Jamie Lidell (birth name Jamie Lidderdale; born 18 September 1973 in Huntington, England) is an English musician and soul singer living in Nashville, United States. He also has a group with Cristian Vogel called Super Collider.
Lidell is known for layering tracks made with his voice into a microphone and performing the percussion and melody as a sequenced,beatboxingone-man band. Then over his augmented voices, he sings soul-inspired songs. This exercise makes for energetic live performances. Lidell has become renowned for his diverse range of genre-exploration.
Following the release of his 2008 album, Jim, Lidell commented:
I want it to be about music, I think every musician does. But I think inevitably it ends up becoming about personality, which is what gives rise to the music, so people want to make sure that they get a bit of both. The more things do well, the more people want to know why it does well.
His song "Multiply" was used on the television show Grey Anatomy, and was also included on its second soundtrack. Another song from his album Multiply, "A Little Bit More", was featured in a series of commercials for the U.S. retailer Target.
He often collaborates with Canadian musicians such as Gonzales, Feist and Mocky. He has also recently collaborated with British electronic duo Simian Mobile Disco for the song "Off The Map". In 2006, he was part of a live performance collaboration with David Link and F. M. Einheit, which was released on CD as 'Echohce'.
In early 2009, Lidell's Jim won in The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards for Best Pop/Rock Album.
In 2009 he contributed a cover of Grizzly Bear's song "Little Brother" to the Warp20 (Recreated) compilation, as well as having his song "A Little Bit More" covered by Tim Exile.
In March 2010, Lidell announced that he is releasing a new album entitled Compass which is being produced by fellow musician and occasional collaborator Beck. The album was released in May 2010. The title track is featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption, and is one of only four songs in the game to include vocals.
Molly Johnson began as a child performer, receiving formal training from the National Ballet School and the Banff School of Fine Arts.Molly's career started in the mid-1960s when as a young grade schooler, she and her brother, Clark Johnson, actor and director (Homicide: Life on the Street, The Wire), were tapped by legendary Toronto producer Ed Mirvish to appear in Porgy and Bess at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
In time Porgy and Bess was
followed by South Pacific, Finian's Rainbow and other musicals. The
budding child star was soon enrolled by the National Ballet School as
she desired to become a choreographer.
By the age of seventeen, Molly was fronting a disco band named A Chocolate Affair. The group lasted just over a year.
Although she has performed as a Jazz singer throughout her career, she did not release a Jazz album until her self-titled solo debut in 2000.
She was lead vocalist for two rock bands, Alta Moda and Infidels in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as frequent contributor to Big Sugar, who also became a prominent Canadian band in the 1990s.
Both of her bands had notable hits in Canada (Alta Moda's "Julian" and Infidels' "100 Watt Bulb" and "Celebrate"), but both bands broke up (for different reasons) after just one album each.
Also in the mid-to late-eighties, she performed with popular Toronto group Breeding Ground, most notably on their hits Happy Now I Know and Ceremony of Love, both of which received consistent college radio airplay, and even had rotation on MuchMusic.
She also performed with them live whenever her commitments with Alta Moda weren't in conflict.
In 1989 she performed the song "The Best We Both Can Be" for the film Babar: The Movie, and also provided voice work for Babar and the Adventures of Badou in 2010.
In the mid-1990s, Molly also organized an annual concert series, the Kumbaya Festival, as a benefit for Canadian charities working around HIV and AIDS. Johnson went on to release Another Day in 2003.
This album was well received at home and went on to be successful in France, where she continues to tour. In 2006 she released her third solo album Messin' Around.
She made history at the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, becoming the first Canadian female vocalist in the festival's 17-year-history to sell out a show on the mainstage.
She has even regaled royalty during a private command performance aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia before the Prince and late Princess of Wales, as well as having performed for Nelson Mandela and Quincy Jones.
On November 11, 2008, Johnson released her fourth full-length album, a record of standards entitled Lucky, via Universal Music Canada and Universal Music France. In March 2009 Lucky took home the Juno Award for "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year".
Her latest release The Molly Johnson Songbook includes 14 studio recordings and 2 previously unreleased tracks – featuring the Daniel Lanois' song Still Water from his acclaimed album, Acadie.
The Molly Johnson Songbook also features a Cole Porter composition not included in the Juno Award Winning Lucky sessions. A truly distinctive voice – unique mixture of Soul and Jazz – Molly delivers luscious interpretations of Jazz standards & original repertoire such as “Lush Life”, “Ode to Billie Joe”, “Melody” & “Rain” on this beautiful collection of music. Also featured as an iTunes exclusive track is the Daniel Lanois composition, St. Ann’s Gold.
Janelle was born Janelle Monáe Robinson in Kansas City, where she spent her early life. Janelle moved from Kansas City to New York to study drama at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
In 2006, Janelle signed to Bad Boy . The label's chief
role was in facilitating her exposure on a much broader scale rather
than developing the artist and her music, because "She was already
moving, she already had her records - she had a self-containedmovement.
Combs and Big Boi wanted to take their time and build her profile organically and allow the music to grow rather than put out "A hot single which everyone jumps on, and then they fade because it's just something of the moment."
In 2007, Janelle released her first solo work, titled Metropolis. It was originally conceived as a concept album in four parts, or "suites", which were to be released through her website and mp3 download sites. After the release of the first part of the series, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) in mid-2007, these plans were altered following her signing with Sean "Diddy" Combs's label, Bad Boy Records, later in the year.
The label gave an official and physical release to the first "suite" in August 2008, which was retitled Metropolis: The Chase Suite (Special Edition) and included two new tracks. The EP was generally well-received by critics, garnering Janelle a 2009 Grammy nomination in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance for her single "Many Moons", festival appearances and opening slots for the indie pop band Of Montreal. Janelle also toured as the opening act for band No Doubt on their summer 2009 tour.
Janelle Monáe told MTV about her concept for her new album and also discussed her alter-ego named Cindi Mayweather, she said:
Cindi is an android and I love speaking about the android because they are the new “other”. People are afraid of the other and I believe we’re going to live in a world with androids because of technology and the way it advances. The first album she was running because she had fallen in love with a human and she was being disassembled for that."
In a November 2009 interview, Janelle revealed the title and concept behind her album, The ArchAndroid. The album was released on 18 May 2010. The second and third suites of Metropolis are combined into this full-length release, in which Janelle's alter-ego, Cindi Mayweather — also the protagonist of Metropolis: The Chase Suite — becomes a messianic figure to the android community of Metropolis. Janelle noted that she plans to shoot a video for each song on The ArchAndroid and create both a movie and graphic novel based on the album.
The Metropolis concept series draws inspiration from a wide range of musical, cinematic and other sources, ranging from Alfred Hitchcock to Debussy to Philip K. Dick. However, the series puts Fritz Lang's 1927 silent film Metropolis, which Janelle referred to as "the godfather of science-fiction movies," in special regard.
Aside from sharing a name, they also share visual styles (the cover for The ArchAndroid is inspired by the iconic poster for Metropolis), conceptual themes and political goals, using expressionistic future scenarios to examine and explode contemporary ideas of prejudice and class.
Both also include a performing female android, though to
very different effect. Where Metropolis android Maria is the evil,
havoc-sowing double of the messianic figure to the city's strictly
segregated working class, Janelle's messianic android muse Cindi
Mayweather represents an interpretation of androids as that segregated
minority, which Janelle Monáe describes as "... the Other.
And I feel
like all of us, whether in the majority or the minority, felt like the
Other at some point." Janelle received the Vanguard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers at the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in 2010. Her success is also due to her raw talent as a vocalist.
She inhabits each style with natural grace, nailing the subtleties of rapped verses and tight harmonies as well as she can belt out a climax or deliver a punky growl.
In an interview, Janelle stated that she plans to release two albums in 2012. In the same interview, she said that she plans to tour with some "big names" and "a big band" in 2012.
While the tour is not yet announced, Janelle Monáe did say that she will perform at Staples Center for three nights in a row. In another interview with Forbes, she also said that she plans to release an ArchAndroid inspired film.
Ledisi Anibade Young is an American recording artist, singer-songwriter, record producer, CEO and actress. Her first name means “to bring forth” or “to come here” in Yoruba (ethnic groups in West Africa). Ledisi is known for her jazz influenced vocals.
In 1995, Ledisi formed the group known as Anibade. After unsuccessfully trying to get the group signed to a major label, she formed LeSun Records with Sundra Manning. Along with her group Anibade, Ledisi released an album entitled Take Time. The album gained major airplay from local radio stations.
In 2000, Ledisi released her first album, Soulsinger: The Revival. Ledisi and her group toured in 2001, performing various shows. In 2002, Ledisi released her second album, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, which was also released independently. The album featured the singles "Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue", "Autumn Leaves" & "Sugar/Brown Sugar".
The album won her an award for "Outstanding Jazz Album" at the California Music Awards. During
her five year hiatus, Ledisi made appearances on soundtracks.
In 2007,
she signed with Verve and released "Blues in the Night" which featured
on the tribute album, We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of
Song.
In 2007, Ledisi signed a major record deal with Verve Forecast and released her third album entitled Lost & Found, which sold almost 217,000 copies and earned her two Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist.
In 2009, Ledisi released her fourth album, Ledisi explained the album's title reflected its musical diversity: "The title 'Turn Me Loose' is basically me saying : 'I don't wanna be boxed in! Let me be myself as a performer and singer, because I do EVERYTHING! Not just one particular style!'.
Ledisi toured with R&B/soul singer Kem on his North American INTIMACY Tour.
Ledisi's sixth studio album, Pieces of Me, was released on June 14, 2011. Ledisi has performed at the White House 3 times at the behest of President and First Lady Obama.
Special appearance on : Trombone Shorty – For True
Live Tropical Fish comprise of Fabrizio ‘Doc Bix’ Poli, Antonio ‘Lurpak’ Fernè and Salvatore ‘Salvo’ Pignanelli. They originate from the northern Italian city of Bologna where they were formed in 1992 out of their love for black music and a desire to experiment working in and amongst many different styles and sounds.
Their first album titled Shape Your Life featured the saxophonist and leader of the Groove Collective, Jay Rodriguez and their music has since appeared on countless world-wide acid-jazz, funk and soul compilations.
In 2003, after a period of inactivity, the band reformed with several new members and has recently completed work on their sophomore project: The Day Is Too Short To Be Selfish :) Released on LTF Records on 1st April, 2010, it’s a 12 track journey that was recorded between Bologna, New York and London, expressing a love for all things Afro, Latin, Funk, Jazz and R&B.
Every track on the album tells a story and reflects the different personalities of the composers and their musical background. A number of special guests from the world of contemporary soul music feature and include: Omar, Deborah Jordan, Laurnea, Alison Crockett, Nick Rolfe, April Hill and Maya Azucena.
The full line-up of musicians appearing on the album include Doc Bix (percussion), Lurpak (bass) Salvo (guitar) and other accomplished musicians such as Pino De Fazio (piano and keyboards), Mirco Zagnoli (drums), Adriano Pancaldi (saxophone and horns arangements), Federico Tassani (trombone) Fabio Morgera, a trumpet player well known as a member of the Groove Collective, Stefano Serafini, trumpet player with Mario Biondi and Daniele Giardina, trumpet player with Fiorello’s Orchestra.
The band has many years experience of playing live both in Italy and abroad and have opened for concerts by Earth, Wind and Fire in 1998 in Switzerland, for Chuck Berry and Willy DeVille at the Pistoia Blues festival in 2005, and have performed at the Blue Note Club in Milan in the same year.
Live Tropical Fish have been the resident band during 2009 at the highly popular “Bravo Caffe” in Bologna, one of the leading clubs for live music. Here they’ve performed monthly with a number of different international and national guests who also feature on the new album .
The main reason for opening my iTunes account was...for her, Sandra Nkaké, impossible to find…You know in the other ways & couldn't wait. So that was my 1st purchase, 3 years ago…
Sandra Nkaké is stunning from the first notes, she gives you an uppercut :) You are breathless the first time you listen to her and see this young woman, specially thanks to her incredible voice and her fire temperament on stage.. From a French-Cameroonian culture, she's totally comfortable with both French and English & mix Jazz, Soul and R&B. Her diversity goes beyond language, she is also adroit in handling diverse styles.
One second, the Jazz or the Funk influences are evident, and then the Opera and European folk elements surface, and without hesitation, all of that may be chucked aside as Sandra Nkaké employs the sounds and languages of West Africa, with talent and incomparable imagination!
And you should have some to assure the 1st part of Al Jarreau's show, alone on stage, using a simple machine recording live the rhythmic and her melodies.
As an evidence, her resumption of Georges Brassens song ' La Mauvaise Réputation' on her 1st album MANSAADI (little mother) dedicate to her mother, who died before having seen her daughter on scene. Her mother used to listened to BB King while she was pregnant. Years later, when Sandra was carrying her own child, she heard BB King and inexplicably was emotionally overwhelmed and started crying.
Her debut at 35, in today's youth-oriented music industry, is a delightful rarity. What Sandra Nkaké has...is taste. She is gimmick-free, in that she doesn't rely too much on just one technique. Murmuring voice, throat deployed shouts, whisper words : her universe as a singer, performer and actress seems to be endless. Association of generosity, sensuality and talent, Sandra is a musical UFO!
Soul diva, of-the-wall rocker and song-writer : she slams, protests and invents a universe which she does not have cease to reinvent, to explore, as to recall us that 'the life is a gift'.
It's your turn to discover this prodigious artist, you can't compare her to anybody… Sandra is Unique!
An useful link: A Tribute To Gil Scott Heron - A Place For You
In honor of all South African singers, I pick up this group to commemorate 1990, the official end of apartheid and my daughter birth "Léa".
With a sound shaped by urban South Africa and honed during incandescent live performances, the Johannesburg quartet Tumi And The Volume have quickly forged an identity as rising stars of new African music.
They have released three albums in six years, yet Pick A Dream feels like their first proper studio album. Following At The Bassline, recorded in concert, and TATV, which also had a ‘live’ feel, they have developed a precise sleek sound, pulling in a wide range of atmospheres.
With this new offering, the group have really opened up their music to embrace the world.
Styling themselves as headless men, their quest for identity takes them into hypnotic waves of strings and percussion ("La Tête Savante"), where butterflies gently break bad news ("Through The Sunroof"), things are tough, frustrations many, and life spools along as in a film ("Moving Picture Frames") and where rebellion meshes with hope ("Play Nice").
It’s Hip Hop – as on killer track "Asinamali" and the explosive "Reality Check" – with added dimensions.
There’s a South African flavor throughout, especially on "Limpopo", but the message is universal and delivered in stunning poetic force by master MC Tumi Molekane.
The album contains a few surprises too with Danyel Waro guesting on vocals and kayamb.
This new project extends beyond music - they asked Hippolyte, a young French artist living in La Réunion, to supply the artwork. The result is a great album cover and a little graphic story inside the booklet which tells a mythological tale about the group’s beginnings.
It’s a beautiful piece of work, and one which you can’t download.
With Pick A Dream, TATV take their place as the most powerful African voices for the new generation. Turn up the volume!
He often collaborates with Canadian musicians such as Gonzales, Feist and Mocky. He has also recently collaborated with British electronic duo Simian Mobile Disco for the song "Off The Map". In 2006, he was part of a live performance collaboration with David Link and F. M. Einheit, which was released on CD as 'Echohce'. 
