Most people think of Sade as the beautiful Nigerian born lady, but Sade is actually the whole band consisting of Stuart Matthewman (sax and guitar), Andrew Hale (keyboards), Paul Spencer Denman (bass) and Helen Folasade Adu (vocals).

In the early 80’s Sade Adu was performing as one of three vocalists in a promising jazz-funk collective known as Pride. In 1984, Sade reemerged as lead singer and principal songwriter of the group bearing her name, accompanied by her former Pride cohorts Matthewman, Hale and Denman. The rest — with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide — is history!

Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul Denman released their first album as "Sweetback" in 1996. The album features guest vocalist from Leroy Osbourne, along with Maxwell and Amel Larrieux of The Groove Theory.

The Sweetback saga began in early 1994, at the end of Sade’s «Love Deluxe» world tour. Stuart Matthewman returned to New York to build his own studio: He’d already begun recording and releasing a series of underground 12-inch singles under such names as Cottonbelly and Edge Test, records which were received enthusiastically in clubs from London to Los Angeles. In addition, Stuart co-wrote, produced and played on three tracks – «Welcome,» «Whenever Wherever Whatever,» and "Lonely’s The Only Company» – from Maxwell’s acclaimed debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite.

Meanwhile in London, Andrew Hale (through his company Deliverance) created soundscapes for fashion shows by such leading designers as Paul Smith and collaborated on his own music with Toshi and Kudo of noted Japanese production team Major Force. Not content with dressing himself as oddly as possible, Paul Denman attempted to get all of L.A. to do likewise by opening a boutique called Goddess in partnership with his wife.

As time passed and the Sweetback collaboration progressed, Stuart, Andrew and Paul continued to exchange DATs, engage in protracted late-night phone calls, and visit each other’s home cities. Gradually their efforts brought together a diverse array of guest performers: Groove Theory vocalist Amel Larrieux, progressive r&b star Maxwell, Philly rap queen Bahamadia, and Sade cohort Leroy Osbourne, each of whom takes a step beyond their own established styles on Sweetback.

For Leroy Osbourne, Sweetback represents a long-awaited moment in the spotlight after nearly a decade as a crucial supporting vocalist for Sade, both on stage and record. His delicate and deeply moving rendition of the Bill Withers classic «Hope She’ll Be Happier» is the first lead vocal performance on record from this gifted singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

No less affecting are the performances of Maxwell on «Softly Softly»; and Groove Theory’s Amel Larrieux on two songs, the album opener «Gaze» and «You Will Rise.» Check Andrew Hale’s Fender Rhodes piano and Paul Denman’s deep but restrained bass line beneath Amel’s yearning lead and heavenly vocal arrangement.

On other tracks like «Chord,» «Powder,» and «Cloud People,» Sweetback reverts to the richly atmospheric, purely instrumental album it was originally intended to be. There are echoes of trip-hop and fusion jazz, ambient dub and the natural world, all adding up to a music that’s much more than the sum of its influences. Sweetback plays like scenes from a film that doesn’t exist yet.

Sweetback is urban soul music that shifts freely between styles and types and rhythms and beats, yet still comes across as fresh, urgent and essential every time. Their self-produced, self-titled debut album is music to chill, music for films, music to wind up your waist. It’s global soul music with its own sense of purpose and identity.

Stewart Matthewman also produced the 2000 Santessa album "Delirium" on the Disco Volante (James Bond – anyone?) label. Mellow Trip-Hop with female vocals. 

The new Sweetback album "Stage 2" was released 22. June 2004. Read more at www.sweetback.com. Also out now is the remix album by Stewart Matthewman aka Cottonbelly entitled "Cottonbelly: X Amounts of Niceness – The NYC Sessions 1993-2004". The album has been over ten years in the making and features remixes of Sade, Maxwell, Gregory Isaacs among others. More www.cottonbelly.com

Hired help on the Deluxe tour:
Leroy Osbourne is always the first to be contacted. The Londoner has provided lead backing vocals since the Promise tour in the mid-80’s. He delivered that mesmerizing acappella introduction to the remix of "Never As Good As The First Time" and he co-wrote with Sade "I Never Thought I’d See The Day" for the album Stronger Than Pride. 

Pounding the drums was Trevor Murrell, and filling in the gaps with things that rattle and slap was percussionist Karl Vanden Bossche. Gordon Hunte played the guitar and Rick Braun played trumpet and assisted on backing vocals.