Soul

Marvin Gaye: Live in Amsterdam

Ben Fong-Torres — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:42:55 +0000

Marvin Gaye: Live in Amsterdam Ben Fong-Torres Wed, 06/17/2020

Before Frank Ocean, Trey Songz and Cee-Lo; before R. Kelly, Maxwell and Usher, and before Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and Al Green, there was Marvin Gaye. Sure, there were soulful balladeers before and with him (think Smokey, Otis and Stevie; Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway).

But for a lot of music fans, Marvin was the man. There’s plenty of audio covering his career, from Motown in 1963 (first hit: “Hitch Hike”) to just before he was killed, by his own father, in 1984. Video? That’s another matter. Back then, there was little television exposure for pop artists. The occasional spot on a variety show or Bandstand; later, a Shindig or a Hullaballoo. Gaye dutifully lip-syncs his hits on those and other shows. But he was not a happy to be there. As he told me in 1972, for Rolling Stone: “I got a thing; a psychological hangup about performing live. I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy performing.”

So here he is, just a few years later, on his first European tour, performing in Amsterdam. He should have been petrified. But no. Either he was a great actor or managed to transcend his stage fright and actually enjoyed himself. Whatever it was, he was in fine shape and voice this night in 1976. What he had to overcome was his outfit, a garish, green-striped white jacket over a silky yellow shirt and Emerald green satin pants. Boy my boy!

He started slow, with a couple of unfamiliar tunes, after promising to do all his hits. Backed by a full orchestra, he does come close, although he bunches most of his Motown hits into medleys. The crowd really comes alive when he gets into What’s Going On, his greatest musical triumph. With help from backup singer Florence Lyles, he pays tribute to Tammi Terrell and others who paired with him for hits like “It Takes Two,” “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Missing are such chartbusters as “Trouble Man,” “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” and “I’ll Be Doggone.” But he grabs the audience with “Let’s Get it On,” taking off his high volume jacket and earning the gratitude of a grateful North Holland. He dances a little; he raises his arms in triumph; he shouts, at the end, “Marvin Gaye loves you!”

What hangup?

Enjoy Marvin performing "Let's Get It On" & watch the full concert on Qello. You can also watch Marvin Gaye - Live at Montreux, 1980.

Qello Concerts by Stingray

Soul

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NEW MUSIC FRI-YAY | Week of August 13

Sasha — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 16:16:33 +0000

NEW MUSIC FRI-YAY | Week of August 13 Sasha Fri, 08/17/2018

New vibes on Fridays. Save the date.

Craving fresh sounds? Stingray’s got everything you need. For you. For your friends. For your mom. For your neighbor. And even for that friend who says ''I hate music''.

For the Fans of Aretha Franklin

The perfect handpicked collection for every fans of Aretha Franklin. From related artists to similar songs and greatest hits, here are all the tracks you need, in one channel.

Essential Back to School Hits 2018

Summer’s come and gone (snif!) It’s time to face the fact that it’s time to head back to class. Now that your books are packed and pencils are sharpened, get pumped for the school year with all the songs you couldn’t get enough of this summer and the new hits that will carry you triumphantly through the end of term.

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For the Fans of Aretha Franklin

Essential Back to School Hits 2018

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Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul | Tribute

Wouter — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 17:29:13 +0000

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul | Tribute Wouter Thu, 08/16/2018

Let’s head back to the sixties. It’s a sunny Sunday morning in Detroit, Michigan, near the Canadian border. To be precise, we are at New Bethel Baptist Church on Linwood Street. It’s a warm day, and, as always, the church of Clarence LaVaughn Franklin is crowded with smiling faces in the mood for swingin’ hips accompanied by familiar Christian gospel, dancing, singing, and hand-flapping to get some “fresh” air. Of course, everyone is wearing their Sunday best.

After the explosion during the gospel hymn “Amazing Grace”, a young Aretha Franklin tries something different, something new, hallelujah! Freshly signed by Columbia records, she performs her first single “Won’t Be Long” in her father’s church, and everybody loves it.

Writing the title of this fantastic song is bittersweet; Aretha Franklin, one of the most memorable singers in history, has sadly passed away. It’s almost ironic to be speaking about the same church where, in December 1963, Aretha gave a stunning tribute to her idol Dinah Washington (whose funeral was conducted by Father Franklin), and realize this might be the same place where family and friends will say goodbye to their beloved Aretha, our Aretha Franklin, our Queen of Soul.

Unfortunately, Franklin was no stranger to health problems, she dealt with serious weight issues, alcoholism, and cancer, but she always stayed on the bright side of life. Her secret? Aretha was music, her focus was intense, Aretha was soul.

I can’t remember a musician who was as pure and honest in music as Aretha was. Although I never got the chance to see her live, I consider myself a fan. Reggae had Bob Marley, pop had Michael Jackson, and soul had this beautiful woman. The fact that Aretha hated flying made it difficult for her to perform in Europe, but those who had the chance to see her during her European tours in 1968 and 1977 Europe tours consider themselves blessed.

Hopefully, all North Americans have been to one of her concerts because our charming queen absolutely loved performing. Franklin was never too proud, she never backed down, at least as long the challenge didn’t include a flight. She was the first gospel singer with a major record hit, “Spirit in the Dark” (1970), received the American Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), sang at Barack Obama’s inauguration (2009 – don’t forget her hat), gave an amazing tribute to 46 year younger Adele (2014), performed multiple times at the Super Bowl, and, above all, she won over millions and millions of hearts and minds.

Maybe in 50 years, our children’s children will ask how Aretha earned the title Queen of Soul. Our answer should be unanimous and clear: Aretha didn’t earn this honor, it was always hers. With her stunning voice, she was the personification of soul, the founding mother of soul. We say a little prayer for you, Aretha.

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James Bay | Stingray PausePlay

Zac — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 13:48:31 +0000

James Bay | Stingray PausePlay Zac Fri, 04/20/2018

The amazing James Bay met up for Round 2 with Stingray PausePlay to talk about his new album Electric Light, losing his hair, and his incredible drawing skills.

James Bay’s ascent to pop stardom has appeared effortless. Having scooped the Brits Critics’ Choice award in 2015, the Hitchin-born singer-songwriter duly saw his debut album, Chaos and the Calm, hit No 1 and go double-platinum in the UK and Top 20 in the US, picking up a slew of industry awards along the way.

The troubadour behind Hold Back the River has ditched the hipster hat for thigh-length boots – and a sleek new sound.

"If I had to describe my first album visually, it would probably be a flame," Bay said in a statement referencing his 2014 debut Chaos and the Calm. "This new album is about a real sonic and artistic evolution for me. The feeling of a 100 watt bulb expanding and brightening is what I envisioned. Electric Light came to my mind and I knew it was perfect."

Follow James!

Facebook: /jamesbaymusic

Twitter: @JamesBayMusic

Instagram: @jamesbaymusic

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Incognito | Interview

Noémi — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:57:44 +0000

Incognito | Interview Noémi Mon, 04/02/2018

We sat down with Incognito talk about them as a band and their evolution throughout the years. This interview is part of our exclusive coverage leading up the 2018 Sing Jazz festival.

Define jazz.

Music created to step out of the shadows of the blues and express joy and freedom through improvised rhythms, melodies, and harmony… Music for the mind, body, and soul!

What are the characteristics of great music? Groundbreaking music?

Great music is down to the individual’s taste. What is great to you and I may not be for another person or persons. Music that speaks to your soul and becomes the soundtrack of your life determines what is great to you at a personal level. Groundbreaking music comes in so many forms, with artists and composers that take their genre to another level… In blues, I would consider Robert Johnson as ground-breaking, in jazz I would say, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis as groundbreaking. In rock, folk, and pop I’d say, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix were all groundbreakers. In soul and funk, you would have to put James Brown, Sly Stone, Shuggie Otis, and Michael Jackson at the top of the ground-breaking list. In more recent times, I would consider D’Angelo, Jaco Pastorius, Me'Shell Ndegeocello, and Hiatus Kaiyote as groundbreaking.

What other genres and styles would you like to combine? What is your music-making process?

Whatever excites your senses when exposing yourself to it will influence your creativity. When I travel, when I listen, when I read, what I taste, will manifest itself in my music in some form or another; genders and styles are too varied and cross-fertilized to single out. The way I approach music is to nurture whatever you see, hear or feel a song at any given moment. Let me give you an example: “Colibri” from our Incognito album, Tribe, Vibes & Scribes, was instigated by me seeing a hummingbird on the television hovering from flower to flower. The bass line was played by the extraordinary programmer Richard Bull based on a melody I sang to him. We both improvised chords; he came up with the beat and I sang a top line melody scat that depicts the bird’s passage from one flower to another. Some of my creations are with the band or individuals that I feel might expand on a basic and original idea. Sometimes I get on a roll and feel that I have to complete an idea by myself. A high percentage of Incognito songs comes from an initial bass riff.

Tell us more about your instruments i.e. are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever’s available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it style/model/brand/ color preference?

I have a wide collection of guitars, basses, keyboards, drums and percussion in my studio. I mess around with most things, but the guitar is my main instrument. I am primarily a self-taught guitarist. My forte is rhythm guitar and over the years I have developed my own original vibe based on the playing of varied influential guitar players that I listened to or played with over the years. I am endorsed by Atelier Z (Guitar makers from Tokyo Japan as is Incognito’s Bass player Francis Hylton). I choose to play their instrument because they suit my style perfectly and make instruments that look great but more importantly sound great and are a dream to play. There is no substitute for good quality, attention to detail, back up service. Atelier Z provides me with guitars and support I need as a worldwide touring musician.

Are you excited about performing at SING JAZZ? What’s your favorite aspect of this festival?

My band and I are delighted to have played at all the SING JAZZ Festivals so far. We love the atmosphere where we can interact with so many musical giants in such a wonderful location. Great music, tasty food, and the superbly organized SING JAZZ team make for memorable times!

What can the SING JAZZ audience expect from you this year?

We always look forward to bringing something new to the occasion. Having had such guests as Chaka Khan and Ray Parker Jnr, we are delighted to have UK’s legends Omar and Leee John of Imagination as our special guests. A party down atmosphere is guaranteed!

Any artists you look forward to seeing this year?

Having loved her music but never seen her live, I am looking forward to completing my miseducation by seeing Ms. Lauryn Hill.

You’ve probably heard of the shortest jazz poem ever written, which is “Listen”. Do you agree? How does one achieve musical connection in your opinion?

Do you mean “Manhattan" by George Russell?

Think you can lick it, get to the wicket, buy you a ticket, go!

Go by bus, by plane, by car, by train

New York, New York - what they call a somethin' else town

A city of more than 8 million people with a million people passing through every day

Some come just to visit and some come to stay

If you scuffle hard enough then you ain't no dunce

You can always get by in New York City, I heard somebody say once

Yeah if you can't make it in New York City, man, you can't make it nowhere

So where do people come to scuffle? Right here!

Think you can lick it, get to the wicket, buy you a ticket, go!

New York, New York, a city so nice they had to name it twice

It may seem like a cold town, but man, let me tell you, it's a soul town

And it ain't a bit hard to find someone who's lonesome or forlorn here

But it's like a needle in a haystack to find someone who was born here

New York, New York, a somethin' else town alright

East Side, West Side, uptown, downtown, there's one thing all of New York City has:

And that's jazz!

A while ago there were cats reading while cats played jazz behind them

There was nothing happenin' so the musicians cooked right on like they didn't even mind 'em

I wrote the shortest jazz poem ever heard

Nothing 'bout huggin', kissin' - one word:

"Listen!”

Musical connections are achieved by allowing yourself to share in musical conversations on and off stage, opening yourself to possibilities and to recognizing those who, like you, have been following their dreams with the focus and the vigor they felt when they first fell in love with music.

Who are your music icons/influences? And why?

Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Banda Black Rio, Joni Mitchell, Jaco Pastorius, George Duke. Their music speaks for itself. One’s record collection is one’s lesson in music, language, humanities, geography, history and rhythmic mathematics… All the names above were integral to my sonic graduation!

How do you assimilate the influence of the various people in your band? And in your work? Do you pull from various traditions of jazz?

Jazz is the red three that runs through our varied musical paths, it is the history and the story that bonds us. Sometimes the Soul, the Funk, the Rock, the Fusion, but always the Jazz!

How has jazz transformed your lives?

By simply existing! It has brought a greater understanding of history, a deeper thinking and sophistication, and freedom of expression through music!

Is there any particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

Sarah Vaughan’s "The Mystery of Man”. Written by Pope John Paul II, and musically adapted by Francy Boland and Gene Lees. Conducted by Lalo Schifrin in 1984.

We come from a distant past that we've forgotten

And now we look up and aspire to the stars

We are the mystery that even we can't desipher

The mystery of man

The story is told in stone and broken arrows

In traces of cities unknown lost in sand

In colours and castle walls silent and unseen statues

The mystery of man

The wind stirs in the trees likes voices in dreams

And then just when it seems we know what it means

Simply its gone

The miracle is the mind asking the questions