A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's not funky, but James' vocals are plenty darn soulful – and the album is proof that he could be a huge talent in just about any mode that he chose – shining with a brilliance that was irrepressible! James covers a few of his older tracks on the album, and sings a few other pop standards – and titles include nice versions of "It's Magic", "The Man In The Glass", "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", "That's My Desire", and "I Need Your Key (To Turn Me On)". (Soul, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Lovely work from Eri Ohno – one of the deeper voiced singers in the city pop generation, and an artist who's able to work here with a nice mix of soulful styles! The record's got some leaner backings than other projects of this nature – really just a small combo, pictured with Eri on the back – and there's a nice sense of groove on most of the numbers, which works well for the English language lyrics that Ohno delivers – almost more at times like those moments when a soul singer might make an appearance on a fusion record from the Japanese jazz scene of the late 70s. Titles include "Milestones", "Rainbow Lovers", "Everytime Shuffle", "One For Me", "Skyfire", "River", "Good Question", and "So Tonight". (Japanese, Vocalists) LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the first vocal album we've heard on London's Jazz Refreshed label, but one that really lives up to the high quality of the imprint's legacy of well-chosen music! Sofia Grant's got this style that warmly wraps around the jazzier backings of the music – relatively lean on most numbers, in a way that seems to have Grant pushing the more soulful qualities of her voice with these really nice inflections – not like standard jazz vocals, but also not commercial either, given that the presentation of the album is relatively laidback and easygoing. Sofia handled production and arrangements herself – and the set features guest trumpet from Poppy Daniels and flute from Sarah Wackett – on titles that include "Walk On Water", "Extinction", "Circular Motion", "Ochre", and "Storm". LP, Vinyl record album