For those not in the know, Southern Avenue combines the talents of a prodigiously talented set of young musicians who bring their individual backgrounds to the table to create music that carries the Southern soul legacy into the 21st century.

Spanning the band members' wide-ranging musical interests while showcasing the powerful chemistry and electrifying live show that they've honed through extensive stage and studio experience, since the release of their debut, Southern Avenue has played in over a dozen countries and wowed audiences at all their gigs.

Guitar phenom Ori Naftaly originally built his reputation in his native Israel before joining forces with deeply expressive Memphis-bred singer Tierinii Jackson and her subtly powerful drummer sister Tikyra Jackson.

The band's lineup is rounded out by versatile keyboardist Jeremy Powell, an early alumnus of Stax Records' renowned music academy.

On their aforementioned self-titled 2017 debut album, the boundary-breaking Memphis combo Southern Avenue sparked a one-band musical revolution, embodying an effortlessly organic soul/blues/R&B fusion that reflects the band members' diverse roots as well as their deep commitment to their chosen style.

On their upcoming second album Keep On (coming out May 10th, 2019 via Concord Records), the dynamic outfit expands its gritty musical vision to embrace new musical challenges and a more expansive creative vision.

1. 'Keep On'
2. 'Whiskey Love'
3. 'Savior'
4. 'Switchup'
5. 'The Tea I Sip'
6. 'Lucky'
7. 'Jive'
8. 'Too Good For You'
9. 'We Are Not So Different'
10. 'We've Got The Music'
11. 'She Gets Me High'
12. 'We're Gonna Make It'

The album kicks off in some fine style with the funky horn blues title track, before heading seamlessly into both the steamy blues of 'Whiskey Love' and then the laid back underground club vibes of 'Savior' and the upbeat, vivacious funk lines of 'Switchup.'

The sultry bass lines of 'The Tea I Sip' make this one of my own personal favorites and that's followed seamlessly by both the gentle hipsway of 'Lucky,' the frenetic beats of 'Jive' and that wondrous Down South upbeat attitude of self confidence wrapped in can-do on 'Too Good For You.'

"Making this album was an interesting journey," Ori says of Keep On. "Our first album was recorded very fast and released very fast. With this one, we spent a long time planning, and we knew how we wanted it sound."

"For me, it's a big progression from the first album. The experience was completely different from making the first one," adds Tierinii. "We learned a lot about each other and a lot about the band."

The rhythm section once again comes to the fore on 'We Are Not So Different' whilst 'We've Got The Music' allows their funkier side to stand loud and proud. Another stand out cut here, its overall old school Motown R&B blues vibe is a true flashback high-five.

This incredibly vibrant, and wholly organic album then rounds out with the drum-led beauty 'She Gets Me High,' before the lush Gospel ballad 'We're Gonna Make It' is unveiled.

www.southernavenuemusic.com

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