Risoff to promote new CD locally

New York soul singer Angel Rissoff has completed his CD, “Nu Soul Stew,” and will be in the Carolinas to promote its release. The initial CD release party, featuring Rissoff and Nashville guitarist Rickey Godfrey, will be at J.B. Pivots in Charleston, S.C., on June 26.

The duo will take the tour to the Spanish Galleon in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday, June 27, and Chaser’s on Oak Island on Saturday, June 28.

The 13-track CD includes a combination of soul, jump blues and R&B.

Rissoff, who began his career singing on street corners when he was 12, has worked with talents such as Chuck Berry, Cyndi Lauper, John Lee Hooker and Paul Schafer.

He was an original member of Little Isidore and the Inquisitors. He sang lead on the No. 1 hit single “Harlem Hit Parade.” “Jitterbop” from his album, Little Leopold, made it to No. 3 on the charts. “Angel, Where Have You Been,” Rissoff’s first CD under his own name, was selected as one of Soul-Patrol.com’s Best of 2006.

Next the performer/producer put together “Angel’s Nu-Soul Explosion,” a compilation of established and rising artists in the soul/R&B/blues genres. The CD included the popular “Soothe You,” which Risoff has since released in the UK as a special white vinyl 45, the artist’s 10th on Real Side Records.

“Nu Soul Stew” includes three originals. Angel co-wrote “Boogie Down Bronx” with Seth Glassman, of Junior Mintz fame and his former Little Isidore bandmate.

“Snows of July,” Rissoff’s tune about looking for love, features Chicago’s Danny Draher, who Risoff considers one of the best blues guitarists in the country. “Geneve” chronicles five weeks a younger Rissoff spent with a girl from Switzerland.

Two of the tracks, “Think” and “Tears of Joy,” were written by Lowman Pauling, songwriter/guitarist for groundbreaking soul group, the 5 Royales. “Think,” which was also covered by James Brown in 1960, showcases renowned sax man, Don Wise, who has played in Delbert McClinton’s band for more than 20 years.

Other high power musicians on the CD include David Spinoza, Johnny Gale, Richie Migliacci, Little Isidore and the Inquisitors, Barbara Harris and Choice, the a cappella group from New Jersey.

Rickey Godfrey is considered to be one of the premier blues guitarists in Nashville. He has been nominated by the Music City Blues Society as both Guitarist and Keyboard Player of the Year. The Rickey Godfrey Band’s 2004 CD, Soul Sensations, earned four CBMA awards, including Group of the Year, Group Album, Producer and Song of the Year for “Can’t Change My Heart.” In 2006, Godfrey again earned top honors, for Blues Album of the Year (“Once In a Lifetime Love”), Group of the Year and Group Album of the Year (“Once In a Lifetime Love”).

J.B. Pivots is at 1662 South Savannah Hwy, Charleston, S.C. Telephone: (843) 571-3668. Spanish Galleon is at 100 Main St., North Myrtle Beach, S.C.Telephone: (843) 249-1047. Chasers is at 601 Ocean Drive, Oak Island. Telephone: (910) 278-5252.