The "future" in the title is very well-put – as the album seems to open up a rich new chapter in the music of the legendary vocalist Dwight Trible – a singer who's carried on the spiritual legacy of the 70s well into the 21st Century, and who's always given us some fantastic records in the past! And here, Trible's continuing that legacy, but in a different way – mixing up styles in ways that almost seem to echo the experiments on the London and Chicago scenes of late, and also mixing cosmic elements with more down to earth soul styles – in a core group that's heavier on bass and electric guitar than some of his other groups. The set features guest vocals from Georgia Anne Muldrow on one track, and guest tenor from Kamasi Washington on another – and titles include "Beach Vibes", "Elements", "African Drum", "Black Dance", "Wind", "Derf Reklaw", and "My Stomping Ground". (Vocalists, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A really nice side project from the excellent Mourning A BLKstar collective – spare sounds with a different vibe than the work of the larger group, but which comes across with an equally righteous sound overall! LaToya Kent handles the vocals, and the backings are often very spare – electronics, tapes, beats, and touches of guitar and keyboards – creating a much moodier soundscape, and one that almost shows a darker future than the larger group have given us in their music. Titles include "Crawl On Yer Belly", "Burns", "Sugamilk", "Git Ready", "Portabelly", "Dirt", "Gimlet", and "The Current History Of Blue". LP, Vinyl record album

Nnamdi Ogbonnaya is sometimes an artist completely unto himself – part of a contemporary underground that's always shaking free of genres and labels with each new expression – yet here, he's also got a key partner in crime through the production work of Lynyn, who brings this soaring sensibility to the record that really takes off in a great way! Most songs start slow, the percolate quickly – with Nnamdi's vocals muted somewhere in the mix, yet a key presence in the power of the way things emerge – sometimes tinged with retro elements on the production or instrumentation, but very future forward throughout. Sen Morimoto guests on "You Don't Know" – and other cuts include "Backseat", "Doing Too Much", "Barely Reason For A Smile", and "Glass Casket (rmx)". LP, Vinyl record album

The second set from Resavoir – a project headed by Chicago producer/musician Will Miller, an artist who's had a lot of experience in the higher reaches of the hip hop scene – but who here gives himself over to much more personal, introspective modes! Yet the album's not a solo effort either, as Miller works with a host of other musicians in a groove that's fluid, often soulful, and yet very laidback – maybe an answer to some of the more meditative projects on the International Anthem label, as the work moves at the pace of some of those, but with more of an electric soul at the core. Titles include "Midday", "Sunset", "Future", "Blutopia", "Facets", "Heavenly", and "Inside Minds". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The second set from Resavoir – a project headed by Chicago producer/musician Will Miller, an artist who's had a lot of experience in the higher reaches of the hip hop scene – but who here gives himself over to much more personal, introspective modes! Yet the album's not a solo effort either, as Miller works with a host of other musicians in a groove that's fluid, often soulful, and yet very laidback – maybe an answer to some of the more meditative projects on the International Anthem label, as the work moves at the pace of some of those, but with more of an electric soul at the core. Titles include "Midday", "Sunset", "Future", "Blutopia", "Facets", "Heavenly", and "Inside Minds". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

A stripped-down take on the debut album from this excellent group – almost like finding a stack of sweet soul 45s that all have instrumental b-sides! The great vocals of the group are gone, but that also brings the spotlight on the wonderful grooves that set the whole thing up – slow-stepping rhythms with the hardness of funk, but a more laidback approach – warmed up by horns in just the right way, but never dominated by them. Production is nice and lean, in the best Daptone style – tuned towards moodier, late nite material than some of the company's funk – on titles that include "Sorrow For Tomorrow", "Lady Love", "Can I Call You Rose", "Easier Said Than Done", "Overflowing", "Future Lover", "Happy & Well", and "Love Comes Easy". (Deep Funk, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album

The electric lady is back again – getting great help on this set from Prince, Erykah Badu, Miguel, and Esperanza Spaulding! The set features further chapters in Janelle's Metropolis story – but apart from that overarching structure, and cool notes that situate the singer as some future cultural criminal, the overall vibe is tight funky soul – at a level that not only lives up to all of Monae's sparkling promise from before, but which also finds a great way to bring out the best elements of all the guests! There's plenty of funky numbers here that stand wonderfully well on their own, but the whole thing works even better as a unified set – with titles that include "Primetime", "Givin Em What They Love", "Queen", "Electric Lady", "Look Into My Eyes", "It's Code", "Ghetto Woman", "Victory", "Dorothy Dandrige Eyes", and "What An Experience". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunning supergroup from the contemporary scene on the west coast – heard here on a live set that's every bit as wonderful as the studio album that marked their debut! You'll probably know every player here from albums under their own names, and the group is every bit as great as the sum of its parts – Robert Glasper on keyboards, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah on trumpet, Derrick Hodge on bass, Taylor McFerrin on synth, Justin Tyson on drums, and Terrace Martin on keyboards and a bit of vocals – all coming together with a sort of crispy, contemporary energy – all live, but with a future-thinking approach to jazz that's really beautiful. Titles include "Perspectives/Postpartum", "How Much A Dollar Cost", "Change Of Tone", "Respond", "Been On My Mind", and "Resting Warrior". (Jazz, Neo Soul) LP, Vinyl record album