Not everyone has the chance to release their albums on Stax. When you come from Memphis (the town of this legendary label known for Booker T. & The M.G.’s, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and others), you possess certain musical instincts. Instincts that these young virtuosos from Southern Avenue, whose first eponymous record Southern Avenue was published in 2017 by the famous soul label, are very familiar with. These ingredients of soul, blues, R&B and gospel are also the ingredients that this southern group are experts at cooking in their local tradition in their second album, Keep On. The Jackson sisters (Tierinii on vocals and Tikrya on the drums), the Israeli Ori Naftaly (guitar), Daniel Mckee (bass) and Jeremy Powell (keys), are not messing around reproducing the rhythm'n' blues of their elders. Produced by Johnny Black (Jessie J, Daughtry, Estelle) in the legendary studios of Memphis’ Sam Phillips, the record works to adopt modern styles. The vintage touch is still very much present, but is enveloped by an intrinsically 2019 sound. Keep On notably welcomes an old Stax legend, William Bell, whose voice features on We’ve Got the Music. © Clotilde Maréchal/Qobuz