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  • Still Got That “Somethin’”: Nikka Costa

    A few weeks ago I found myself sitting at a crowded bar, arms resting on the well worn bar, drink in hand getting lost in the music (as usual).  I’m one of those guys that taps along to the beat or nods his head to whatever is playing–whether I know the song or not.  I’d had a rough day at work and needed to escape my reality for a bit with music.  As the songs cross-faded I’d heard something I’d often only heard play in my headphones from my iPod–but never out loud at a bar before.  Immediately my face turned from a somber, “I just had the longest day of work ever” to a “Am I really hearing this?” face.  I can’t keep the smile down as I find myself nodding along and mouthing the words to Nikka Costa’s “Everybody Got Their Something” from the album of the same name.  After listening to her sing for a bit I found myself singing along with Nikka on the chorus and look around to see if it’s quite possible that anyone else is feeling it like I am–and one person is:  the DJ. 
    My love for Nikka Costa dates back to when “Like A Feather” appeared in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial.  I couldn’t escape the commercial and I desperately searched to find out who was singing and where I could get this song–I had to have it…and I wanted more.  I should give her some credit for my interest in soul (that has truly expanded since Costa’s 2001 debut). For me, there was nothing wrong with her debut–“Everybody Got Their Something”.  I wouldn’t say perfect, but a damn good introduction to this girl who was such a fusion of funk, soul, blues, rock…and so much more.  It was all over the place–funky jams and slow jams–but it made you think, “Who is this girl and where’d she come from?”
    Four years later after some delay, “can’tneverdidnothin’” landed in stores.  I was happy to know she hadn’t disappeared into oblivion, though it’s hard to live up to a great debut–although here in the U.S. she had never really receieved the love and praise she’d deserved.  Album opener “Til I Get To You” was a nice romp through the alphabet, though I was more partial to the ballads “Fooled Ya Baby” and “I Gotta Know”.  Overall, the album was ok and satisfied my need for some more Nikka Costa.  The following year she popped up on “Mean Sleep” a duet with R&B singer Van Hunt.  
    Finally this year after a three year absence she re-emerged this year signed to classic soul record label, Stax.  Maybe she picked the right time to put this album out–as the “old soul” sound has become insanely popular in the last few years.  This album “feels” old to me–definitely worthy of the Stax imprint on the record.  “Stuck To You” the album opener had been floating around a bit online for quite a while and gave me the impression that the album would have that classic sound.  Maybe I’m just a sappy guy, but for me the most impressive tracks are the slow jams, “Without Love” and “Loving You”–which is not a Minnie Ripperton cover.  I find myself in a smoky jazz club when listening to “Loving You”.  Crowd snapping, nodding along, shouthing, “Uh-huh” and “Yeah” to agree with Costa while she sings.
    Will she ever recieve the priase she deserves?  In my opinion, probably not–though it happens. She’ll always kind of be a “best kept secret” I share with friends on mixes and playlists.  She’ll always be out of this world–but in a good way.
    As “Everybody Got Their Something” began to crossfade into the next song I got up from my seat and finished my drink.  I walked over to the DJ, put my hand on his shoulder and said, “Thanks…that was just what I needed…some soul to take me back and end this day on a good note.”

  • R&B’s Best Kept Secret Makes His “Point”: Anthony Hamilton

    Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to make of the current R&B landscape. The R&B band has all but disappeared, the divas of yesteryear still exist in a radically faded state with no ladies in waiting to replace them, and as for the guys? Well, most male R&B singers either spend their time trying to be rappers or trying to be Michael Jackson. Nothing against rappers or MJ, but you’ve gotta wonder what happened to what they call “grown folks” R&B. Stick-to-your-ribs soul music. A man who sounds like an adult instead of a perpetually horny teenager, someone with real-life perspective. An artist capable of filling the void created when Gerald LeVert and Luther Vandross passed away. Well, if Anthony Hamilton hasn’t found his way into your music collection yet, I strongly suggest you check him out right now.

    North Carolina-born, Harlem-based Anthony Hamilton is still pretty much under the radar. Despite selling a combined 1.5 million copies of his first two albums, the majority of music listeners-even fans of R&B- music fans would be hard-pressed to name three songs from the guy. That anonymity has prevented him from getting his props, because 37-year old Hamilton is easily one of the best-if not THE best- singer in his genre. His raspy tone has drawn comparisons to everyone from Bill Withers to Bobby Womack, and he’s proven himself to be one of the few current artists capable of sounding like an authentic throwback (as opposed to a pale facsimile) and completely contemporary at the same time. He appeals equally to men and women, although the (formerly) scruffy, diminutive Hamilton is not the traditional R&B sex symbol. His music has a strong spiritual element to it (the song “Pass Me Over”, from his last album, literally got me through a very trying period several years ago), and the guy throws down live. Believe me, y’all. Anthony Hamilton is the whole package.

    Rumors of his third album, The Point of it All, being a more “uptempo” affair caught me off-guard and had me thinking the worst. After all, Hamilton certainly wouldn’t be the first favorite artist of mine to make a sellout move after showing promise. My fears were compounded when I realized the first single, Cool, featured a guest spot from rapper David Banner. Again, I love my hip-hop just like I love my R&B, but there are definite times when the two don’t need to mix, and although Hamilton has made guest appearances on a couple of popular rap singles, I felt like the addition of a guest emcee on a Hamilton album was a compromise of sorts.

    Thank goodness, my fears turned out to be unnecessary. While The Point of it All has added a few elements to make Hamilton sound a little more contemporary, it’s basically still an Anthony Hamilton album. Fans of his first two albums will find much to enjoy here.

    Cool actually turns out to be a pretty decent song, a mellow midtempo track with a fairly unobtrusive (and witty) rap section from Banner, but it’s far from the best song on the album (actually, it‘s one of the weakest).  The News opens the album and immediately sets the tone for everything that follows with a groove and socially conscious lyrics that recall both Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Listen to a song like this and it’s no wonder that the guys who put together the music for American Gangster (which was set in the early Seventies) picked Hamilton to perform two original songs on the soundtrack . Prayin’ for You/Superman is a two-part song that stretches Hamilton out with a little bit of country twang followed by some piano blues. It’s pretty ballsy for an R&B artist and shows why musicians as diverse as country star Josh Turner and blues-rocker Jonny Lang have sought him out to work with. Hamilton even proves that he can handle adult contemporary balladry. He pulls off a song like Her Heart beautifully when it would be mush in any other artist’s hands.

    Hamilton’s more spiritually inclined work hits me the hardest, and to me, this album’s centerpiece is Fine Again. It’s got a hopeful message and  pleading vocals that put it head and shoulders above the rest of the album.

    One good album can be a fluke. Two good albums suggest potential greatness. Three great albums seals the deal. With The Point of it All, Hamilton has sewn up his position as one of the most talented R&B artists around. Hopefully, this will be the time that the world-at-large realizes this.

    See the video for “Cool” here.

  • There’s Something About Melody Gardot

    It was a magical moment.  I was urged to “..give this CD a chance…it’s pretty good…”.  I put it in the CD player and had that funny feeling in my stomach. Upon closing my eyes I felt transported to a jazz club–granted I’ve never been to one–and felt the room had gotten dark and smokey.  All of a sudden I hear the sultry vocals of Melody Gardot and I was in love.  As I made my way through the ten tracks on her first full length album, “Worrisome Heart” I couldn’t move. I wanted to take it all in without any interruptions.  I’d never experienced 30 minutes pass by so effortlessly as I nodded along, tapped my foot and hummed along to songs I’d never heard before.  
    The journey to get to WORRISOME HEART is quite a story.  People (myself included) often find it hard to believe that this woman was once disabled after being struck by a jeep while riding her bike.  Gardot was only 19 at the time and spent months in bed unable to do much.  You could say one of the attending physicians is to thank for Melody’s career in music.  This doctor believed music would help her brain injury improve as in the past music had been known to produce great results in improving one’s cognitive skills and ability after a great trauma like Melody’s.
    She followed his advice, and this led to her first EP, “SOME LESSONS – THE BEDROOM SESSIONS” that were recorded while she still couldn’t walk.  One thing led to another and the EP started to receive some play on local Philadelphia station WXPN (where Norah Jones had received some early airplay).  People were talking–about how great the music was, but also about what had happened to her and how amazing it was that this record came from a woman who was practically bed ridden.
    Hearing the record is one thing–a mix of jazz and pop with some bits of folk and blues as well, it can’t really be pigeonholed into one thing.  I like to think it’s a great anytime record–put it on if you’re having a cocktail party, if you’re having a cup of coffee and reading the Sunday paper, when you’re happy, when you’re suffering from heartbreak…doesn’t matter.  If you’re fortunate enough to have a chance to see her live, I’d take advantage of it.  Earlier this year I had a chance to see her, in an intimate setting (the best way in my opinion…I’m not sure she’d translate as well in a huge venue like Madison Square Garden…) being mere feet away from the stage.  It was one of those nights where I was sitting in my seat and kind of misty eyed the entire show.
    So this album isn’t exactly new (it came out in March), BUT it has a place in my favorite albums of 2008.  I just feel bad for not sharing her with you earlier.  I’ve played this record countless times and friends have asked if I was listening to Norah Jones or Fiona Apple–while I can say I hear bits and pieces of these women in Melody, she has a sound like no one else. There seems to not be one type of person that likes this record—it truly is a record for everyone I’d like to think.  Maybe it’s that last minute holiday present for a friend–or a last minute treat for yourself.  Trust me on this one–it’s worth every penny of your money and every second of your time to listen (over and over again.)