! Kevin's lyrics are great – spiritual and positive, but without the cliches that you might find in other work of the same type. Great all the way through – and with tracks that include "Nommo", "Fearless Child", "So Far, So Good", "Friday", "The Journey", "Higher", "My Father's Son", "The Art Of Dreaming", "Breathing You In", and "When Ya Lovin Me". CD