S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with Melanie Charles

Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series continues with the celebration of some of our favourite vocalists.  In support of our selections, we've plucked a snazzy 3-song round-up featuring a mish-mash of under-appreciated collaborations and under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

This list delves into a mere few of the incredible projects bearing the name Melanie Charles.  Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, flautist and producer, Charles' musical efforts have found her ingrained within the fabric of New York's jazz, R&B and neo-soul landscape.  A creative and imaginative live performer, Charles has amassed a strong array of solo projects - including 'Introducing Melanie Charles & The Journey' and 'The Girl With The Green Shoes' - standalone singles, remixes and collaborations with Kassa Overall, Jesse Fischer, People's Champs and WDR Big Band, naming just a few.  In typical S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T fashion, we've plucked a trio of some of our favourite Charles numbers which offers a mere snapshot of what's covered in the full episode.

Here are three Melanie Charles tracks that no Melanie Charles collection should be without...

 

1. 'Love is Everywhere' by Mark de Clive-Lowe, Shigeto & Melanie Charles (2021)

The pairing of the prolific producer, composer, pianist and multi-instrumentalist Mark de Clive-Lowe, DJ and producer and staple of the Ghostly collective and record label, Shigeto, and singer, songwriter and flautist Melanie Charles resulted in the fantastic 'Hotel San Claudio' full-length released through the UK's Soul Bank Music.  'Hotel San Claudio' sets an exciting stage for a project comprised of three very different artists in their own right who each bring phenomenal value to the table. The album manages to present each of the three with music that finds them all suitably at home while still sounding unlike any of their previous offerings; 'Hotel San Claudio' doesn't so much straddle a line between jazz and electronica anymore than it just wholly embraces both facets throughout the album.

2. 'Love and Revolution' by Nicola Conte featuring Melanie Charles (2011)

There are thankfully several songs whereby the typically excellent vocal of Ms Charles has graced projects by Nicola Conte.  The Italian, guitarist, producer and DJ revered for his consistently glorious cocktail of bossa mixed with contemporary and classic jazz stylings always attracts a high-level of collaborator with Charles delivering to sensational effect.  For Conte's 'Love and Revolution' album, names including Gregory Porter and Jose James delivered sublime vocal performances but Charles' appearance on the album's title track definitively steals the show.  For an album with a more-than-welcome dash of 70s soul thrown in, Charles guesting on four of the album's tracks helps to push this towards one of Conte's greatest releases and while 'The Mystery of You' also presented a strong candidate, it's unbridled joy of 'Love and Revolution' that demands your attention.

3. 'Dreams' by Lakecia Benjamin featuring Melanie Charles (2012)

The debut album from saxophonist, band leader and producer, Lakecia Benjamin, was unveiled in a blissful cloud of funk and soul through New York's Motema Records.  Citing the album as something of an ode to her heroes, tracks entitled 'Maceo' and her cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing' paint a very clear picture of what this album aims to convey.  With band contributions coming from Jesse Fischer and Solomon Dorsey, the album's guest list is further made up on Amp Fiddler and Mavis "Swan" Poole.  Melanie Charles soars with a superbly sweet vocal on the sublime 'Dreams' delivering a notable album standout.