Critically-Acclaimed Singer Anthony Hamilton Returns With New Album The Point Of It All In Stores Today

ahamilton2-1

(December 16, 2008 – New York, NY) Seven-time Grammy-nominated recording artist Anthony Hamilton is gearing up for his third So So Def/Zomba album release The Point Of It All, set to arrive in stores today, December 16th. The release comes as the talented singer earns a “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance” Grammy nomination for his collaboration with Al Green, on “You’ve Got The Love I Need.”

The Point Of It All contains a wide range of raw soul-infused music with Hamilton at the helm co-writing and co-producing on the album with his longtime collaborators, producer/songwriter Kelvin Wooten and Mark Batson. Wooten produced “Prayin’ For You/Superman,” the sultry ballad “Her Heart,” and the lead single “Cool” featuring David Banner, which is steadily climbing the Urban Adult and Urban Mainstream charts. Batson produced the powerful track “Soul’s on Fire” and “Fallin’ in Love.” Additional producers on the album include The Avila Brothers who produced the title track “The Point of It All” and Jack Splash who produced “Please Stay.”

Like his previous efforts, Hamilton’s new album is already receiving early rave reviews: The Wall Street Journal observes, “Mr. Hamilton’s new album features tight R&B productions, [and] vintage instruments…” and goes on to compare Anthony Hamilton to “the great vocalists who influenced his style, including Marvin Gaye and Al Green…” Entertainment Weekly adds, “The onetime barber and backup singer is a late bloomer steeped in the conversational soul of Bill Withers and Bobby Womack.”

Last year Anthony Hamilton made his big-screen debut performing in the Oscar-nominated movie, American Gangster. Hamilton has established a loyal following from his 2003 platinum-certified debut album Comin’ From Where I’m From, which spawned the hit “Charlene,” climbed to #3 on the R&B Albums chart and garnered three Grammy nominations, to his 2005 release, the gold-certified sophomore effort, Ain’t Nobody Worryin,’ which sparked the #1 hit “Can’t Let Go.” Hamilton, an all-around gifted artist, has collaborated with a wide range of his peers including: Buddy Guy, Al Green, Dr. Dre, Santana, Angie Stone, Young Jeezy, Nappy Roots, Musiq Soulchild and more.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=299162112&s=143441

Hamilton just completed his critically well-received “Playin’ It Cool” tour- check two of his shows:

Anthony Hamilton’s “Playin’ It Cool” Tour: New York City from levi maestro on Vimeo.


Anthony Hamilton’s “Playin’ It Cool” Tour: Charlotte, NC from levi maestro on Vimeo.

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/anthonyhamilton



Meshell Ndegeocello- Chocolate City



Music Review: Rahsaan Patterson- The Ultimate Gift



Christmas songs redone in the R&B idiom have been popular since Stevie Wonder recorded “Someday At Christmas” in 1967. Rahsaan Patterson’s deft styling of old soul and twenty-first century urban pop has made him one of the more interesting voices of the last twelve years. He is always vulnerable in revealing his emotional self and fearless in his unscripted musical direction. That personal creed stays and makes good on his first Xmas album The Ultimate Gift. There are three traditional songs and seven original ones co-written Jamey Jaz and with Van Hunt. “Holiday” kicks off the festive theme with keys that resemble blinking decorative lights and even more keys phrased funky to start a party despite there being no snow in LA. Patterson’s R&B chops have a gospel twang and the youthful qualities of a young Michael Jackson or Ralph Tresvant. “Angels Sing” has the gracious lilt of any Quincy Jones’ jazz and R&B symphonic composition except a simmering guitar moves across Patterson’s falsetto. Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” keeps the reverb-heavy effects but utilizes the ubiquitous auto-tune treatment with drums and synthesizers from Prince circa 1999. A kind of remix of “Deck The Halls” takes place with “Peace And Joy’s revamp of the famous “Fa La La La La” in a soulful humanitarian plea mindful of Wonder’s many love fests. And fluttery winds from more angel wings fly through a celestial space with the most important wishes of “The Ultimate Gift” to end racism and greed. Secular but still concerned with the spirit Patterson’s Xmas party acknowledges the Messiah’s accepted birthday in a soulful mishmash of holiday classics morphed into newness.



Ice Cube Featuring Musiq Soulchild-Why Me (Live On Jimmy Kimmel)