I am a huge fan of True Groove records, Tomas Doncker is a one man FM radio renaissance, both color blind and multi tuned musically, he can produce or write, record or play, and sing or have sung just about any genre of music he wants to put his hand to.
Through the past three years, Tomas and his True Groove family have been releasing songs at a ridiculous clip, song after album after song and about to enter its third residency next week in less than year.
Before things got completely out of hand, I though I’d work my way through the catalog and tell you what’s out there…
A Haze of Grays and Blue – Heather Powell – Heather’s gorgeous late night shimmering vocals over 60s pop circa Bacharach and David sounds.
Believe It to Life – Heather Powell – Southern gal makes country pop crossover.
Buy – James Chance And the Contortions – This is the 35th Anniversary Deluxe version James and Tomas put together. It sounds timeless in 2015, says I, the man who wrote the liner notes. Consider it the Nevermind of No Wave
“I Don’t Want Nobody” – James Chance and the True Groove All-Stars – Sure everybody loves James Brown NOW, in 1979, there was only James Chance and this cover from Brown’s mid-period Golden Age, reminds you how what they have in common more then rhythm is sound.
“Janie’s Silver Lining” – Kevin Jenkins – The first single off his new album where blues meets swamp meets country…. the best I can do.
Step Inside – Kevin Jenkins – Bass player enters the spotlight, song after song after song, all great, on his debut album plus a “Wichita Lineman” for the ages.
Till The Story’s Told – Kevin Jenkins – His eagerly anticipated sophomore effort opens with an ode to religious equanimity and maintains a funk soul balance all the way to the end.
Burden to Bear – Lael Summer – The great soul album by UCLA co-ed and disco gal Lael with a voice which takes you by surprise even though you’re expecting it to sound that good.
Life In Color – Lael Summer – Another off her sophomore, soon to be released, album.
“Unavailable” – Lael Summer – Summer’s song of desire and infidelity, a goodie
Mandatory Underground – Manu Koch & Filtron M – experimental jazz from another land and also another planet.
A Brief Night Out – Marla Mase – All her work is autobiographical but this is more autobiographical than most, especially “Things That Scare Me”, the rock star in a state of shock.
Half-Life – Marla Mase – Spoken word artist Marla’s third album is also her best album, consider it her Radio Ethiopia, and “Drowned In Blue” her “Because The Night”. Adult without being mature.
“Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” – Marla Mase – Wanna review? How about this: Manny Pacquiao worked out to Marla’s version of the Ian Dury track and yeah he lost but it Mayweather had stood still it might be a different story.
SPEAK DELUXE-Marla Mase – The first time I Heard Marla sing “Lioness”, she was snarling from behind a chair at Arlene’s grocery and then she began to roar, it was the rock and roll performance art of your dreams, as is this album.
Love Lust and Genocide – Samuel Claiborne – Agitprop to the nth degree, he sounds like a man in black in a bad mood.
Big Apple Blues – Tomás Doncker Band – It’s all over, simply one of the great albums of the 2010s,Yusef komunyakaa wrote the words, Doncker the music, and the songs are an American portrait of unparalleled honesty and beauty.
Moanin’ at Midnight: The Howlin’ Wolf Project: Tomás Doncker Band – The EP was followed by the musical was followed by this mostly Howlin’ Wolf covers album. It didn’t change my opinion of the big man at all, but suddenly some very serious people started asking questions. Including CNN.
Power Of The Trinity – Tomás Doncker – Eastern Ethiopia pop music. Yeah, really, this is the heart of the entire Global Soul concept. A masterpiece, especially the deluxe version with Bill Laswell and the great singer Mahmoud Abed.
Small World – Tomás Doncker – His voice would get better but his songwriting as a classicist, as a songwriter’s songwriter, had nowhere much to go. I mean “Children Of Darfur” and “Lucky Day” is here.
What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace Love and Understanding – Tomás Doncker Band – They sat in a room and discussed Ferguson, Mo, left the room and recorded this.
Fully Re-Covered – True Groove All-Stars – First they remixed em and now they recover them.
Funky World: a True Groove Club-Dub-Dance Compilation – Get outta my face, True Groove goes EDM!
“We’re a Winner” – True Groove All-Stars – The single off the album, a statement of fact as well as a statement of intent via Curtis Mayfield
