Funk Uhr From Nr.45, 2015

One of the most consistent R&B/Funk bands of the 70s and 80s, ConFunkShun, is back in 2015 with its first album after the 1986 release “Burnin’ Love” (there was an additional live album in 1996) which had been recorded without songwriter and singer Felton Pilate who, together with Michael Cooper and Louis McCall, was part of the core members of the group which was founded in 1969 (Felton came on board in 1971). A lot of tensions were the reason for the final breakup and now, original members Michael Cooper and Felton Pilate alongside Karl Fuller, are back with the 2015 edition.

Rock Candy Funk Party's "Groove Is King" is an aural kaleidoscope that mashes up funk, rock, dance, electronica, jazz and R&B into 14 original tracks and 2 covers full of space, texture, and virtuoso musicianship. Powered by a lineup of world-renowned players, the group came together for the sheer fun of making music—and a mutual love of genre-blurring grooves. With collective credits including Joe Zawinul, Hugh Masekela, Prince, Ruth Brown, Chaka Khan, Simple Minds, Billy Idol, Tito Puente, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Levon Helm, Conan O’Brien, Sheila E. and many more, they are: album producer Tal Bergman, Joe Bonamassa, Ron DeJesus, and Mike Merritt.

Soca developed in Trinidad and Tobago, and while it's a music that has been documented, there are many areas in its history that are relatively murky. Bear Family's 2015 compilation Nappy: Music Man shines a spotlight on Richard "Nappy" Mayers, a singer, guitarist, producer, and arranger who began his career with a band called Embryo and had some solo singles in addition to working with other artists. Bear Family's disc – which is exceptionally well-annotated by Dave Elcock – contains 19 of these sides, all recorded between 1975 and 1981, drawing heavily from Embryo's discography and containing a fair share of singles from Nadie La Fond, in addition to singles by Ceasar, Sound Revolution, and Nappy himself.

In 2014, something unusual happened. On the strength of their breakthrough album Too Many Roads, Denmark's Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado went global. Now it's one thing for an artist from Copenhagen to enjoy success at home and in a few adjacent countries. But the release of Too Many Roads saw the seven-piece combo fronted by singer and guitarist Risager gaining widespread notoriety in the U.S. and being invited to play in locales as far away as Mumbai, India. The album took home the Danish Music Award as the Top Blues Album of 2014 and also earned Germany's illustrious "Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik," but perhaps even more impressively, it was selected as one the year's best by Britain's influential The Blues magazine, right alongside international stars like Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa. Clearly, Risager and his mates had taken their exhilarating mix of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll to the next level. Early in 2015, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado celebrated that triumph by returning to one of their favorite nightspots - the Harmonie in Bonn, Germany. They would treat local fans to a one-of-a-kind spectacle, hitting the stage as a ten-piece mini-orchestra.

'Ultimate… Movies' four-disc set, celebrating some of the biggest movie hits of all time. Features 72 classics, from Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Simon & Garfunkel, Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Survivor, Kenny Loggins, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Billy Ocean, Herbie Hancock, Bob Dylan, Henry Mancini, John Barry, and many more!

VA - Midwest Funk: Funk 45s From Tornado Alley (2004) is a compilation album that highlights the unique and influential funk music coming out of the American Midwest, specifically from the region known as Tornado Alley. Tornado Alley refers to a geographical area in the central United States that includes states like Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and parts of Nebraska and Texas. This compilation focuses on the rare and lesser-known funk 45s (7-inch singles) from the 1960s and 1970s, showcasing regional sounds that were vital in shaping American funk music.

Funk45 label boss Jazzman Gerald and obsessive collector Malcolm Catto present 21 rare and unreleased slices of heavy funk from the Alligator State! Having spent the past 3 years travelling the length and breadth of Florida - trekking through the everglades, sampling the dubious delights of 'swamp deer' and snatching rare 45s from the jaws of 20ft gators - they escaped back to the UK with an amazing selection of music that highlights Florida as one of the funkiest states in the USA! From driving percussive instrumentals by obscure small-town groups, to heartfelt slabs of soul; from tropical Latin grooves to funk so raw that James Brown himself gave his personal blessing, Florida has a little bit of everything! All the tracks have been fully licensed from the original artists, and the CD (and double gatefold vinyl) come with previously unpublished photos and meticulous, in-depth liner notes from 100% original research telling the story of funky soul music in Florida.

I'm a Good Woman: Funk Classics from Sassy Soul Sisters Review by Jason Ankeny
Funk was first and foremost about raising consciousness, and feminine empowerment was a crucial part of that equation – now women were creating music as raw, impassioned, and vital as their male counterparts, shattering the racial and sexual divides that had long placed restrictions on their self-expression. The first volume in the Harmless label's excellent I'm a Good Woman series captures distaff funk at its fiercest, digging deep for rare cuts and killer grooves that go far beyond the standard-issue soul diva collections. Just because the big names are few and far between doesn't mean this stuff isn't amazing, however – check out highlights including Laura Lee's monumental "Crumbs off the Table," the Stovall Sisters' "Hang On in There," or Betty Davis' "Anti Love Song" for proof.

Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz is an album by Diana Ross, released by Motown Records/Universal on November 27, 2015. The album features Ross' versions of songs from the film version of the musical The Wiz, in which she starred along with Michael Jackson.