Fresh R&B Projects Drop

Mark Adams' "This is Neo-Soul" marks his first album in eight years and serves as a continuation of the musical language of his mentor, the late "Godfather of Neo-Soul" Roy Ayers. Adams, who was Ayers' musical director for over two decades, collaborated with producer David Schwartz to create a record that pushes his own creative boundaries. The 10-track album assembles a supergroup of fifteen musicians from the bands of icons like Chic, Lonnie Liston Smith, Luther Vandross, and Gloria Gaynor. The project reimagines classics and reshapes tracks from Adams' past catalog, including turning a ballad he wrote for his late aunt into an up-tempo dance track. The duo GENA is an acronym for "God Energy, Naturally Amazing," with the name also loosely inspired by the character Gina from the 90s sitcom *Martin*. The collaboration pairs Karriem Riggins, an Emmy-winning drummer for artists like J Dilla and Erykah Badu, with experimental R&B singer Liv.e, who has toured with Earl Sweatshirt. Their album, "The Pleasure Is Yours," was crafted through virtual sessions and features contributions from musicians Isaiah Sharkey and James Francies. Before the album's release, the duo played a sold-out debut show in London, with artists like Common and Joy Crookes in attendance. Among the tracks highlighted by Rated R&B is music from Bruno Mars' fourth album, "The Romantic," which blends R&B and soul with Latin bolero and salsa influences. The nine-track project was co-produced with his frequent collaborator D'Mile. Another featured artist, British singer Elmiene, is building anticipation for his own debut album, "Sounds For Someone," scheduled for a March 27 release. The new songs "Honour" and "I Want In" showcase his soul sound.