citizen bay shares his faves from 2007…
1. Jose James – a 29 year old from New York, who deserves as wide an audience as possible. He also has my vote for single of the year, the joyous Equinox/Resolution 10 inch that came out in the summer.
Anyone brave enough to put words to John Coltrane needs to be listened to. When I got hold of this 10inch, it just sat on the turntable playing again and again. He has an album coming out very soon. I have heard some tracks already (go to his myspace page for a listen… He has a track called Winter Wind. It is a future classic. For the time being I will make do with Equinox/Resolution).
Expect the term Urban Jazz get used a lot when his name is mentioned. Also expect the urban scene to be mixing things up with him…see him live and you will know what I mean…
Jazz dead? Yeah right…
2. Akron/Family - Grown to love this band since I heard Gone Beyond.
3. Old Romantic Killer Band - Saw them at In The City, and love their music, their look and live set. They make a heap of noise for a two piece too… Girl You Have All The Fun and Lovers Pass are my faves from them right now. Not played a lot of gigs. This two piece blues rock band play really loud. Harry can really sing, while he (guitar) and Bunse (drums) are tight tight tight. Go see them or at least go to their myspace and check them out…
4. That great Record Cover Art is not dead.
5. The Voices of Harlem - Found this single in a French ‘vide grenier' (like a car boot sale, but it translates as ‘empty attic’). What a tune. The 20-member strong Voices Of East Harlem formed in the late 60s, inspired by groups like The Staple Singers and the social and political struggles of the day.
Originally a local choir, put together by the East Harlem Youth Federation Association, the group were signed to the Elektra label. After supporting Jimi Hendrix in 1970, their debut album 'Right On Be Free' was recorded at his Electric Ladyland studio.