Read below for a round-up of some February soul music releases!
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Adrienne Warren – ‘River Deep Mountain High’ (from Tina: The Tina Turner Musical)
After being handpicked by the Queen of Rock and Roll herself, Adrienne Warren has spent the past year playing Tina Turner in the original production of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at London’s Aldwych Theatre. Quite predictably given her rapturous critical reception, it has recently been announced that Warren will be leading the new Broadway production too. In advance of a full cast album, the production has released Warren’s recording of Ike & Tina Turner’s ‘River Deep Mountain High’. One can debate the need for an imitative recording of such an iconic song, but Warren sings with undeniable passion and power. Though trying to capture Turner’s jagged and raspy voice, Warren adds her own inflections and embellishments – particularly in the opening verse where she uses soft, breathy tones, and at the bridge with her epic scream.
JNR Williams – ‘A Prayer’
After his haunting rendition of Dinah Washington’s ‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’, Hackney-based singer-songwriter JNR Williams has released his next single. In a conversation with Wonderland, Williams explained that ‘A Prayer’ was based on a previous relationship of his: ‘It’s about someone losing belief in you, and trying to convince them to stick with you, find faith and keep believing, as one day we can live like rich kids.‘ Like his previous release, Williams adopts a deeply intimate and almost conversational delivery. Ethereal backing vocals at the chorus raise the emotional intensity, as Williams prays earnestly that his significant other can be freed from want. The beautiful music video, directed by Iggy LDN, transposes the song’s message in the context of a father-son relationship. JNR Williams will be performing at the Servant Jazz Quarters, East London on 28th March – tickets available here.
Nygel D. Robinson feat. Nicole Del Mar – ‘One More Chance’
Written and produced by NYC-based songwriter Barry Anderson in collaboration with Hollow Spirit Studios, ‘One More Chance’ is the latest single from singer, theatre performer, and multi-instrumentalist Nygel D. Robinson. The song has a retro, Al Jarreau-esque groove. Robinson’s mature tone is counterposed with featuring artist Nicole Del Mar’s light touches. The second half of the song kicks up a gear both musically and vocally which adds extra conviction.
YLD feat. Akil Dasan and Liz Jai – ‘Give Me Your Love’
‘YLD is Wild’ is the eponymous debut album from London-based songwriter/producer YLD – aka Geoff Wilkinson, the founder of jazz/hip-hop fusion band Us3. The lead single is a danceable, modernised re-imagination of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Give Me Your Love’, originally featured in the Blaxploitation crime drama Super Fly (1972).
(Image Copyright: Sh-K-Boom Records, LLC; Insanity Records Limited; Hollow Spirit Studios; Ikigai Muzik)
