The Souljazz Orchestra
Rising Sun
By David Dacks

This isn't a change in direction so much as a reaffirmation of their many influences. Having perfected an Africa 70-inspired party vibe with their last album, Ottawa, ON's Souljazz Orchestra dial up the spiritual jazz while retaining the sonic fullness they've developed over the years. Opener "Awakening" is a richly textured ― never was a baritone sax more important to their sound ― invocation to Pharoah Sanders-type songwriting. But their funk is still hard and stinging. "Agbara" is the most overt Afrobeat song on the set, and "Negus Negast" gets into Mulatu-like Ethiojazz. Lest you think the album's ideas are all derivative of other influences, the band have introduced a whole new layer of polyrhythmic activity with percussion and balafon that simply wasn't present in previous incarnations. This proves they've not only absorbed all these deeply jazzy and soulful types of music, but have figured out how to rework such influences to show the band in their best light. The changing moods and grooves of this album are well executed and sequenced, making Rising Sun their best record yet. (Strut)
Sade - Soldier Of Love
With her child-rearing band mates spread across the globe, and her professed contentment with the seclusion of her north England home, it's hardly surprising that our world has aged ten years since Sade's last studio foray. But just as the singer's unique beauty has remained unchanged through that p ...Read More
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula
Galactic - Ya-Ka-May
Gil Scott-Heron - I’m New Here
Various - Born Again Funk
Jason Collett & Zeus - From Scene to Shining Scene
After spending the entire day playing music with some of his closest pals, Carlin Nicholson has a well-worn grin on his face when he opens the main door to Ill Eagle studio as widely as he can. It's unseasonably misty for a Canadian winter night and Toronto's east side is damp and cool, making Nicholson's offer to enter the recording facility he co-owns all the more welcoming.... Read More
New and Forthcoming Release Dates In Canada - All information is tentative and subject to sudden change
Check out the hottest new releases in the country, including: The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night, Broken Bells S/T, Jason Collette Rat a Tat Tat, Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune, The Knife Tomorrow, In a Year, Liars Sisterworld... Read More
Tindersticks - Falling Down A Mountain
Eight albums and nearly three decades into their existence, the Tindersticks have outlasted many of the British bands that got their start in the early '90s. Though the sextet never broke through in the major way that other moody contemporaries like PJ Harvey or Pulp did, they picked up a loyal cult... Full Review
Social Networking
• Be our friend on MySpace
• Be our fan on Facebook
• Tweet us on twitter
Viewing the March 2010 Issue: • Contents Page • News • Click Hear • Articles --> On the Cover  •  Front  •  Points  •  Questionnaire  •  Release Dates  •  Timeline  •  Videogames  •  Conversations • Music Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Aggressive Tendencies  •  Beats & Rhymes  •  Destination Out  •  Frequencies  •  Groove  •  No Future  •  Pop Rocks  •  Wood, Wires & Whiskey  •  Concert Reviews • Motion Reviews --> Recently Reviewed  •  Dvd Reviews  •  Film Reviews  •  Music DVD Reviews  •  Videogame Reviews • Music School --> Meet & Greet  •  Need to Know  •  Where I play • Contests • Contact --> About Us  • Advertising  • Distribution  • Getting Reviewed  • Getting Published  • Letters To The Editor  • Partnerships  • Subscriptions • Exclaim! Radio --> Aggressive Tendencies Radio  • Beats & Rhymes Radio  • Destination Out Radio  • Frequencies Radio  • Groove Radio  • No Future Radio  • Pop Rocks Radio  • Wood, Wires & Whiskey Radio • Exclaim! TV • Home & Latest Issue • Browse Issues