Robin McKelle delivers a female artist-themed covers album

Shedrick Mitchell, heard by marlbank back in the autumn as a significant presence in the band of trumpeter Keyon Harrold, has arranged and co-produced Alterations by Robin McKelle, coming up for release in February. Guitarist Nir Felder from the …

Published: 1 Jan 2020. Updated: 4 years.

Shedrick Mitchell, heard by marlbank back in the autumn as a significant presence in the band of trumpeter Keyon Harrold, has arranged and co-produced Alterations by Robin McKelle, coming up for release in February. Guitarist Nir Felder from the Harrold band is also on a record shaped around pan-genre covers of female artists. McKelle explains more in the video below:

Scrolling back, McKelle in 2018 on Melodic Canvas began in Melody Gardot territory with a churchy organ vibe and then went for an oh so sweet ballad in ‘Lyla’ which was a very pretty song and more than enough to justify any interest in this record released by Doxie (once again her label on Alterations).

Back in 2014 on The Looking Glass she was working with Joss Stone Soul Sessions II producer Steve Greenwell, and the really big song was the uplifting against-the-odds sentiment and loping swung feel of McKelle original ‘Stay’.

McKelle’s sweeping soul-soaked voice is reminiscent slightly of a cross between Susan Tedeschi’s and that of Ronnie Scotts house soul singer Natalie Williams.

This upcoming album positions her more in the commercial mainstream in terms of mainstream than ever with bar room favourites 'Back to Black' and 'Rolling in the Deep' among the songs.

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Hannes Riepler jam feat. Brandon Allen/ Emilia Mårtensson and guests Vortex

From March 2016. There is change in the air in Dalston. The Hackney Citizen is reporting big developments around the corner from the Vortex on Bradbury Street with the prospect of Crossrail 2 and potential compulsory purchase orders forcing some …

Published: 1 Jan 2020. Updated: 4 years.

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From March 2016. There is change in the air in Dalston. The Hackney Citizen is reporting big developments around the corner from the Vortex on Bradbury Street with the prospect of Crossrail 2 and potential compulsory purchase orders forcing some demolition there uprooting the side of the street closest to the railway line.

In the Vortex a street away there is change in the air too, not exactly on the same colossal scale, more about moving the furniture around. The kitchen is open again downstairs, chef Derek installing a new menu based on a Thai/Vietnamese theme, and for the regular Sunday night jam the layout is now different beginning with an experiment involving moving the bandstand space to under the stairs rather than over by the toilet door where it has been for ages.

The jam led by guitarist Hannes Riepler with bassist Tim Thornton, drummer Tim Giles and guest star saxophone player Brandon Allen (known for his work with Kyle Eastwood and Anthony Strong) began their set with serpentine Jerry Bergonzi tune ‘Of a Feather,’ based on ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ Allen digging in like Dex.

Upstairs there was a big gathering of musicians and singers lining up. Hosted by singer Emilia Mårtensson whose sunny Carole King-like voice melds into a Nordic reverie relaxed into Paul Simon’s ‘Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover,’ trumpeter Fulvio Sigurtà making his presence felt in a kind of Arve Henriksen role, electronics washing the sound in a rumble. Snowpoet, singer Lauren Kinsella and pianist Chris Hyson, also known as a bassist, impressed too. pic. marlbank