Billy Paul

Les Rois de la Soul. 2-disc collection split between Billy Paul with 15 tracks & Bill Withers with 18. Highlights include 'Mrs. Robinson', 'You Just Can't Smile It Way', 'Soul Shadows', 'Me And Mrs. Jones' and 'Just the Two of Us' (With Grover Washington Jr.). Sony Music Media.

Les Rois de la Soul. 2-disc collection split between Billy Paul with 15 tracks & Bill Withers with 18. Highlights include 'Mrs. Robinson', 'You Just Can't Smile It Way', 'Soul Shadows', 'Me And Mrs. Jones' and 'Just the Two of Us' (With Grover Washington Jr.). Sony Music Media.

A really majestic live set from Billy Paul - recorded in the UK at the height of his greatest fame - but in a way that features plenty of longer tracks that really let Billy stretch out and do his thing! Given this expanded setting, there's a surprisingly righteous feel to most numbers – a sound that continues the groove of Going East and War Of The Gods, and also features a bit more of Paul's presence as an entertainer on the stage. The album's a beautiful illustration of the fact that Billy was easily one of the hippest artists working for Philadelphia during the early days – and it offers up some tremendous transformations of the tunes "Thanks For Saving My Life", "Your Song", "Me & Mrs. Jones", "War Of The Gods", and "Brown Baby".

Although Billy Paul actually recorded this in the early '70s, the company didn't issue it until he already had a couple of successful releases under his belt because of its jazz direction and flavor. It was one of several Paul albums released in 1973, his biggest year as an artist. Paul might have been successful in jazz; if he emerged in the '80s or '90s doing this kind of supper-club/cabaret fare, he would immediately be routed into the adult contemporary and Quiet Storm market and probably be a huge hit.

Not to be confused with either Philadelphia soul singer Billy Paul (best known for his 1971 smash "Me & Mrs. Jones" or ‘70s soft rocker Paul Williams, Billy Paul Williams is a producer, composer, musician, mixmaster, and vocalist who has focused on different styles of electronica and dance music in the 21st century. Williams, who now lives in the trendy South Beach area of Miami, is best known for his 2002 club hit "Sex" (which made it to number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Tracks chart and was especially popular in Europe). While "Sex" (a collaboration with DJ Robbie Rivera) is an exuberant, uptempo example of house music, Williams took a softer, more laid-back approach on his 2003 release Miles to Go.

The acclaimed New York saxophonist Javon Jackson leads a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, whose collaboration began in 1938 and continued until Strayhorn's death in 1967. Jackson is joined for this session by arranger/pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Paul Gill and drummer Tony Reedus. Together they perform well-known compositions such as "Caravan," "Chelsea Bridge," and "Lotus Blossom," as well as tunes that are not usually played by quartets such as "In My Solitude." The two soloists, Jackson and Hazeltine explore the bluesier and moodier side of Ellington's music as well as ballads like "Warm Valley" and slightly more up-tempo tunes like "In a Sentimental Mood".

The acclaimed New York saxophonist Javon Jackson leads a celebration of the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, whose collaboration began in 1938 and continued until Strayhorn's death in 1967. Jackson is joined for this session by arranger/pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Paul Gill and drummer Tony Reedus. Together they perform well-known compositions such as "Caravan," "Chelsea Bridge," and "Lotus Blossom," as well as tunes that are not usually played by quartets such as "In My Solitude." The two soloists, Jackson and Hazeltine explore the bluesier and moodier side of Ellington's music as well as ballads like "Warm Valley" and slightly more up-tempo tunes like "In a Sentimental Mood".

Having explored much of twentieth-century British works for cello and piano, the Watkins brothers now turn their attention to the American contribution to this repertoire.