Editorial STUFF

OUR PRINT ISSUE boasts a delicious double cover, featuring artists who are masters of their art, firstly, ever-in-demand bassist Michael Olatuja has released his brand new album "Lagos Pepper Soup", featuring a plethora of tasty featured artists. Our double cover delight continues with the immensely talented Dan Penn, who has written some of the biggest hits on the planet - wait to you read which tracks he's written - but this time Dan has penned a new album for himself! Which, after listening to "Living On Mercy", is long overdue... More quality interviews include a catch up with Incognito's charismatic frontman Bluey, as he delivers a brand new jazz/soul-infused Citrus Sun album. Remember Freeez? A.E.I.O.U. and Southern Freeez where such huge hits back in the day… frontman John Rocca has been out of the limelight for some 25-years but now he's back! And giving B&S an exclusive on the enthralling Freeez story. If dance is your thing, then you'll love our chat with legendary house producer/artist, Thommy Davis, with 40-years in the business under his belt and brand new album “Mr Davis” about to drop, there's plenty to talk about. We match that with a new house producer who we think will be making huge house waves in the coming months, as we introduce Hollis Parker. And talking of new artists, we would also like to present a group whose sound mixes jazz with fusion and more than a dash of progressive soul and scintillating keys. Sound interesting? Believe me, JUBE are! Find out all about them in this issue… there’s something else for you to find out about, as we bring you exciting news of a brand new weekender. The inaugural Great Yarmouth Soul Weekender takes place next year and we find out all about it from the event organiser, John Osbourne. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE… Returning feature, The Blues & Soul Years, visits 1975. A fractured soul scene began a north/south divide, along with the start of the infighting of the northern soul wars, which had started to take centre stage. It's not a story from A Game Of Thrones! It's the soul world in 1975! And another must-read from Duncan Payne as he looks back at this pivotal year for soul music. B&S' Frank Elson also looks back at 1975 in his Checkin' It Out column as he recalls the tracks that were lighting up dance floors at the venues he reviewed and what soul music happenings were hot at that time. Other regular B&S columnists include Ralph Tee, who brings you all the latest in the world of modern soul, Ben Lovett presents a dance music must-read, Bigger names all the latest bangers from the world of R&B, Richard Searling gives the low-down on the northern soul scene, lists his "Down In The Cellar Bar" faves from his radio show and yours truly looks at some of the goings-on in the back music world, which are currently hitting the headlines, in my Eye Of The Tyler column... Chart wise, once again, we prove hard to beat with our Smoove Grooves R&B chart, B&S Upfront Urban Chart, Grooveyard Essentials Dance Chart and cherry on the top of a very tasty chart/list offering, the most on-point soul/R&B list on the planet, yep, it's the Hip List. Don't forget! Our Soulfully Social page is where you can have your say! Find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (all @BluesandSoul) and let us know what you think and we could be adding your comments to our next print issue! Stay safe and listen to plenty of music! We do! Lee Tyler (Editor) @Leetyler13B&S