ISSUE 1049 INTERVIEWS INC: Cover artist international soul superstar Aloe Blacc.  Other interviews include  jazz icon Gregory Porter, jazz/soul connoisseurs favourite Jarrod Lawson, priestess of Aussie soul, Kylie Auldist, jazz/soul artist Jordan Rakei and Samantha Martin.
 
REGULAR FEATURE: Duncan Payne’s The B&S Years travels back to 1985 and the fascinating chart tug-of-war between r&b/soul stars Freddie Jackson and Alexander O’Neil plus, the rise of Whitney Houston and the other chart stars who made headlines that year.
 
CHARTS: *** The B&S Upfront Urban Chart***,  Bigger’s R&B Smoove Grooves Chart, Ben Lovett’s Grooveyard Essentials Dance Chart and probably the coolest chart on the planet, the r&b and soul finger squarely on the pulse, Hip List. This issue also includes Richard Searling’s Collector’s Special list and his Jazz FM Soul Weekender Playlist.
 
B&S COLUMNISTS THIS ISSUE:  Ralph Tee brings you all the latest modern soul news and releases, Ben Lovett delivers a dance music must-read, Bigger shares all the shakers and movers info in the world of R&B and Richard Searling gives the latest low-down on all things northern soul. Talking of northern soul, B&S’ Frank Elson provides an absorbing read as he revisits a classic Checkin’ It Out column from February 1981.
 
REGULAR FEATURE: Soulful Social.. where you can have your say!