Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
“Naomi Shelton is no ordinary gospel singer. Though she, like many others, grew up singing with her sisters in their Alabama church, she has also spent much of her life in the soul clubs around New York, and her 45s, “41st St. Breakdown” and “Wind Your Clock” b/w “Talking ‘Bout a Good Thing,” have long been revered and prized by funk DJs around the globe. Now, with her first official full-length release coming this May, it’s clear that her singing is equally influenced by both facets of her life. This is soul music – informed by the church, perhaps, but soul music nonetheless, relatable to all. Which means that What Have You Done, My Brother?, an uplifting record that conveys Naomi’s energy, her excitement, her love of music, her compassion, is no ordinary album.
This humility, this generosity of spirit, is also on display at her live shows. From her weekly Friday-night gigs at New York’s Fat Cat, where former James-Brown bassist Fred Thomas helps to fill out the Driver-led ensemble, to special performances at Daptone Revue’s, great care is taken to make sure everyone in the audience feels connected to the music, and in turn, to Naomi herself.
What Have You Done, My Brother? is an extraordinary album by a woman who sings directly from her soul, whose experience cannot be duplicated, whose authenticity cannot be disputed. It’s an album whose positivity, no matter your beliefs, is immediately felt. An album that exudes a happiness, and a hopefulness, that is necessary now more than ever.
Cliff Driver is the musical director of the group, and leads the band with his inimitable honky-tonk piano style. Jimmy Hill, the organist on the record, leads his own blues and R&B band and has a pedigree rivaling Driver himself, including a stint in the late sixties backing Wilson Pickett. The record also features guitarist Tommy “TNT” Brenneck and Bosco Mann, both of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and each a producer in their own right. Brenneck is also part of The Budos Band, The Menahan Street Band, and heads his own imprint, Dunham Records. His country approach to rhythm-and-blues guitar handily won him a place at the table with Driver, who often features Tommy’s twangy guitar figures in his arrangements. The drums on the record were played by Brian Floody, a fixture on the bluesier end of the New York jazz scene who beats an indispensable if understated pulse.” Daptone Records, Press Release
Tracy Lawrence: The Rock
Tracy Lawrence: The Rock (no video, the song only)
““Up To Him,” the lead single from the album, was written by David Kent and Tim Johnson and while it’s struggling to find a large radio audience at the release of “The Rock,” the song is worthy of any spins it gets. The lyric finds Tracy in the person of a hard-working man who “hopes for the best, plans for the worst and works like it’s all up to me and pray that it’s all up to him.” It’s the kind of song that’s ripe for our times but that may just be why the song is struggling at radio. “ Matt Bjorke, Roughstock
“The Rock is a gospel record that offers a spiritual journey of hope, inspiration, and uplifting messages that will brighten the day of anyone who is feeling down, having second thoughts about themselves, or even someone who feels that they have lost their way at some point or another. This record is so strong that is can be listened to over and over or simply at times when things are rough.” Scott Sexton, About.com
Video Story of “Dust To Digital” Record Label
“Part 1 (of 2) in a look at Atlanta’s Grammy-winning Dust To Digital Records, a small label specializing in folk music, roots music, and historically significant recordings. This story was featured on “This is Atlanta with Alicia Steele,” a Telly Award-winning and Emmy-nominated magazine show on PBA, Atlanta’s PBS Station.”
David “Pop” Winans R.I.P.
Bebe & Cece Winans: Addictive Love
“David “Pop” Winans Sr., the patriarchal gospel great, died Wednesday in Nashville. He was 74″ The Detroit News
Alan Jackson: Sissy’s Song
Alan Jackson: Sissy’s Song (not official video)
“Alan Jackson’s fourth single from his completely self-penned album Good Timeis a real tearjerker.” Country Music Central
“Alan Jackson is blessed with a voice that exudes sincerity. It’s a rare gift in country music, but one that many of country’s greats have shared.” Country Universe
The 70 Best Hip Hop Music Videos Ever
Kanye West: Jesus Walks (part III)
“Kanye West’s policy of shooting a video (or in the case of “Jesus Walks” – three) for as many songs as possible led to some great visuals accompanying College Dropout. In some ways it was a throwback to the creative freedom rap enjoyed in the mid 90’s. You know what, Format is going to give him video of the year for 2004, because we’re on his blogroll and to be quite frank, we’ve seen how he reacts when his videos don’t get the respect he believes they deserve and we don’t need that kind of drama in our lives.” Format Magazine
Buddy and Julie Miller: Written In Chalk
Buddy and Julie Miller: Written in Chalk (about a album)
“There’s a sense of timelessness rooted in rural America, along with a stripped-down musical ambience, that makes this a worthy companion to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ “Raising Sand,” for which Buddy was part of their touring band. That connection resulted in Plant’s guest spot on a delightfully squirrelly arrangement of Mel Tillis’ “What You Gonna Do Leroy,” recorded live in a dressing room during that tour last year.” LA Times
