Mo Sounds: BOSCO, Julie Dexter & HC3, Jeff Bradshaw + more
BOSCO — “BOY”: The singer rocking the moniker BOSCO isn’t hanging in Atlanta as much as she used to these days, but her musical birth and evolution took place in the A, so she’ll always be linked to the city. That, obviously, makes her recent signing to the Fools Gold label an occasion that all ATLiens should be fucking ecstatic about. Even better: Her new deal paves the way for a spanking-new EP — titled “BOY” — set to debut June 2. “BOY” continues BOSCO’s journey into 1990s-esque soundscapes … reimagined, of course, for 21st century earholes. The EP is six- tunes deep and is propelled by the trap-meets-R&B-tinged title track, “BOY,” co-starring local rap hero Jace. More info: www. hellobosco.com.
Farnell Newton — “Ready to Roll”: Atlanta Records, the label founded through a partnership with Ropeadope Records and SoulandJazz.com, has been releasing a ton of great music over the past 365 days. One of its newest projects is “Ready to Roll” by trumpeter Farnell Newton, who has played with artists like Lalah Hathaway, Ron Isley, Cee Lo Green and more but gained wide acclaim as a touring musician with Jill Scott. On “Ready to Roll,” Newton channels his experience playing with soul and R&B acts and mashes that with straight-ahead jazz sounds. More info: www.farnellnewton.com.
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Julie Dexter and The HC3 — “The Smiling Hour”: The Atlanta-based singer known as the “Queen of U.K. Soul” (aka Julie Dexter) has teamed with the homegrown jazz crew The HC3 (consisting of drummer/bandleader Henry Conerway III, pianist Nick Rosen and bassist Kevin Smith) to give birth to a new collection of songs titled “The Smiling Hour.” The recently released album has Dexter and the trio taking on a handful of jazz standards — but presenting them with their own special twist. The collected songs are equal parts sweet and simple, and served up with no chaser. More info: www.juliedexter.com.
Richard Marks — “Never Satisfied”: The newly released project by the late, great Atlanta guitarist/ singer/songwriter Richard Marks is more time capsule than typical album. “Never Satisfied” is a 21-track journey through Marks’ musical evolution, covering his output from 1968 to 1972 and releases on the Shout label and smaller regional labels like Note, Free Spirit and RSC. The album also features two never-released songs — along with two booklets full of essays and photos that tell the story of this unsung soul legend. More info: www.nowagainrecords.com.
Fernanda Noronha — “Fernanda Noronha”: Brazilian-born, ATL-dwelling singer Fernanda Noronha presents her new self-titled EP, and it’s a four-cut sonic vacation packed with samba sounds that are peppered with soul, jazz and more goodies. The production this time around is handled by the seemingly ubiquitous Edgewood Agents, so you know it’s primo. More info: www.fernandanoronha.com.br.
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Jeff Bradshaw — “Home”: For “Home” — the latest from acclaimed trombonist Jeff Bradshaw (whose trombone has propelled horn-sections for everyone from Jill Scott and Jay Z to Erykah Badu and Kirk Franklin) — he’s assembled an ultra-all-star roster of vocal heavy hitters and set them loose on a live opus in his native Philadelphia. Keep your ears peeled for songs by Marsha Ambrosius, Black Thought of The Roots, Kim Burrell and Take 6, Bilal, Eric Roberson, Tweet and more. On top of that, “Home” (which was recorded at the famed Kimmel Center) is executive produced by Grammy- winning pianist/bandleader Robert Glasper. In other words, the album is stacked with top-notch dopeness. Get yours. More info: twitter.com/iamjeffbradshaw.