Sweetback

Sweetback, an English contemporary R&B and soul group, was formed in 1994 by former members of the band Sade, namely Stuart Matthewman, Paul Denman and Andrew Hale, after the conclusion of Sade’s Love Deluxe world tour. The trio established Sweetback as a distinct jazz and funk-oriented project that retained strong R&B overtones. Their debut studio album, Sweetback, was released in October 1996 under Epic Records and featured a host of guest vocalists, including Amel Larrieux, Maxwell, Bahamadia and Leroy Osbourne. The album received a vinyl re-issue in 2016 and helped cement the group’s reputation for blending smooth jazz with contemporary soul. In 2004, Sweetback released their second album, Stage 2, on 22 June 2004, further exploring the intersection of neo-soul and funk. The band’s single “You Will Rise” showcased their signature melodic sensibility. Throughout their career, Sweetback collaborated with artists such as Leroy Osbourne and Aya, and their work contributed to the broader neo-soul movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s, influencing a new generation of R&B musicians with its sophisticated blend of jazz, funk, and contemporary soul.

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