FOXX. His dance tunes are guaranteed to please.
Jamie Foxx found himself on the defensive after delivering an unsteady rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the similarly underwhelming Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match last month. The Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer-actor blamed wayward earpieces for his inability to “hear” the accompaniment properly.
The “technical malfunction” didn’t bode well for the release of Foxx’s fifth studio album, “Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses,” two weeks later—which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200.
To be fair, while the collection, inspired by the superficial relationships forged by the singer in Tinseltown, isn’t as thematically substantial as something you’d expect from someone his age (he’s 47) and stature, you’ll find it hard to resist the sensual swagger of his second single, “You Changed Me” (featuring Chris Brown) and the radio-friendly accessibility of his R&B ballad, “In Love By Now. ”
If you prefer something friskier, Foxx’s hook-heavy dance tunes are guaranteed to please: He collaborates with Pharrell Williams and Kid Ink in “Tease” and Cook Classics’ “Baby’s In Love,” respectively—which are both too catchy to resist!
Duets with Van Morrison
If you miss Van Morrison’s blue-eyed soul and idiosyncratic singing, listening to his 35th studio recording, “Duets: Reworking the Catalogue,” is a great way to revisit his music. “Moondance,” the most frequently played tune in the Belfast Soul Man’s concerts, isn’t part of his 16-track lineup, but the songs Morrison chose to revive with his exceptional guest vocalists are just as memorable.
The album’s best track is turned in by George Benson, whose smooth vocals and jazzy scatting give “Higher Than The World” its easygoing vibe. The reclusive performer, who will turn 70 in August, jams with Michael Bublé in their rousing cover of “Real, Real Gone.” Another notable cut is “Wild Honey,” which benefits from Joss Stone’s soulful, melismatic performing style.
Gravity
On the local recording scene, the singing group to watch out for is Gravity, made up of 12- to 15-year-old former “The Voice Kids” hopefuls, who have decided to perform together as a pop group.
Composed of Zack Tabudlo, Eufritz Santos, Grace Alade, Julienne Echavez and Rommel Bautista, the exciting quintet has just released its 10-track album of originals (“Imposible”) and covers—including One Republic’s “Counting Stars” and Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors.”