Who would have thought that Bobby who's more known for his house remixes and songs could come up with a real good jazz influenced song? Sung by Ronnell Bay this is a great swinging modern jazz song.

King Britt's Sylk 130 debut album features many good songs but this song, sung by Alsion Crockette (aka Diva Blue), has such a great bluesy late night feeling to it and it fits perfectly to the following track by Jersey Street.

Jersey Street's debut album Step Into The Light was sadly overlooked but it featured such great songs like the somehow sad Cried Me A River that also appeared previously as a 12" on Junior Boys Own.

Taken from the Bossa Très Jazz II compilation this is a great example of Tom (of Tom & Joyce fame) and Julie Dexter's musical qualities. Like Ours is a fine example of modern soul.

From Jazzhole's great album Circle Of The Sun comes this song. Sung by Marlon Saunders this is a brilliant soul song with Tabla, saxophone, french horn and violin. Just perfect for a warm and sunny spring day.

Although it's hard to choose a favourite song from Five Point Plan's Rare album I picked Take Me with it's relaxed feeling and nice organ it fits nicely into the other songs on this (virtual) CD.

Of course I had to include a song of my favourite singer Sandra St. Victor on this CD. This time we see Sandra singing about her search for eternal love and Holding Out features Family Stand's V. Jeffrey Smith with a flute solo...oh, and did I mention the lyrics already? 'Living here on my own gets hard being alone/but an easy score or revolving door/that's not what I want/I thought about hanging with you for a while/but you got so many girls thatís just not my style/so gon and be free, that's just not me it’s not me, hey'

With the world standing on the edge of a war in Iraq and trouble in North Korea I wonder when we will see and hear more social conscious lyrics like e.g. Curtis did in the 70ies. Right On For The Darkness is a good example of great lyrics over a stringladen funky soul song. And what Curtis tells us in this song about political manipulation on the educational sytem, that helps greedy people to maintain a status quo to provide a positive future for the privileged few on the backs of many, is still relevant today.

This is a great song from Maiuko's Different Wars album...Breakdown The Walls tells a story of finding one's self-confidence 'There's a light ahead/Given time it can shine on you/Dancing in the twilight/Through the shadows/In a world gone blue'. Add to this Maiuko's impressive voice and some nice instrumentation with Bev Davison on violin and you get a modern soul classic.

From Fertile Ground's Sesaons Change album come these two songs. Rise is more of an intro to Freedom so I included both songs here. And the lyrics are becoming more relevant with each day the crises in Iraq and North Korea carry on: 'Now, I can't fight no wars for money/Ego or pride/I pray one day/Love becomes the bullet/That just blows the world apart/And we say freedom'...and with a great 70ies feeling to it, this is an instant winner.

To make sure this CD is not all about slow and midtempo jams I raised the tempo with this slightly drum & bass influenced song from Julie's Dexterity album. With some spacey lyrics this is a great uptempo soul song and it shows what Julie's capable of doing with lead and background vocals.

Finally we've reached the soulful house department with Even Though from Kerri's A Basement, A Red Light & A Feelin' Vol.II album. Dealing with interpersonal relations this is a good example of how Kerri handles a soulful house song. Pure vocal heaven for me!

Remixed by Chris Brann of Wamdue/Ananda Project fame this remix appears on the MG4R remix album and I just love what Chris did to a slow song. Spiced up with some additional vocals by Terrance Downs at the beginning this is a great latin influenced house track with guitar, sax and of course Amel Larrieux' heavenly vocals on top. Nearly 10 minutes of pure class.