Product Description
Pioneers of the London acid jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies are a British music institution whose unique mix of jazz, funk and soul has lit up the UK music scene for well over two decades. And now they are back with their first full studio album in over six years, 'Forward', featuring original vocal collaborator N'Dea Davenport and introducing new vocalist Dawn Joseph.

The founding and ever-present trio of Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Love Levy on drums/keyboards, guitar and bass respectively were influential in creating what became known as the Acid Jazz scene of the early 90's. 16 top 40 singles and over 2 million albums followed and they have since steered The Brand New Heavies into the new millennium, where they remain as influential and respected around the world as ever.

The Heavies have in fact been a unique fixture of the British music scene for a quarter of a century.

When asked about the secret of their longevity, Jan Kincaid said this: 'There is something unique about the Brand New Heavies that has to do with the make-up and, at the same time, is greater than that. We've been together so long that we have the grounding and the history. We started as a live band and did it hard, just playing clubs, pubs, anywhere that would have us for a long time before we got a record deal. We weren't just centred around a record, and that's the way it should be.'

1. Forward
2. Sunlight (Full Length Heavies Mix)
3. Do You Remember
4. On The One
5. A Little Funk In Your Pocket
6. Addicted
7. Lifestyle
8. Itziné
9. The Way It Goes
10. Lights
11. Turn The Music Up
12. Heaven
13. Spice Of Life
14. One More For The Road

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BY8DC2A/?tag=imwan-20

I went the pledge route on this months ago. Just listened to the download (the CD will arrive in a few weeks), and it sounds pretty good, BUT I am slightly disappointed in that (a) N'Dea doesn't do all the lead vocals, and (b) there are more uptempo "disco" songs than there are moderate tempo "funk" songs. Personally, I (we) need the funk, gotta have that funk.

It was only after the download became available to pledgers that we learned N'Dea wasn't on all tracks and they seemingly now have a new lead singer, who sounds good and is quite capable. One can only guess N'Dea left mid-way through the album and is no longer in the band, yet again??

Thanks for the info regarding N'Dea's contributions. I love the first couple of BNH albums with her, although I wasn't a big fan of the album when they reunited. I had this one on my radar but only if it captured a similar vibe to their earlier material. I might have to skip this one now based on your comments.

Here's the single, with N'Dea on vocals:

interesting that they changed the cover art from the pledged version, the upper 2/3 is different, a shot of some distant galaxy in outer space...

I am disappointed with this release. I don't understand why N'Dea can't become a PERMANENT full-fledged member of BNH -- I'm assuming it is down to band politics. The new singer is not that distinctive. Plus there are too many male vocal leads for my liking! I like by BNH best when it is female-singer-fronted!

They went with that version for the UK general release:



Amazon USA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BI4BA3S/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BI4BA3S/?tag=imwan-21

fab detective work, Linda