KANDACE SPRINGS — Indigo (2018) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Soul Eyes was a poised, no-frills introduction to an artist with obvious potential for merging soul and jazz conventions with modern style. Kandace Springs' second album is a measured advancement from that 2016 release. Produced almost exclusively by Karriem Riggins, who for 25 years has illuminated recordings that land everywhere on the traditional-to-progressive spectrum, Indigo evinces Springs' versatility with a little more color. As with Soul Eyes, the material blends interpretations and originals. Here, Springs is more directly involved, co-writing all but one of the new songs, including a touching finale with father Scat Springs and a handful with executive producers and earliest non-familial advocates Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken. The best of the four Rogers-Sturken collaborations is a tie between the two in which Springs sings of being killed slowly by a lover (a heartstruck sentiment felt elsewhere): "Piece of Me," liable to be confused for a dead-on Everything But the Girl or Sade cover, and "Fix Me," a graceful swoon with an embedded Prince reference. When admirer Prince hosted Springs at Paisley Park for the 30th anniversary of Purple Rain, he requested that she play "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," the Ewan MacColl ballad Roberta Flack took to another level. It's the earliest composition here, freshened with Springs' smoldering voice effectively cloaking the instrumentation instead of shooting through it. Another classic, Thom Bell and Linda Creed's "People Make the World Go 'Round," is freshened by Springs with help from Nicholas Payton on bass, electric piano, and slinky-subtle chord reharmonization. Springs still thrives with stark backdrops, most evident on covers of the contemporary "6 8" (Gabriel Garzón-Montano) and "Black Orchid" (Jesse Harris), both master classes in restraint. Indigo doesn't have a proper title track, but a pair of title interludes tantalize over a combined duration of one minute. Among the album's simplest and most fascinating moments, these segments of hip-hop noir -- with Springs accompanying herself on piano and Riggins the lone aid on drums and bass -- provide ample proof that the duo should continue to work together. Andy Kellman
Tracklist :
1    Don't Need The Real Thing 3:26
Backing Vocals – Evan Rogers
Bass, Guitar – Carl Sturken
Drums, Percussion – Karriem Riggins
Keyboards [Rhodes], Vocals – Kandace Springs
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Producer – Jimmy Harry, Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Jesse Nichols
Recorded By [Vocals] – Jimmy Harry
Written-By – Janelle Kroll, Jimmy Harry
2    Breakdown 3:19
Backing Vocals – Elizabeth Komba, Nelson Beato
Bass, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Piano – Jamie Hartman
Mixed By – Jeremy Wheatley
Producer – Jamie Hartman
Recorded By – Matt Dyson (3)
Strings – Davide Rossi
Vocals – Kandace Springs
Written-By – Jamie Hartman, Kandace Springs
3    Fix Me 4:33
Cello – Peter Jacobson
Drums – Chris Dave, Karriem Riggins
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Jesse Nichols, Kyle Hoffmann, Matt Noble, Michael Law Thomas
Viola, Arranged By [Strings] – Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
Written-By – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Kandace Springs
4    Indigo (Pt. 1) 0:34
Bass, Drums – Karriem Riggins
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Kandace Springs, Mark Batson
5    Piece Of Me 5:09
Backing Vocals – Evan Rogers
Bass, Drums – Karriem Riggins
Guitar – Carl Sturken
Keyboards [Rhodes], Vocals – Kandace Springs
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Kandace Springs
6    6 8 :33
Bass – Burniss "Boom Bishop" Travis II
Drums – Karriem Riggins
Flute – Elena*
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Flute – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Gabriel Garzón-Montano
7    Indigo (Pt. 2) 0:34
Drums, Bass – Karriem Riggins
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Kandace Springs, Mark Batson
8    People Make The World Go 'Round 5:04
Arranged By [Strings] – Patrick Warren
Bass – Nicholas Payton
Drum – Karriem Riggins
Keyboards [Rhodes] – Kandace Springs, Nicholas Payton
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Vocals – Kandace Springs
Written-By – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
9    Unsophisticated 3:27
Bass – Robert Hurst
Drums – Karriem Riggins
Featuring – Roy Hargrove
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Al Hemberger, Jesse Nichols, Phil Joly
Trumpet – Roy Hargrove
Written-By – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Kandace Springs
10    Black Orchid 3:29
Guitar – Anthony Wilson, Jesse Harris
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Jesse Harris
11    Love Sucks 3:55
Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Programmed By – Jimmy Hogarth
Co-producer – Jimmy Hogarth
Drums, Woodwind – Martin Slattery
Mixed By – Jeremy Wheatley
Producer – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers
Recorded By – Jimmy Hogarth
Strings – The Langley Sisters
Vocals – Kandace Springs
Written-By – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Kandace Springs
12    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 5:40
Bass – Robert Hurst
Drums – Karriem Riggins
Guitar – Jesse Harris
Mixed By – Karriem Riggins, Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Piano, Vocals – Kandace Springs
Producer – Karriem Riggins
Recorded By – Kyle Hoffmann, Michael Law Thomas
Written-By – Ewan MacColl
13    Simple Things 3:42
Featuring – Scat Springs
Mixed By – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Matt Noble
Piano – Kandace Springs
Producer – Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers
Recorded By – Matt Noble
Recorded By [Vocals] – Monroe Jones
Vocals – Kandace Springs, Scat Springs
Written-By – Kandace Springs, Scat Springs

KANDACE SPRINGS — Soul Eyes (2016) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Kandace Springs' career started rolling when her father, session vocalist Scat Springs, handed a demo to Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken. Industry veterans of 30-plus years, from Shannon to Rihanna, the duo signed her to their production company, which led to an audition for Blue Note president Don Was. The Nashville native sang "I Can't Make You Love Me," popularized by Bonnie Raitt, whose recording just happened to be co-produced with Was. Blue Note deal secured, she uploaded a cover of Sam Smith's "Stay with Me" that prompted Prince to have her play at Paisley Park during the 30th anniversary celebration of Purple Rain. Springs made her recorded debut a couple months later. Co-written with the likes of Rogers, Sturken, and Pop & Oak, the self-titled EP of hip-hop soul primed her for placement in a class with similarly classic-meets-contemporary artists like Jazmine Sullivan and Elle Varner. It left Springs feeling that her sound should instead reflect her early jazz influences with stripped-down live instrumentation -- a view shared by continued supporter Prince. Soul Eyes achieves that objective. Produced by Larry Klein with a constant rhythm section of Vinnie Colaiuta and Dan Lutz -- with additional instrumentation from the likes of Dean Parks, Pete Kuzma, and Terence Blanchard -- it's all shaped to place Springs front and center. The approach is emphasized by the title song, a sensitive update of Mal Waldron's 60-year-old standard that showcases Springs' measured piano playing as much as it does her lithe, lightly fiery voice. Apart from that and a loose but succinct version of War's "The World Is a Ghetto" -- the second-oldest composition -- the reinterpreted songs are relatively modern, highlighted by Shelby Lynne's "Thought It Would Be Easier." Springs co-wrote three cuts, the best and most energetic of which is easily "Novocaine Heart." Due to its neatly serpentine groove and inquisitive, positive outlook, lovers of late-'70s/early-'80s crossover jazz could easily be forgiven for thinking it was first waxed by Judy Roberts or Googie & Tom Coppola. The album closes with the lone song Springs wrote by herself, a striking piano ballad. As natural as the album feels, Springs seems eager to impress her elders and stay true to her inspirations, rather than build from them -- like she's bottling some of her energy and individuality. Less straight-ahead, more distinctive releases are hopefully in her future. Andy Kellman
Tracklist 
1    Talk To Me 3:50
Music By – J. Harris
2    Soul Eyes 3:22
Featuring – Terence Blanchard
Music By – M. Waldron
3    Place To Hide 3:44
Music By – G. Kearns, J. Tzuke, L. Silvas
4    Thought It Would Be Easier 3:38
Music By – B. Bottrell, S. Lynne
5    Novocaine Heart 4:43
Music By – B. Alexander, C. Sturken, E. Rogers, K. Springs
6    Neither Old Nor Young 3:07
Music By – J. Harris
7    Too Good To Last 5:01
Featuring – Terence Blanchard
Music By – G. Wells, K. Springs, L. Robbins
8        Fall Guy 3:46
Music By – C. Sturken, E. Rogers, J. Harris, K. Springs
9    The World Is A Ghetto 4:25
Music By – B.B. Dickerson, C. Miller, H. Brown, H. Scott, L. Oscar, L. Jordan, P. Allen
10    Leavin' 4:02
Music By – S. Lynne
11    Rain Falling 3:06
Music By – K. Springs
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Jesse Harris (tracks: 1, 6, 10)
Bass – Dan Lutz (tracks: 1 to 10)
Celesta – Larry Klein (tracks: 1)
Congas – Pete Korpela (tracks: 5, 9)
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 1 to 10)
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Kandace Springs (tracks: 4, 9)
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Pete Kuzma (tracks: 1, 6)
Guitar – Dean Parks (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 10)
Organ – Pete Kuzma (tracks: 1, 3 to 10)
Percussion – Larry Klein (tracks: 1, 3 to 5), Pete Korpela (tracks: 8)
Performer [Special Thanks] – Steve Tavaglione
Piano – Dean Parks (tracks: 4), Kandace Springs (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8, 10, 11)
Trumpet – Terence Blanchard (tracks: 2, 7)
Vibraphone – Larry Klein (tracks: 8)
Vocals – Kandace Springs