Eight Gigs: Leela James

While everyone’s busy talking about neo-soul and future-funk, Leela James keeps it old school. Her smoky, gritty voice brings to mind the ’60s and ’70s legends: Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples. Her laid-back grooves have a bit of gospel, low-key funk and plenty of classic soul. But this isn’t a retro soul revue. Her style and production keep things modern, even while she maintains the spirit of soul music’s yesteryear. Her music is full of love, passion and positive vibes. She embraces the good things in life while condemning things like sexism and materialism. 1013 K Street, www.leelajames.com.