Al Green News

By STEWART SMITH Entertainment Writer Edwin Holt wants to give East Texans a one-of-a-kind show, one that harks back to the days of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, the kind that musicians simply don't do anymore.

I normally don't use pop culture catch phrases, but this past Sunday's Basement Soul Lounge was "off the chain." Do you like Marvin Gaye, DeAngelo, Al Green and Donny Hathaway? Well, if you had all of these artists rolled up into one, you'd have Tim Terry.

American soul legend Al Green will help inject a whole lotta love into the Sydney Festival next year, headlining the event alongside The Velvet Underground's John Cale and Slumdog Millionaire composer A. R. Rahman.

THE trip to Memphis, Tennessee, to visit Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, is a pilgrimage for music fans around the world.

THE Reverend Al Green, one of the greatest soul singers, will tour Australia for the first time in January.

Al Green @ The Wellmont Theater in 2008 We weren't sure going in what kind of music we would be hearing [at BB King's on Oct.

In the past seven years, Stewart has released albums of tried-and-true songs: four Great American Songbook albums of Tin Pan Alley standards, a collection of rock oldies -- and Soulbook , with 1960s and '70s hits from Sam Cooke, Motown and Philadelphia International Records.

The British long ago made themselves curators of American R&B and soul as record collectors, disc jockeys and remake performers.

The booklet that accompanies "Do What You Want, Be Who You Are," the new four-CD boxed set devoted to the music of Daryl Hall and John Oates, is full of testimonials to the Philadelphia-bred soul-pop tandem, who headline a sold-out triple bill Friday at the Spectrum in Philadelphia with Todd Rundgren and the Hooters.

Ndegeocello returns to a casual sound. Details: Meshell Ndegeocello The Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333, tripledoor.net . $26$32. All ages.

Legendary soul singer Al Green will perform Jan. 23 at Blaisdell Arena, Bamp Project promoters announced today.

But get him on the phone and Rev. Green will bebop and scat like a madman. Ahead of his Thursday show at the House of Blues, Green told us - between oddball jokes and manic bursts of laughter - why he just can't stop and still loves his classics.

Maxwell returns to New Orleans on Wed., Oct. 21. From time to time, R&B stars disappear not because of normal career fluctuations, but for more mysterious, dramatic reasons.

Maxwell sure knows his audience. And not just all the single ladies - many of whom were up and dancing to Beyonce's ubiquitous hit the prince of neo-soul used as his intro music Tuesday at Toyota Center - but the men who love them, or at least want to get with them.

Wednesday afternoon. Six hours till showtime. Maxwell is lounging in the cheap seats of the Richmond Coliseum in Virginia, watching his road crew assemble the stage as if it were giant, real-life game of Tetris.

Al Green was the first great soul singer of the '70s and arguably the last great Southern soul singer.

And he rolled up his sleeves and poured it all over the stage of the United Center on Thursday night.

On a recent Saturday night, a person could walk along North Boulevard past sleepy Beauregard Town and find hardly a soul on the way to Third Street, save for a couple aimless sorts parked on a sidewalk bench, whiling the hours away.

Tried-and-true oldies plus a twist of something new is what's in store for Hampton Jazz Festival fans this year.

WHO'S THE NEW GUY?: Mayer Hawthorne doesn't pack the vocal prowess of Boston's own white-soul survivalist Eli Reed, but his music is years more contemporary.