John Legend and The Roots have collaborated on a new album called Wake Up, which features covers of Soul songs from the 60’s and 70’s. While that is pretty awesome in its own right, what better way to scrounge up some press then by covering one of the best songs in the last decade by the Arcade Fire, that’s ALSO called “Wake Up”! Here is the cover, continue reading...
With International worldbeat musician Angelique Kidjo set to kick off the World Cup with a performance today, it felt like a good time to post a new song from her upcoming album Oyo. Here is the brand new video for her cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic “Move On Up” featuring Bono and John Legend, continue reading...
In many ways, he’s one of the music industry’s best kept ‘secrets’ although staunch music fans from London and Los Angeles to Tokyo and New York City will readily attest to Leon Ware’s artistry as not merely a legendary songwriter and producer but as a brilliant artist and performer in his own right. A music maker for four decades, Leon’s amazing list of impressive credits includes classic recordings by Quincy Jones, Minnie Riperton, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, Average White Band and of course, the late Marvin Gaye (whose Ware-written and produced “I Want You” LP remains a seminal Motown album). Leon readily confesses that even with a catalog of nine of his own albums released since 1972, “I’ve never really been out there as a fully-fledged recording artist and performer because of my love for producing and writing. Now,” he emphasizes, “it’s time to do that…”
The impetus, Leon says, is MOON RIDE, his debut album for Stax/Concord Records. The twelve songs that comprise the Ware-produced collection of new material easily validates Leon’s stance as a true master of musical sensuality. In the tradition of his previous recordings and work with others, songs on the new album like “Just Take Your Time,” “Hold Tonight” and “Smoovin’” are love-filled odes, a heady mix fantasy and reality. continue reading...
