Philip Bailey

There was a strong jazz vibe running through some of Philip Bailey's sides with Earth, Wind & Fire. On Soul on Jazz, his second release for Heads Up International, co-producer Bailey remakes several jazz standards, some with new lyrics by his son, Sir Bailey. The foray is most successful on Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear," a percussive take on Gene McDaniels' "Compared to What," and Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." R&B and jazz stylishly intersect on the smooth airy ballad "Unrestrained." Bailey redoes the EWF classic "Keep Your Head to the Sky," giving it a mellow sheen that's close to one of his past cuts, "Children of the Ghetto." On that and his dusky cover of Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" and the loopy "Bop-Skip-Doodle," Bailey flexes his legendary falsetto. More jazz-oriented than Dreams, Soul on Jazz benefits from the sharing of production chores with Myron McKinley, Bob Belden, and Scott Kinsey. The album is definitely on track.

“Continuation” is the first solo album which Earth Wind & Fire vocalist Philip Bailey made in 1983 for CBS. After the release of the album Electric Universe, EW&F took a break so Bailey had time to work on his solo career. The album was produced by George Duke and it features musical contributions from crème de la crème musicians such as Nathan East on bass, James Gadson and Ricky Lawson on Drums and Paulinho da Costa on percussion. George Duke himself plays the keyboards and the horn arrangements are from Jerry Hey & the Seawind horn selection.

Philip Bailey, the legendary falsetto voice, Grammy Award winner and co-founder of Earth, Wind & Fire has announced his upcoming solo album, Love Will Find A Way, via Verve Records on 21 June. The album is trailed by first single ‘Billy Jack,’ which Bailey co-produced with Robert Glasper.

One inspiration for the title of bassist Nathan East's second album for Yamaha – third if the Grammy-nominated Bob James collaboration The New Cool is counted – was the passing of Maurice White. The Earth, Wind & Fire leader is twice paid explicit tribute on Reverence. First, there's a faithful version of "Love's Holiday," featuring Philip Bailey in support, with East's bass in White's lead role during the verses. A slick "Can't Hide Love" fake-out and some other references are in the mix, too. Additionally, "Serpentine Fire" gets an ornate update with Bailey and EW&F partners Verdine White and Ralph Johnson. Phil Collins' drums and Eric Clapton's guitar are dredged from the master recording of an abandoned project, lost for 25 years, that was found in Patti Austin's basement by East's engineer.