Just after December 25th, 2008, I was able to get a hold of his new holiday album: Howard Hewett Christmas.

Timing is everything, so last year’s missed opportunity opens the door to a new season of cheer, a perfect time to take a look at this still relatively new release.

Fans easily connect Jody Watley‘s female voice to the aural personality of Shalamar’s vocal blend.  There were several guys in the history of Shalamar, so in many ways, Howard Hewett is an undiscovered lead singer.

He gets the job done on Howard Hewett Christmas.  I can’t say that there’s an aspect of his voice that really makes it unique, but he performs the songs well using very tasteful arrangements.

The carols are just contemporary enough to give the songs a new millennium edge without drifting into gimmicky waters.

It’s easy listening, with some great help from among others: Stevie Wonder who performs a harmonica solo on “The Christmas Song."

George Duke produces a couple: “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and “That’s Christmas."

Howard collaborates with other writers for a couple of pleasant original songs, “That’s Christmas” and “I Remember Christmas."

Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind, & Fire fame plays drums on several tracks and produces 5 of the songs.

Howard Hewett Christmas is delightful.  The tempo is just right for relaxing listening.

1. “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”
2. “The Christmas Song” with harmonica soloist Stevie Wonder
3. “Sleigh Ride”
4. “That’s Christmas”
5. “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
6. “Christmas Time”
7. “Christmas On Sunset, interlude”
8. “I Remember Christmas”
9. “What Child Is This”
10. “This Christmas”
11. “Silent Night”

Enjoy 30 seconds of “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” a duet with Jasselle.  She sings her part in Spanish, Howard sings his part in English.

Technorati tags: Howard Hewitt Christmas

A cottage industry driven by music fans quickly blossomed as collectors enthusiastically embraced these colorful slices of culture containing cool images.

Oh yeah, the music was pretty good too!

45 RPM vinyl records were a showcase for picture sleeve pop…the images of Elvis, Michael Jackson, the Beatles, the stars.

Charles Szabla has written Goldmine 45 Rpm Picture Sleeve Price Guide, one of the best definitive reviews about the artful genre.

You’ll find these pictures sleeves offered by collectors worldwide all over the Internet.

I started collecting these sleeves when I was 12 years old, and I have a ton of them.  That’s why I created a showcase for them, PictureSleevePop.com.

Classic soul, classic pop, and classic rock are all represented, so relive some magical memories, grab some wallpaper, and take a look at my personal collection of original picture sleeves from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Technorati tags: Picture Sleeve Pop Features 45 RPM Record Memorabilia

Watch the video below for a taste of Wyton’s virtuosity.

I had the pleasure of attending a Wynton Marsalis concert in St. Paul, Minnesota several years ago.  Without question, Mr. Marsalis commands technical dominion over his horn with the skill of a world class surgeon conducting a scalpel.

Improvisation for an instrumental player is key to pumping excitement into traditional repertoire, and Christmas Jazz Jam doesn’t disappoint.

This is the first Wynton Marsalis holiday album in 20 years.  He’s joined by his septet to present the following traditional songs:

1. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
2. “Mary Had a Baby”
3. “Jingle Bells”
4. “Blue Christmas”
5. “Go Tell It On the Mountain”
6. “O Christmas Tree”
7. “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
8. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
9. “The Christmas Song”
10. “Good King Wenceslas”
11. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
12. “Greensleeves”

Wynton Marsalis is a Pulitzer Prize/Grammy Award winner, with more than 70 albums in his portfolio.  Christmas Jazz Jam is available on iTunes, and exclusively at Target.

Technorati tags: Wynton Marsalis Christmas Jazz Jam a Gem

The rehearsal scenes in Los Angeles for the planned London concert tour make up the heart of This Is It, with revealing moments confirming the dominant personality of the king of pop as he takes charge and controls the creative process down to the smallest detail.

At 1 hour, 52 minutes, This Is It includes a satisfying assortment of Michael Jackson hits. Video features to support the music are elaborately staged as they pop up between music segments.

Even the casual Michael Jackson fan will enjoy this intimate look at what goes on behind the scenes when a unique professional performer exposes his soul through the lens of mastering his craft.

Watch my 2 minute video review of This Is It.

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Jalil Hutchins, John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, and deejay Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter made their international mark with a string of popular favorites including the memorable “Friends."

"Freaks Come Out at Night” has no connection to Halloween, but the Whodini hoot “Haunted House of Rock” does.

Listen to 60 seconds of “Haunted House of Rock” by Whodini.

This contemporary monster mash is no Frankenstein antique.

Bonus Scares:

• 11 Halloween Music Picks to Spook Your Soul
• Halloween Funk from the Devil Town Vampire
• Ghoulish Grooves Make up Funky Halloween Treats

Technorati tags: Whodini Spooks Halloween with Haunted House of Rock

Her ups and downs have been well documented.

The high visibility of her most recent crisis has magnified the consequences of some past behavior that she’s now coping with.

Here’s a well written story by Meg Grant, Natalie Cole’s New Life, that pulls back the curtain on a lifetime of misfortune, success, and survival.

Technorati tags: Natalie Cole Rebounds from Unforgettable Crisis

Bustin’ moves belting out uptempo tunes is only half of her appeal.

Lisa Lisa charms you with her bubbly vocal cheerfulness.

Ballads live in her comfort zone too, as demonstrated in the ginger delivery of Lisa Lisa’s classic slow jam “All Cried Out."

Life ‘N Love, released in July, 2009, is her latest album featuring 13 new tracks.

Looking back into the 1980’s, you don’t have think very long to remember at least 6 vintage Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam hits:

1. “Can You Feel The Beat”
2. “I Wonder If I Take You Home”
3. “Lost In Emotion”
4. “All Cried Out”
5. “Head To Toe”
6. “Let The Beat Hit ‘Em”

The New York City native is on the road to reconnect with her friends and fans.  Lisa Lisa has several dates with some familiar faces to party to the freestyle groove.

Different acts will appear with her on different dates, including Stevie B., Shannon, Expose’, and Rockwell.

• Friday, October 30, 2009, Arizona State Fair - Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ
• Saturday, October 31, QC’s 20/20, Montebello, CA
• Friday, November 6, Club KXX, Route 66 Casino, Albuquerque, NM
• Friday, November 13, Taj Majal, Atlantic City, NJ
• Saturday, December 19, Magic City Casino Amphitheater, Miami, FL

Technorati tags: Lisa Lisa Hits Em the Freestyle Way

Notable collaborations on this album include a couple of duets featuring Brian with Stevie Wonder, and Jill Scott.

It’s been just about one year since McKnight presented his successful holiday album, I’ll Be Home for Christmas.

Evolution of a Man touches varied material from ballads to reggae reflected on these tracks:

1. “The Brian McKnight Show”
2. “Just a Little Bit”
3. “I Bet Cha Neva”
4. “What I’ve Been Waiting 4”
5. “When U R Loving Me”
6. “Never Say Goodbye”
7. “Stay Tuned”
8. “Next 2 U”
9. “I Miss U”
10. “Always Be My Baby”
11. “Baby It’s U”
12. “While”
13. “Another You”
14. “Not Alone”

Technorati tags: Brian McKnight Welcomes the Evolution of a Man

To the lovers of classic soul, Bootsy Collins, Teena Marie, Klymaxx, and ZAPP! are successful performers with large fan bases.

Unsung explores the premise that these artists peaked professionally at a level somewhat short of the massive impact of some bigger superstars, however, they deserve an investigative nod for their valuable contributions.

Catch the new shows beginning Sunday, November 1, 2009, on TV One.

Technorati tags: Bootsy Collins, Teena Marie, Klymaxx, and ZAPP! get Unsung

The Jacksons are featured on “This Is It” singing background vocals.  You’ll hear the track at the end of the movie Michael Jackson’s This Is It, and it is featured on the companion 2 CD record.

Technorati tags: This Is It Is Not the Last of Michael Jackson