Category Archives: Uncategorised

Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers 

Label: LRK Records     
Catalogue Number: LP: LRK-LP07 / CD: LRK-CD07 / DIGITAL:LRKLP07DD
Release Date: 2nd February 2024 
Format: LP Vinyl / CD / Digital Album

A Fusion of Retro Soul/Funk and Modern Grooves Los Angeles-based retro soul/funk sensation Bella Brown & the Jealous Lovers are set to ignite the music scene with their highly anticipated LP, “Soul Clap.” Born from the creative genius of Grammy Award-winning vocalist/songwriter Carol Hatchett, Bella Brown emerges as a diva with a fiery stage presence, drawing inspiration from the likes of Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, and channeling the empowered female leads of 70s Blaxploitation films.

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ATLANTIS JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Atlantis rising anew with Celestial Suite 

The Atlantis Jazz Ensemble is on the rise once again with Celestial Suite, a brilliant set of spiritual soul-jazz, with a righteous energy in the mode of some of the best work on independent labels such as Strata East or Tribe back in the day, though updated with a fresh current vibe.  With the blend of electric piano, sax, trumpet, bass and percussion presented here, the quintet has refined the searching, soaring quality of their sound, capturing over the course of two days in the studio an inspired session worthy of the skyward promise of the album’s title. 

The group was first formed by Pierre Chrétien and Zakari Frantz of The Souljazz Orchestra back in 2013, as an outlet for the more modal, esoteric and spiritual compositions they were exploring outside the confines of their original unit.  After the addition of trumpeter Ed Lister, bassist Alex Bilodeau and drummer Mike Essoudry, the Atlantis Jazz Ensemble released their maiden voyage Oceanic Suite in 2016, a bold first outing that became a bit of an underground classic, capturing the number two spot on the Canadian radio jazz charts that year (just behind BadBadNotGood’s IV), and leading Atlantis to open up live for the likes of Kamasi Washington and Anderson Paak. 

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Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers

“What Will You Leave Behind”(Digital Out Now) / “Bang, Bang, Bang”

Label: LRK Records
Catalogue Number: LRK-19 
Release Date: 26th May 2023  
Format: 7’  

The new single by Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers and B side to the new vinyl 45 release!
Right on the heels of the success of their previous single “What Will You Leave Behind”, LRK Records is proud to announce the digital single follow up by Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers!! Bella Brown & The Jealous Lovers are a Los Angeles based, transplanted from Chicago, unit that specializes in 60s/70s soul and funk. The band is fronted by the dynamically charismatic Bella Brown. A fiery female lead singer that is a mixture of Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, with a persona that is reminiscent of the empowered female leads of 70s Blaxploitation films.

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Kent Records Jan /Feb 2023

Release Date: 27.01.23
To celebrate Kent’s 40th birthday (admittedly a month late due to pressing times), we are releasing our first ever box set of singles. This is due to getting access to the Loma vaults and finding some previously unheard soul gems to augment the best of the soul dance tracks from the esteemed imprint.
Starting with THEE discovery of the soulful ‘20s we present L A soul group the Marvellos whose ‘It’s Your Love That I Need’ – written by the great Willie Hutch – a Motownesque dancer whose arrangements and melodies are so stunning we also issued the backing track as an instrumental B side to it.

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Interview: Bobby Manuel (StaxRecords): Archive show from Soul Discovery

Bobby Manuel

I’ve Got Rhythm

His mother thought that dancing school would help burn off some of the extra energy he had because in those days he was considered a “hyper child.” It turned out that he loved it and it probably helped him develop his keen sense of rhythm. It also led him to his second guitar teacher, Lyn Vernon, who played and taught a chord melody style that was pretty advanced for kids. He met the Mitchell family who lived in a nearby neighborhood. That’s where he met Willie Mitchell who was already a successful bandleader and recording artist. It was at the Mitchell house where he first heard the blues on radio station WDIA. He was addicted to the groove from that moment on. He is most proud that he was reunited with Willie when asked to play on the last two albums Willie produced, Al Green’s highly acclaimed “Everything’s OK” and Soloman Burke’s “Nothing’s Impossible.”

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