George HaffendenWhenever Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are mentioned or written about, I can’t help but get quite excited. People say that Beyoncé is the new Queen of Soul, but quite frankly, if any voice can usurp Aretha, Sharon Jones is the woman to do it.
Jones and The Dap-Kings are riding high, and have been for a while now; at the forefront of the new soul with the traditional sixties sound, they’ve recently been nominated for a Grammy in the Best R&B Category for last year’s exquisite album entitled ‘Give The People What They Want’. And that is more Sharon Jones.
Her latest release with the Dap-Kings on the brilliant independent label DapTone Records (who have also launched, or more rightly re-launched, the career of former-James Brown impersonator Charles Bradley) is quite frankly phenomenal. The best thing, or at least one of the best things about DapTone recordings, is the use of a real live horn section; on ‘Little Boys with Shiny Toys’ the horns are full front and centre from the beginning. Equally impressive is the rhythm section, the pounding Motown-esque bass and the subtle guitar licks provide Jones with a great track to launch her vocals.
In 2013 Jones was diagnosed and went under treatment for cancer, yet by the end of the year she was back on the music scene announcing her new album and worldwide tour. Fast forward a year or so, and Jones remains in excellent voice on this single that is sure to become another fan favourite. Her gritty power is unique in the soul world today, its something of a rarity for such a soul singer in this mould to achieve the success that she has. Her success is richly deserved, and proves that regardless of age – Jones is 58 – you can still remain relevant, and can still achieve commercial and critical success so long as the material and production is well conceived. Long may Jones continue to make great soul music.