Folks, a new artist I want you to check out: James Murphy.

Not only is James the lead vocalist for Jeff Majors right now, his musical resume includes work with a who’s-who list of the top artists in the industry, including Donald Lawrence, Patti LaBelle, J Moss, Kelly Price, on and on and on.  If he’s not on stage, you might catch him hosting a radio show.  Geeeeeez!

I’ve been rockin’ to his single, “Follow Thee,” for MONTHS now and I just added it to the PunditPlayer.  It’s produced by Fontez Camp Productions (think Jessica Greene) and it’s one of those feel-good summertime songs to me.  His full album, So Crazy, No Boundaries, will be released later this year.

You can check him out on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/jamesmurphymusic4u.  Also, do yourself a favor and follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jamesmurphy.  He is one of the most HILARIOUSLY RANDOM people you’ll find.  He has tons to say and the overwhelming majority of it will make you cry from laughing.

In the meantime, listen to his single ”Follow Thee” on the PunditPlayer (click the launch button at the top-right of the page) and lemme know what you think!

Hey y’all.  Check out Jazz Gospel Central, a new website for folks who love jazz, gospel, and the combination of the two.  It’s a well-done, comprehensive site that provides some history of the genre, interviews with jazz gospel greats, upcoming events, and even tips for musicians.

Outside of Ben Tankard, Angella Christie, Jeff Majors and Kirk Whalum, I am admittedly ignorant about jazz gospel.  It may be because I always think of jazz gospel as that music they play at church banquets before the program gets started, or when the fashion show happens.  Every time I hear it, I instinctively want to ask somebody to pass the rolls…

So, I’ma have to check it out and step up my game cuz there’s already too much division within the genre of “gospel” music.  And these folks truly are musical powerhouses.  Real jazz is HARD to play and you’ve gotta know all types of music theory and what not to be authentic.  So, let’s support it.  We’re broadening our horizons, people!

http://www.jazzgospelcentral.com/