I received a suggestion from hbh regarding a new forum to discuss soul music.

I would like to get everyone's opinion and perhaps a description of the forum goals - would it include R&B and Blues.... or just be soul?

What is your concept of what soul music encompasses?

I believe this forum should include soul in all aspects and R&B, because there is often a crossover between both genres. Blues is another area.

This is a new area for me -- the only understanding I have of Soul Music is Cold Duck Time, because it was included in a play-along music book for musicians, and because Brian Bomberg played it on his Downright Upright CD.

I'd pass on it.

First, I don't know that a dedicated forum for soul is necessary. Why not just create a soul topic here?
As to what should be included, if such a forum is created, it definitely should include blues and probably gospel. As to R&B, I think today's R&B is far removed from soul. There are exceptions, of course, but most of what passes for R&B over the past 20 years is more hip-hop and less soul than the R&B of the early to mid 1980s.

There was another recent thread that had a quote in it that I think is appropriate to share here. For me, questions like this are best answered by going back to the mission statement.....

"the main purpose of this forum is discussion about contemporary jazz from a fan perspective."

It doesn't hurt anyone to have another forum added, they can just ignore it (we aren't all Musicians, yet there's a Musicians forum, yeah?). I say go for it!

I'm going to keep this topic open thru the weekend, to give more folks a chance to weigh in on the idea.

I'm okay fine with a Soul forum, and as Jazzwriter mentioned, it should include Blues and Gospel because that's how soul music came about, and it should be fan and musician based. When you really look at it, jazz was basically birthed from Blues and spirituals(Gospel), along with ragtime.

Guess I'm on the fence on this one. Maybe I'll conclude while I type. We, here on the island, have discussed nearly everything under the sun without benefit of a specific "forum", but I don't know that we have ever singled out "soul music". While I see no reason NOT to, I really don't see a REASON to.

Well, how wishy-washy was that?

What the heck. Let 'er rip. May provoke some different veins of thought and attract new members. If it just dries up, then we at least gave it a shot; eh?

So, it's been about 3 weeks....

My suggestion would be more of a compromise. Rather than pile soul, etc into off-topic.... is it Ok with folks if hbh drops reviews into the contemp jazz news & review forum?

Is that where this is from? Reviews of soul music? Umm, forgive me for asking but who's putting out "soul" CDs these days?
Anyway, if it's about new releases or reviews of releases past and present, the CJR forum is fine.