J***y Soul-Folk

Posted by: Thomas K on 31 May 2002

Or folky soul-jazz?

Some weeks ago I picked up a copy of Cassandra Wilson's "Belly of the Sun" because I'd heard it being played at the Frankfurt show .

I find the track "Just Another Parade" brilliant! The equal measures of jazz, soul and folk that went into it just do it for me.

Does anyone know of any other music that combines sultry soul harmonies with acoustic instruments and an irresistible, "groovy" mid-tempo rhythm? (I have listened to India Arie's album - she also sings on "Just Another Parade" - but I find it too mainstream and her vocals have nothing of the special, breathy quality they have on Wilson's album.)

Thanks,
Thomas

Posted on: 03 June 2002 by Former member

Hi Thomas,

I very much like a recent album by another female artist called Ursula Rucker. It's called Supa Sista and is on the !K7 label. It combines soul tinged spoken word backed by a subtle hip hop groove with a femenist edge. Have a listen next time you are in a large music store, you might be surprised.

Dave

Posted on: 03 June 2002 by Thomas K

Dave,

Many thanks for your input - I'll have a listen when I get the opportunity!

Thomas

Posted on: 03 June 2002 by Former member

Try the earlier Cassandra albums -- New Moon Daughter and Blue Light Til Dawn. I'd also suggest the early Rickie Lee Jones which combine blues, folk and pop, e.g. Chuckie's in Love, Pirates, etc. or even Erykah Badu (altho' Badu's stuff has some funk and electronics on it).

Hockman

Posted on: 04 June 2002 by Former member

Also try Joan Armatrading. She cut a series of albums for A&M in the late seventies.

Show Some Emotion / To The Limit / Back To The Night and the self titled Joan Armatrading all contain great music. She is highly regarded by British jazzer Courtney Pine who records Love and Affection on his Back In The Day album on Verve. Worth checking out too.

Dave

Posted on: 04 June 2002 by Mike Sae

If you saw through the gloss of India Arie and are considering Ursula Rucker, you must try Jill Scott. Both her albums are brillant.

Posted on: 05 June 2002 by Thomas K

Hockman, I also just picked up Wilson's "Traveling Miles" - don't like it as much (was on sale, so ...). But I've read before that some of the older ones are more accessible.

I've got the earlier Rickie Lee Jones albums - absolutely fab stuff (still not what I'm after here). Someone once posted a picture of their LP12 with RLJ's first album on it ... made me envious of you vinyl freaks. At a recent show in Frankfurt, Linn played "Pirates" on the CD12 and on the considerably cheaper LP12 - it made me want to flush my CD collection down the toilet (but to be fair, I think CD mastering has improved since).

Dave, yes, Joan A. - one of those names I've always known, must give it a try.

Mike, thanks, will try and find some Scott to listen to.

Thomas