Giant Step records ranks highly among independent
music marketing companies and has enjoyed tremendous
success promoting underground soul, jazz and dance music. Their tremendous roster includes releases from Jamiroquai, The Roots, Amp Fiddler, and Jamie Cullum. In addition to keeping busy with grassroots promotion, the company released debut full-length projects from Donnie and Kaidi Tatham a.k.a. “Agent K”, both of which are essential listening. The Giant Step label also released two compilation CDs, “Soul Sessions” that brought together some of the deepest modern soul sounds from the label. For Summer 2004, the label presents what I think is their best compilation yet. “Simply Good Music”, a title taken from label boss Maurice Bernstein’s description of Giant Step’s mission and sound, features artists from both sides of the Atlantic performing some of the hottest tunes to come out over the past year.
There are several reasons that I have billed this compilation as my favorite from Giant Step. First is Ty’s “Wait a Minute”. Ty took the British hip-hop scene by storm in 2003 with his debut “Upwards”, and part of the reason was this danceable little tale about a musician and his girl going through the ups and downs of their relationship. Second, anything with 2 Banks of 4 on it wins hands down with me. Featured on this compilation is “One Day” from their stellar release “Three Street Worlds”. The bass line with Andy Hamill on double bass and Ski Oakenfull on the low end of the keys whacks me every time I hear it. Next, artist extraordinaire Carl Hancock Rux with an acoustic retake on his 2001 Giant Step single “Lamentations”, also featured on his latest release “Apothecary Rx”.
Jiva’s “Confessions of a Man” from their long-awaited upcoming release “Sun and Moon”, occupies the number 8 slot on the CD. Alex Lattimore croons away supported by copiously warm horns, vocals, and a swingin’ drums line. DKD featuring Donnie with “We Can Make It’ rounds out the CD. This Japan-only release joins the dots from London to Atlanta and has been atop my wish list for weeks. Jointing DKD at the close of the CD is Izzi Dunn and Kaidi Tatham’s classic broken number, “Betcha Did”.
The songs herein unmentioned are equally as superb as those I’ve highlighted. Much respect to Giant Step. “Simply Good Music”—exactly.
