Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990 TAG: 9007270297
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JACQUELINE B. JAMES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When the album was released more than a year ago, Americans needed an introduction to the versatile London-based group.
No longer. The group's funky, dance-oriented music has caught on: "Keep on Movin' " has sold more than 2 million copies in the United States.
This summer, the group is on its first American tour - a 20-city journey that began July 19 in California - and will make a stop at the Roanoke Civic Center on Thursday.
It's quite a production.
The group's 72-member entourage includes drum, horn and string sections and is set up much like an orchestra. Besides the music, the show will include a fashion show of clothes from Jazzie B's shop in London. If the clothes are received as well as the group's music, they could start a fashion trend.
In February, Soul II Soul snapped up Grammy Awards for two of its songs. "Back to Life" won in the R&B vocal duo or group category, and "African Dance" was named best R&B instrumental. The group was also nominated for five American Music awards, more than any other group or artist.
Jazzie B, 26, said the group has been influenced by American rhythm and blues, reggae, jazz and rap. The music is mixed with Caribbean and African rhythms.
The group's latest album, "Vol. II-1990 - A New Decade" (Virgin), features new vocalists Marcia Lewis, one of Jazzie B's cousins, and Victoria Wilson James. But switching singers apparently hasn't hurt the group's popularity - the album has already sold more than 1 million copies since its release earlier this summer. Popular tunes on the new album are "Courtney Blows," "Get a Life" and "Missing You."
"Get a Life" has a reggae sound and features a kids' chorus made up of Jazzie B's nephews. The song sends out the message for people to examine their lives. Jazzie B chants in his English accent, "Achieve what's in your mind's eye. Implement your ideas, put them in motion. Be selective, be objective, be an asset to the collective." In other words, get a life.
According to a release from the group's record label, Virgin Records, Jazzie B got his start in North London in the late '70s as a disc jockey at "blues," described as parties that guests pay to attend. Soul II Soul began to form in 1982 when Jazzie and some of his friends opened up a store in North London, where they sold clothes, sound equipment and records. They also created a spot for unknown musical artists to perform.
Jazzie B, whose real name is Berrisford Romeo, categorizes the fashions in his shop as "funky dread," clothes with a strong African and West Indian influence.
Two rap groups will appear with Soul II Soul in Roanoke - Snap and Duo Rockin. Snap's single "The Power" was No. 6 on Billboard's pop charts last week. Duo Rockin is a four-member group from Charlotte, N.C.
by CNB