SWV: Come Back & Show Them How It’s Done

It could be said that the 1990s was the last golden age of modern R&B music. In fact, it is an idea that is often repeated throughout cyberspace as some lament the parlous state of the present scene. Nevertheless it is not just empty nostalgia that has earned that particular decade a place in the heart of soul lovers. This was a special time in urban music; the decade when Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing took the airwaves by storm and launched a thousand careers. There was much in the way of variety – not just in front of the mic but also amongst those twiddling the knobs.
The 1990s saw the rise of the super-producer. Stateside you had such luminaries as Riley, R.Kelly, Dallas Austin, Babyface, Keith Sweat, Devante Swing, Timbaland, Jay Dilla, Puff Daddy (as he was then known), Trackmasters, Jermaine Dupris, Wyclef Jean and Swizz Beats making their name. Some international production stars emerged from the UK and Europe as well; Soulshock and Karlin, Linslee, Stargate and the Ignorants to name a few.

Perhaps the toast of 1990s R&B was the healthy proliferation of trios, quartets and quintets bringing back the tight Doo-Wop harmony sounds of 1940s and ’50s America. The fellows were represented by the likes of the mighty Boyz II Men, Intro, Shai, Blackstreet, Dru Hill, Hi-5 and Soul for Real. As far as the ladies were concerned we can look back on such titans of talent as En Vogue, Brownstone, Kut Klose, Jade, Xscape, the original line-up of Destiny’s Child and the UK’s Eternal.

Nevertheless no assessment of 1990s urban music would be complete without mentioning Tamara ‘Taj’ Johnson, Leanne ‘Lelee’ Lyons and Cheryl ‘Coko’ Gamble, the ‘original TLC’ or, as they are better known, SWV (Sisters With Voices).  Read more

VIDEO: SWV performing ‘Weak’ Live on Mo’Nique show

Why not take a trip down memory lane as SWV perform every girl’s sing-into-hairbrush-in-front-of-mirror favourite ‘Weak’ on woman of the moment, Mo’Nique’s talk show.

They also do a cover of Patti Labelle’s ‘If Only You Knew’ and Lelee sharing lead vocals makes for a pleasant change, I’m sure you’ll agree.

SWV’s comeback Is officially off the ground, people; welcome back Taj, Lelee and Coko. Enjoy.

Album Review: Mama’s Gun – Routes To Riches

If one record appropriately heralds the long-awaited advent of Spring it’s Routes To Riches (Deluxe Edition), the feel-good debut by UK outfit Mama’s Gun.  Still, it’s not hard to envision the album ruffling some feathers if it gets the recognition it deserves – their style of funk with an unabashed pop-edge is bound to spark some debate amongst listeners, the likely crux of which being whether their sound is ‘watered down’ and gazing too longingly at commercial success. Heck, the album title hardly refutes this assumption.  But as mainstream soul acts such as The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai and Incognito proved in the 1990s, ain’t nothing wrong with a bit of pop-fusion if you know what you are doing… and Mama’s Gun prove that they do. Read more

Live Review: Elisa Caleb Quintet at The Vortex, London

What better way to take the edge off a cold Monday night in winter than in the company of jazz vocalist Elisa Caleb and her impressive quintet?  Those were my thoughts whilst sat ensconced in the candlelit intimacy of the Vortex Jazz Bar last Monday as the lovely Mrs Caleb and band took to the stage. Elisa’s unadulterated jazz and blues offerings make for a refreshing change to the many Beyoncé-wannabes currently cluttering the R&B/Pop stable.

And if you are expecting just another evening of standards and covers, think again.  The majority of Elisa’s set is comprised of original material written by her husband, guitarist Jo Caleb.  These sophisticated and intelligent compositions – with just a little feel for Norah Jones – are the perfect vehicle for the warm, honeyed vocals of his missus.

Songs such as starkly arranged ‘The Wind’, ‘Bring Back Spring’, ‘Falling Towers’ and the wonderfully enchanting bossa nova number ‘Untitled no.1’ showcase the pure attraction of Elisa’s voice.  One would hardly believe that the songstress didn’t even consider herself a singer well into young adulthood; she’s certainly made up for lost time. Read more

Theatre Review: Off The Endz by Bola Agbaje

Award-winning playwright Bola Agbaje follows the acclaimed Detaining Justice with her latest piece Off the Endz; yet another critique of contemporary British society.  David (Ashley Walters of So Solid Crew, Hustle and Small Island fame) is fresh out of prison – again – and calls on pretty old flame Sharon (Lorraine Burroughs) and childhood friend Kojo (Daniel Francis) – now themselves an item – for help.

Sharon is a nurse and Kojo works a well paid 9-5.  They seem to be living the dream like any other would-be middle class young couple; baby on the way, multiple credit cards, expensive car, an eye on the property market… and waist-deep in debt. Sharon, in a naive attempt to set David on the straight and narrow suggests he comes to live with her and Kojo until he gets back on his feet.

However David sees his two old friends’ relatively respectable existence as too slow and arduous a journey to achieve what he ultimately wants out of life – to get rich as quickly as possible.  Sharon gets more and more exasperated with David’s immature ways and recidivism.  However Kojo’s protests against his friend’s behaviour become more half-hearted as financial pressure mounts up, temptation comes a-knocking and David’s negative influence slowly but surely starts to take hold. Read more

Live Review: Choklate at Aesthetic Sounds, London (Feb 4th)

If I was to reflect on the best artists to emerge during the last decade, Washington State-based songstress Kolista Moore, aka Choklate, would feature very high on my list.  Without a hint of hyperbole, her self-titled first album is one of the most outstanding debuts I am yet to hear and a firm favourite of the last ten years – scratch that – a firm favourite full stop.  Read more

Rare Sade Interview : Times Online

One of music’s most elusive stars recently agreed to do an interview with the Times. I always feel a bit guilty reading a Sade interview since she seems so reluctant to give them. Nevertheless Robert Sandall’s piece is probably the most insightful and deferential one-to-one feature on the first lady of UK soul I’m yet to read. For once, a feature on Sade by the British press that is not completely blighted by lazy journalism. There’s a lot to be learned from Ms Adu on the responsibility that success and wealth bring as this snippet suggests…

‘…Frugality… is her style, but she’s generous with it… Her touring musicians comment on how fair she has been in awarding valuable songwriting credits for their contributions — a rare thing in the tightfisted world of pop accountancy.

She has done this on the strict understanding that none of the beneficiaries talk about it, “or ever write anything about me”, which they haven’t. It’s not just a personal-privacy thing, or control freakery, she claims, “I just don’t like the power relationship it implies”. She isn’t shy about the money per se. “I always wanted to have money…But the great thing is when you’ve got it, your life doesn’t revolve around money any more.” …’

Click here for the full interview.

2 April: Teddy Riley & Blackstreet @ The Indigo 02, London

One of the greatest modern music pioneers, Teddy Riley and his most celebrated revolving-door group Blackstreet return to the UK this Spring for what promises no diggity, no doubt (sorry!) to be a night of nostalgia, tight harmonies and Mr Riley’s ever-faithful vocoder. All together now… ‘Before I let you go away, can I get a kiss good niiigghhht‘…

Follow the link for info and tickets.

Event Details

• Artist: Teddy Riley + Blackstreet
• Date: Friday, April 2nd 2010
• Time: 7:00pm
• City: Teddy Riley + Blackstreet in London
• Venue: Indig02 Greenwich
• Country: United Kingdom
• Buy tickets
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