In The Studio on Soul City Radio

Cendrine Marrouat joined me on the show to talk about the new things she has going on in her life and career, but in the usual Soul City fashion we went off on a tangent and had a real nice discussion about spirituality and politics.

Pauli Carman and Champaign have been a platinum success since their
first release "How 'Bout Us". As testament to the band's multi-format
appeal, "How 'Bout Us" jumped onto the Billboard's pop and soul charts,
soaring to number one (1) on the adult contemporary charts. "How
'Bout Us" shot to number one in England and earned a platinum disc
certification. In Holland, Belgium, and Asia, both single and the LP
produced two platinum discs. The potent follow-up to the group's debut
album "How 'Bout Us" was "Modern Heart," featuring the hit single, "Try
Again" co-produced by George Massenburg, best known as engineer for artists as diverse as Earth, Wind and Fire and Little Feat.

"Try Again" also climbed to the top of the Billboard charts earning number
one status. With the success of their first two releases, Champaign
exploded onto the charts a third time with the release of the hit single "Off
and On Love" from the album "Woman in Flames." All of the
Champaign hits were preceded by classic music videos reaching top 5
status across the charts on MTV, VH1, and BET.

Champaign has appeared on such hit tv shows as Soul Train, Solid Gold, and American Bandstand, as well as the international music show "Top of the Pop" in England; and has toured in such venues as Madison Square
Garden, Cow Palace, United Center, Chicago, IL., Sanger Theatre - New
Orleans, Epcot Center - Disney World and many others. Carman
embarked on a solo career with hit singles “Dial My Number" and “In The Heat Of The Night”

CHAMPAIGN is a distinctive sound that emerges as a textural blend of melodic catchiness, rhythmic power, inventive arrangements, and the impassioned vocals of Pauli Carman.

Mellifluous, enticing, passionate and dexterous - these are
superlatives most certainly appropriate for defining the
style and sound of acclaimed singer/songwriter, TY CAUSEY.
Talented, prolific, and genuine are best in describing who he is.
All combined the result unveils an artist that harkens back to the
storied crooners of the past, but with a present day sheen that
boasts a collage of soul, jazz and R&B. His brand of sensual soul
and smooth R&B is winning over a growing number of fans and
industry insiders alike on the strength of his acclaimed CDs and
live performances causing many to place him amongst the elite
vocalists on the scene today.

While building a solid rep for himself as a consummate live
performer, fast becoming known as a local star in his hometown
Fort Wayne and the surrounding Indiana area, a series of fateful
connections brought him to the attention of noted contemporary
jazz saxophonist, Najee while there for a performance. So
impressed with a demo of Causey’s, Najee quickly invited him to
work on his next project, the Verve Records release, MORNING
TENDERNESS. Causey would not only be a featured vocalist on the
recording, co-writing several of it’s tracks, but he would also fill that
spot on the subsequent worldwide tour which had him sharing
the stage with other artists such as Pieces Of A Dream, Norman
Brown and more. This great opportunity introduced him to a
number of eventual fans of his style and sound. Needless to say, the
enthusiastic response he received while on the tour encouraged
Causey upon his return home to start crafting a project of his
own. He ultimately released his aptly titled full-length debut, NTYSING
in 2004. The winning collection that featured guest spots
from saxophonist Najee and bassist Nelson Braxton of the jazz
duo Braxton Brothers drew enthusiastic reviews and found its
way to the playlists of radio programs in both the U.S and abroad
including the UK, Japan and Germany. The resulting exposure gave
notice to an engaging new voice on the music scene moving many
to include N-TYSING on several “best of” lists for 2004.

Causey has since released four more acclaimed projects including
LOVE NOTES and EXPRESSIONS, which holds a position as one of
premier on-line music retailers, CDBaby.com’s top selling Urban/
R&B: Smooth Soul albums and helped to garner him yet another
Male Vocalist of Year nomination, his fourth, from Soultracks.com
which wrote in it’s review of the release, “Ty Causey has taken a
strong, creative turn on Expressions that should provide ample
material for both smooth jazz and UAC radio to highlight for
some time. It should also accelerate his growth as one of the
most enjoyable adult soul singers around.” Premiere on-line
destination for smooth jazz, SmoothJazz.com also wrote, “Causey
is an extraordinarily talented producer/singer/songwriter who
has got to be one of the brightest new stars of the smooth jazz,
R&B, and sensual soul genres . . . EXPRESSIONS is the album that
should move Mr. Causey right to the top of the pack, where he
certainly belongs.”

Causey’s latest release, TRUE LOVE IN MOTION, is a solid collection,
consistent with his others, of winning tracks, infectious beats,
indelible hooks and an infusion of contemporary flows – done
his way – delivered with one of the most engaging and purest
voices on the scene today. And also like his others this collection
has received impressive reviews like that from Indiana magazine,
Frost Illustrated, that raves, “With each record, Causey just keeps
getting better and better at what he does. He’s really hit stride
on this record, his already great voice maturing and him using
it to explore even more emotional nooks and crannies in his
writing and production.”

While Causey has built an impressive as well as acclaimed catalog
of recorded music and is continuously in the studio creating
music for future projects, his love is to perform live. In addition to
appearing at music festivals, sponsored public and private events,
and music clubs such as the legendary Bluenote Jazz Club in New
York, Causey has opened and shared the stage with a number of
noted R&B and smooth jazz artists including Boney James, Najee,
Peter White and Chico Debarge, continuing in the process to
capture new admirers of his captivating voice and sound.

“one of the best male soul singers we’ve heard of late, and an artist
with a sound that should be getting him big play in years to come!”
- Dustygroove.com

Boston's very own Ashanti Munir is someone that we've all had our eyes on since the release in 2008 of her critically acclaimed "Balance" album, an album that opened the door to the heart of a special, deep and soulful Lady. A genuine soul, open and honest, "Balance" was very much an open book, a heart on sleeve effort that told a story of development and struggle.... It was, by any standard a strong foundation set for any recording artist fighting on their own or with major backing. It's with pleasure that 2010 sees the release of the sophomore release, "Soul of a Woman". It's from the strong foundation of her first set of recordings that this album builds from, and built strong it is too. I can see much more in the way of plaudits coming her way thanks to her work here. Ashanti's live performance at the exclusive Soulchoonz party back in August 2008 had no one in doubt that what we had here, live, in front of us was a REAL talent who was certainly no one-trip pony. There was, as far as I could see, a great future ahead and this CD delivers that and promises more!

On the popular wave of her "I'm Staying Home Tonight" we have a similar soon-to-be popular tune "Easy Way About You" which features some great, great sax - this will keep a smile on the face of “Super Gary Spence” quite right too. I absolutely melted with delight when I heard track two, "So Smooth", a cut that would neither be out of place on an MCA album circa 1986 or the latest sets from James Reeno or Cool Million. The 80s are back, baby and this Controllers-type groove paired with some great sax ticks every conceivable box for the likes of this old hack. The funky "Ooh" with its freaky keys and brass touches is another strong, strong effort that allows Ashanti to get low-down, dirty and downright sassy. This is a dirty slab of a tune and should go down very well indeed! The strong, positive messages contained in "Don't Be Afraid" are solid stuff indeed. What we have here is a strong voice of experience and someone who knows what she is singing about through real and bitter experience. For Ashanti, the term 'no pain, no gain' would mean a lot and she has condensed all her experience into one hell of a directional and highly positive message. Also, musically it is SUPERB and definitely one of the album's true joys!

The elegance of "It Should Be You" also cannot be understated. The feeling here is of a classy Jam and Lewis effort with, say, Janet Jackson back in the mid 80s. Such a beautiful, quality song! This does Ashanti much credit. The title song, Soul of a Woman, too will be one to savor and enjoy...it oozes class and wipes the floor with all of today's whining R&B girlies showing that modern US R&B doesn't have to be crass. Fans of Lalah Hathaway's latest sets will weep with pleasure over the gorgeously acoustic "Sometimes Love". This song brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my flesh. Only an artist of GREAT caliber can reduce me to this kind of state, and this Lady has that knack. The final song, "Underestimation", is totally, totally essential and is of such a quality you would imagine that it had been lifted from a Marion Meadows or Najee album. This album is a very, very qualified success for a new artist such as Ashanti. To return with a follow-up set is a bonus in these dark times, but to raise the bar and do so with such force, finesse and real confidence is a joy to behold. Ashanti Munir deserves to be one of THE defining soul artists of the 21st Century. An incredibly essential album!

Barry Towler
“The Vibe Scribe”