Articles by Ryan B. Patrick

Maxwell on His New Album and R&B in a Post-Prince World

PUBLISHED Jul 6, 2016

Maxwell is mindful of mortality — the passing of Prince has the R&B/soul singer thinking about longevity, legacy and influence.   "It worri...

Maxwell

blackSUMMERS'night

PUBLISHED Jun 29, 2016

Maxwell's straight-up approach to soul music has both endeared him to R&B fans and solidified his standing with names like Marvin Gaye or L...

Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble

Winners Never Quit

PUBLISHED Jun 24, 2016

The Toronto-based incarnation of Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble are all about the authentic Afrobeat sounds. The nine-piece outfit — led by Nigeri...

Lion Babe

Sun Joint

PUBLISHED Jun 24, 2016

The urbane, NYC-based duo known as Lion Babe offer up a breezy R&B mixtape just in time for summer.   With Jillian Hervey's Badu-esque voca...

Laura Mvula Tears Down the Stigma of Mental Illness with 'The Dreaming Room'

PUBLISHED Jun 20, 2016

"I'm kind of done with the precious media training. I'd rather people understand me for who I am."   One can just picture the record label...

Kamasi Washington

Danforth Music Hall, Toronto ON, June 17

PUBLISHED Jun 18, 2016

At one point during last night's (June 17) two-hour show at the Danforth Music Hall, a lone piece of lingering confetti — jarred loose from...

Michael Franti & Spearhead

SOULROCKER

PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2016

Right from the opening strains of the '90s-esque reggae-pop tune "Crazy for You," it's clear that although times and musical tastes have ch...

Laura Mvula

The Dreaming Room

PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2016

Laura Mvula's second album, The Dreaming Room, is infinitely more experimental than the soul-gospel of 2013's Sing to the Moon. Its aim to...