Michaeö Jackson 2022

The album accompanies Questlove’s directorial debut documentary Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Like the documentary, most of the audio recordings that were recorded during the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival have not been heard for over 50 years, keeping this incredible event in America’s history lost - until now. The Summer of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a joyous musical celebration and the rediscovery of a nearly erased historical event that celebrated Black culture, pride and unity. For the album, Questlove carefully selected 17 live renditions of jazz, blues, R&B, Latin, and soul classics performed over the course of The Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969 as chronicled by the film.

The Shirelles were the first major female vocal group of the rock era, defining the so-called girl group sound with their soft, sweet harmonies and yearning innocence. Their music was a blend of pop/rock and R&B – especially doo wop and smooth uptown soul – that appealed to listeners across the board, before Motown ever became a crossover pop phenomenon.

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson has been so consistent throughout his lengthy career that his excellence can be taken for granted. This Impulse! recording features Bags with a quartet (including pianist Hank Jones) from 1961. The blues, ballads, standards, and originals are typical of Jackson's recordings, as is the high quality of the swinging music. Nothing too unusual occurs but the results are pleasing.

Rita Wilson soars to extraordinary new heights on her highly anticipated new album, Rita Wilson Now & Forever: Duets. A set of true modern standards, Rita Wilson Now & Forever: Duets sees Rita singing alongside giants including Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Jackson Browne, Tim McGraw, Elvis Costello, Keith Urban, Leslie Odom Jr, Josh Groban, Vince Gill And Jimmie Allen, illustrating the high regard in which she is held by her peers.

5th in Vencenzo Ricca’s Italian ‘Rome Pro(G)ject’ excellent series of mostly instrumental vintage keyboard driven symphonic Prog albums!