It's always impressive for a Canadian indie label to maintain some sort of longevity, and even more so when it's one that specializes in soul, jazz and funk music. But that's where Toronto's Do Right! Music finds itself, celebrating 15 years in the biz with a six-track EP that illuminates where the imprint has come since 2002.
As an EP, Do Right 15 is short but sweet, encapsulating the label's raison d'etre starting with the urgency of the Souljazz Orchestra's "Harmagedon," which segues into some interpolated Jackson 5 funk vibes in "Tito's Revenge" by the Soul Motivators before transitioning into Alister Johnson's instrumental soul track "Afterglow." The enigmatic Elle Olsun blesses the proceedings with the electro-R&B of "Crying Over You," while Jill Peacock and Atlantis Jazz Ensemble cap things off with cool R&B and jazz efforts "Sunshine" and "White Nile," respectively.
It would have been cool to hear something from Do Right! alumni like Toronto's Maylee Todd or Vancouver's Dawn Pemberton, but perhaps that's being saved for a second volume. When it comes to the Canadian scene, there has always been a corner carved out for soul grooves, and kudos to Do Right! for their role in making that happen.
As an EP, Do Right 15 is short but sweet, encapsulating the label's raison d'etre starting with the urgency of the Souljazz Orchestra's "Harmagedon," which segues into some interpolated Jackson 5 funk vibes in "Tito's Revenge" by the Soul Motivators before transitioning into Alister Johnson's instrumental soul track "Afterglow." The enigmatic Elle Olsun blesses the proceedings with the electro-R&B of "Crying Over You," while Jill Peacock and Atlantis Jazz Ensemble cap things off with cool R&B and jazz efforts "Sunshine" and "White Nile," respectively.
It would have been cool to hear something from Do Right! alumni like Toronto's Maylee Todd or Vancouver's Dawn Pemberton, but perhaps that's being saved for a second volume. When it comes to the Canadian scene, there has always been a corner carved out for soul grooves, and kudos to Do Right! for their role in making that happen.