MODERN SOUL and R'n'B REVIEWS

Scroll down for reviews of the following:-

Terell - Love of a lifetime	The McKenzie Burns Project - MB
Special Blendz - Something Special (Cycles of Love)	Rayford Griffin - Rebirth of the Cool - Razor Edge
Shadiya - Heart of a Woman - Te'Naj	Lil' Fallay - Taste Me - Lil Fallay Music
Lil' Fallay - Dreams do come true - Lil Fallay Music	Asaph Womack - My Love My Life - GA Soul
Michael B Sutton - Hopeless Romantic - Little Dizzy	Chris Jasper - Faithful and True - Gold City

Reviews Index - Reviews

Terell - Love of a lifetime

Out of DAT Boyz Entertainment (which is I think Terell's own promo) in New Jersey young Terell puts together a fine slab of R'n'B, and what's more with soulful leanings. Takes a few plays, at first I thought it was a bit sparce and I was unsure whether that was indicative of style or budget. However it's gotten through to me and is garnering many plays, even though there's only 6 tracks in evidence.

The most instant, and possibly therefore commercial, is Same time same place. Great Hooks, beats and a very laid back style. Love of a lifetime is a slow soulful ballad, modern beats but less of an R'n'B edge but certainly a quality cut and rightly chosen as the title track. Havin U around is as upbeat as you get, which contains some great harmonies.

All the cuts are pretty slow and laid back, they are all written by Terell and are well structured both musically, lyrically and vocally. Marvin, Stevie and Donny are influences and that is certainly something to aspire too, and I would think that there's more than enough on here to start drawing attention.

Terell has been nominated for several music awards and we wish him much success. This ones been around for nearly a year I believe but hopefully there is more to come.

Track Listing: - Show U luv; I'm in luv; Havin U around; Same time same place; Love of a lifetime; Spending my time.

The McKenzie Burns Project - MB http://www.mckenzieburns.com/

"McKenzie and Burns, one of R&B's newest songwriter-producer teams, have assembled a cast of incredibly talented artists and produced a compilation CD that masterfully blends R&B with tasteful touches of Contemporary Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin, and Dance genres... " The CD cover also adds that the 'Neo-Soul Revolution is here' and this CD firmly nails its colours to that mast. Not that I pay too much attention to labels but I wouldn't necessarily say that, for me there are far too many traditional soul influences. I also find with much neo soul that the vocal structure is more free flowing, more story telling to music, less poetic structure, less verse and chorus, if you know what I mean. I don't feel that here.......and I prefer this.

Not an instant album but well worth persevering with Stewart McKenzie and David Burns as producers have put together an excellent and varied set using Chester Gregory, Zyanya, Joel Johnson Friendly, Derrick Holland and The Lounge Lizard as vocalists.

Chester features on Diggin Ya Friend, Charisse, This Funky Groove. Charisse being a beautiful mellow love song in a Stevie Wonder mode. Chester played Jackie Wilson in a Chicago production, I'd like to have seen that because I can see many things in the voice but I can't see Jackie (and that's not a criticism). Funky Groove is for me the best of these three, although it is Charisse, that's getting most acclaim, and this cut is not necessarily what the title might suggest. It's a mellow sensuous love song, more Marvin Gaye than James Brown.

Derrick is on Are you gonna, Make my days go. The former is just about mid tempo with a great hook and an easy groove. Derick is the son of Stan Holland who was signed to Buddah in the 70's and worked with the likes of Gladys Knight . Make my days, a different vocalist, but still a tinge of Stevie in there.

Joel's cuts are Hold you tonight and Thought you were the one. Hold you is one of the best if not the best cut on the album. A mellow peaceful loving storm, nice horns and sweet easy soulful vocal especially when it touches the higher reaches, which it only does a touch but enough to suggest that there's scope for greater vocal expansion. Thought is a jazz tinged again mellow ballad.

Zyanya, one of Chicago's hottest Salsa artists, adds another dimension on Never Cry, Be a part of you and Stay with me . Never cry picks up the pace a whole heap, a modern soul dance track with a rap by the Lounge Lizard. Part of you is pure Latin, uptempo but with a soul dance backbeat. Stay with me is downbeat, sensuous and jazzy, classical guitar and vibes, a bit Patti Austin maybe.

Brazilian Love Affair is a Zyanya and Chester duet, not to be confused with George Duke, acoustic classical guitar and a love duet evoking Brazilian sands and skies.

The use of different vocalists certainly adds variety and nuances to a well produced and structured album. Well written and put together by Stewart and David. A good contemporary blend of jazz and soul.

Track Listing: - Diggin ya friend; Are you gonna (Be there for me); Charisse; Never Cry for you again; Make my days go by; Interlude; Brazilian Love Affair; Be a part of you; Silky's Interlude; Hold you tonight; The serenade; This funky groove; Stay with me; Thought you were the one

Special Blendz - Something Special (Cycles of Love)

As an introduction the following is taken from the bands website http://specialblendz.com/, and my review of their CD follows: -

'Special Blendz is a wonderful show band from Chester, Pennsylvania. This group has been thrilling audiences of all ages since 1995. In this age of DAT machines and pre-recorded music, it is becoming rare to experience a totally live performance. However, a Special Blendz show consists of four harmonizing vocalists, who could probably harmonize to a cricket chirp, and six very talented instrumentalists, who know how to complement the singers and keep the audience groovin'. The shows are definitely all the way live! Our vocalists not only sing, but they also choreograph each song to make the group fun to watch in addition to being great to listen to. Talk about fun to watch, Special Blendz wears uniforms for each show that range from loud and flashy to conservative and tasteful. Our stage uniforms depend on the venue.

We have released our debut CD, Something Special. The CD features some Special Blendz originals as well as remakes of some classic R&B hits. You can listen to some of the tracks and purchase the CD online through this site. We are currently working on our sophomore CD. So, check this site regularly or join our mailing for updated information on the CD and possibly some previews.

Special Blendz has an extensive repertoire of cover songs that range from The Temptations and The O'Jays to Dru Hill and Next. However, one aspect of the show that really leaves a lasting impression on the audience is our medley arrangements. These medleys are full of pleasant surprises and should not be missed!'

Well that sets the scene, as you can see Special Blendz are a hard working and entertaining showband with an emphasis on old school soul standards that are these days diminishing fast. The vocal ability is self evident from the moment that you put down the CD.

However I would like to concentrate particularly on the self penned items on the CD, as for me they are stand out tracks, illustrating that there is more to them than simply being a covers band. These three tracks are Try My Love, Comin Back and Baby Baby Baby.

The first two of these are midtempo - Comin Back is a bit choppier, a bit punchier akin to the kind of stuff that the Temptations and Main Ingredient have been putting out over the last few years. Try my love is smoother. Baby Baby is a dead slow sweet soul outing, like the early material Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes cut on Philly Int - really nice.

The vocal ability is excellent and something that you don't see too much of in this style these days. I don't necessarily think it is dying out, just that times and markets are changing, but it sure is good to hear.

Of the other tracks we get a couple of mixes of Joy and Pain, such a great and well respected song that nearly every version of it is good. It's also not necessarily the most obvious tracks that are covered, steeped in sweet 70's soul nostalgia, there is a great version of the Futures Love is Here.

Track Listing : - Joy and Pain, Try my love, You make me feel brand new, Love is here, Comin Back, Sing a song, Baby baby baby, Lady, Joy and Pain

Shadiya - Heart of a Woman - Te'Naj

Shadiya's first album, although she has had a couple of other things released. She has written produced and arranged this set. Her vocals are at the higher end of the scale and the vocals ease in and out of this smooth set. It's kind of Minnie Ripperton in style, the voice is easy on the ear and the material too. Just listening to (and enjoying) this earlier on today I was trying to think when the last time a voice like this came through. The overall feel is one of relaxed enjoyment, mellow sultry and feminine.

'Tell Me Now' is about as upbeat as you get, a great soul tune and not really typical of the rest of the album. 'Never find another' now really does take us into Ripperton territory and the beauty of the voice is that it is so relaxed and not strained despite hitting the highs. The tracks go on in a smooth jazzy soulful and very consistent style '911 emergency', 'rain or shine' a very good a ballad, jazzier moods on 'changes'.

'Everyday' is a bit more commercial, bit more upbeat, nice hook and a tale of the no good husband. 'Jade' sounds as if it is a plea from the heart. 'My child' is also an easy smooth commercial ballad.

Concluding with a remix of 'everyday' complete with rap interludes, the nearest thing to current R'n'B.

I find this album very pleasing to the ear, sweet soulful and consistent. There is not particularly a stand out track, each is well written and performed, an album of relaxed moods, very nice indeed.

 Tracks:- Tell me now, Never find another, 911 emergency, rain or shine, everyday, in my life (interlude), You are my man, Thank you, Changes, jazz (interlude), jade, my child, everyday (remix).

Rayford Griffin - Rebirth of the Cool - Razor Edge

New and first CD from Drummer, Singer and Songwriter Rayford Griffin. The album features greats such as Branford Marsalis, George Duke, Dwight Sills and Gerald Albright. All songs were written and arranged by Rayford.

The album is predominantly smooth but contemporary and innovative instrumental jazz. But the first track is a killer. It is what it says it is Rebirth of the Cool - swinging and upbeat, great lead vocals by Rayford and sweet soulful harmonies, muted trumpet easing in the backgrounds and some great sax breaks. Terrific stuff.

'Lids and squares' is an upbeat and funky instrumental evoking memories in black and white. 'All that' is another vocal cut but featuring great sax work by Branford Marsalis. 'Everytime I see u' moves to feature the guitar of Jamie Glaser and keyboards of Deron Johnson to give another different feel. 'In your eyes' featuring Dwight Sills is melodic, semi- funky and more percussive, a sublime 8 minutes.

'Jazzi Ray' is harder straight jazz, jazz supper club stuff, classic 5 piece style, trumpet, sax, piano, bass and drums, solos abound but maintaining the beat and the feel.

A couple of rock fusion tracks 'Folake' with George Duke on synth 70's stylee, and 'Coffee'. 'Kings' returns to a funky beat, overdubbed sax of EverettHarp.

This album as I have said is predominantly jazz but within that contains so many different changes and styles, and is so professionally put together, it certainly holds your interest. Great album if jazz is your thing. Standouts for me are Rebirth, Lids and Kings.

Tracks: - Rebirth of the cool, Lids and Squares, All that, Everytime I see you, In your eyes, Jazzi Ray (Rayford's song), Folake, Kings, Coffee.

Lil' Fallay - Taste Me - Lil Fallay Music

I'm not sure what I expected when this came through, the first package went astray but it eventually arrived, and I'm glad that it did. Now a lot of the independent material that I received has been put together on a budget, or even no budget, and as a result it sometimes has no guts, no feeling in the instrumentation, and also playing to the 'Smooth' marketplace. Now this one, cut under the same criteria I suspect, is different, it certainly has some balls and I like it.

Definite Southern Soul feel to it which in itself gives it a harder edge and an old school feel. 'Can I dance with you' is a great track - I'd love this on vinyl! - great vocals over a simplistic lyric and wonderful dated chorus harmonies. 'Just won't give in' lyrically typifies most of the album, mostly relationship based as with much Southern Soul and, of course, with a hint of humour every now and again. There is also a dance mix on offer, it's a track I like but not sure if the additional mix adds too much. 'Nu thang' is smoother, bluesier and humorous and the vocal sits beautifully with the vibe and the instrumentation.

'Taste Me' the title track changes the feel down to a straight soul ballad but with quite contemporary sexual lyrics. The better ballad for me is I Don't wanna be alone. Personally of the cuts on offer I prefer the more upbeat ones and Swing it is such a track. This track must have originated earlier because it appears on the album reviewed under, but hey this is a great track, similar in some ways to 'Can I dance', strong vocal, great hook.

'Spank it' starts with the children singing 'Little Sally Walker', now that was Rufus Thomas wasn't it, on the old Blue Stax!, but this is in reality full on dance funk of the early 70's variety.

Loved it, great fun, refreshing and real.

Tracks : - Intro Set it off, Just want give in, Can I dance with you, Nu thang, I take that back, taste Me, Lil Fallay Rap (Interlude), Swing it, Spank it, I don't want to be alone, Come back, Just wanna give in (Dance Mix), Thank you (spiritual interlude)

Lil' Fallay - Dreams do come true - Lil Fallay Music

This album from a couple of years ago, 2000, is very similar, the same general comments apply to the style and application. This album is a little less polished (although I'm not sure if polished is the right word!) Although I do feel that this album is slightly more experimental, particularly when it picks up on some quite contemporary vibes.

'Swing it' as mentioned above is a great track, and certainly good enough to persevere with. We have the funkier sides (Get my freak on, Coolie Brown) and the ballads (Scared Little Girl). Whilst the album is generally good time or relationship based there are still gospel/ spiritual overtones throughout. The title 'Dreams do come true' is a great mix of things, a song of optimism, happy stylee, new style rap, classic harmonies and Southern vocal.

'Cruel' is as good a ballad as you'll find on the two albums but my favourite track is 'I'm coming home', the vocal for me comes over stronger on the midtempo numbers, more so that the ballads, great soul track. This is the other side of my vinyl double header, I think this and 'Can I dance' would go down well with the soul vinyl junkies in the UK.

And Southern Kind of Groove is what it is!

Tracks: - Swing it, Get my freak on, Scared little girl, Interlude (My request), Dreams do come true, Interlude (My prayer), Uptown Coolie Brown, Lil Fallay loves to party, Cruel, I'm coming home, Slow ride, Southern kind of groove (voc), Southern kind of groove (inst), Interlude (Thanks)

Asaph Womack - My Love My Life - GA Soul

If an album has a handful of tracks that I consider to be good then it for me is a fine album. I've always been a 'singles' man in that I've always gone for songs. This by that token is a good album indeed. There are at least four tracks that I consider to be strong, and they are in their own way different. The main thing that comes across is Asaph's voice and delivery. The album is, if it needs to be categorised, contemporary R'n'B with traditional Soul values and gospel overtones. Asaph and his immediate team of Gil Small, Ben Simms and Willie Cooper have produced a well constructed album and put it out through their own outlet GASoul.

'I tried it all' has a pumping R'n'B backbeat, current flava to this along the lines of a Musiq Soulchild with the old skool of Stevie Wonder. 'You're the one' has a more Modern Soul feel, the voice easing in and out of the upper ranges and catchy chorus. 'Tell me girl' has a sort of Isleys vocal range but in the style of Bobby Womack, a slow balladic old school feel to this. Pleading falsetto over the chorus - great track, possibly my favourite. 'Heaven', again a Modern Soul but mellow backbeat done in a live feel stylee, again Stevie influences come through in vocal style.

Fore me these four are the standouts but that's not to say you should dismiss the others. There are other soulful ballads like Sunshine which has a very today chorus - in fact the album generally merges together today feel against classic soul influences. This track actually reminds me of Outstanding mellowed down (Who was that? Memory block - SOS Band, Gap Band?). 'I'll be there' is also a ballad worth listening to and the closing track 'I love you' is a closing love eulogy over a heavy beat, though not quite Willie Mitchell!

There's more at the R'n'B end like '5W's', and a great track 'I apologise', which actually on reflection, is in the same class as the top 4!.

Tracks:- My prayer, I tried it all, You're the one, Sunshine, The 5W's, Tell me girl, I apologise, Come back to me, Key to my heart, Heaven, I'll be there, I love you.

Michael B Sutton - Hopeless Romantic - Little Dizzy

Michael has an impressive CV particularly as a writer and hopefully this is something we can explore further on this site in the not too distant future. The experience he has built over 20 years in the business comes through on this well produced album.

The opening tracks kicks us off in fine form, 'Body Music' mildly jazzy, grooving and sensual. 'If you let me love you' is a dead slow love ballad but of the ballads it is surpassed by 'Do that to me'. 'Give it up baby' increases the tempo slightly with a bouncy (chorus and hook) but easy vocal. The vocals are smooth and have a velvety quality, though sometimes I kinda wish it would let go a bit, a bit more strength but maybe that would be out of context with the album. The first tranche of songs up to the Interlude are love ballads, concluding with Sweet Surrender and Flight which is my pick up to this point..

The mood changes after the interlude with the Blues, pretty laid back blues, which kicks in on Feeling Down, as the title might suggest. 'Love me inside out' has a really nice groove, kinda mellow, kind funky. 'I wanna sex you' has an uptempo- ish modern soul beat.

Another interlude leading into a duet with Tata Vega, Lovers serenade, complete with jazzy latin-y acoustic guitars. 'Nobody' by popular opinion seems to be the highest regarded track and I wouldn't disagree with that, lyrically strong and great hook and a slightly higher vibe than some of the other ballads. Closing with the title track, a summary of the thought processes behind the album.

The album has a warm 'listen to me' feel, a contrast in styles but lovingly and thoughtfully constructed

Tracks:-Body Music, If you let me love you, Give it up, Do that to me, Sweet Surrender, Flight, Feelin down, Love me inside out, I wanna sex you, Lovers serenade, Nobody, Hopeless Romantic.

Chris Jasper - Faithful and True - Gold City

Now Gospel isn't necessarily everyone's bag, the song titles and the lyrics clearly show the message that is dear to Chris and what he is trying to put across. But this isn't hard in your face Gospel that the label may suggest. It is mature soulful intelligent adult orientated material. Smooth and mellow, with hints of jazz, and you can feel the Isley/Jasper/Isley in there by reference to Chris's vocal style.

'In my dream' is a track where I can feel the Isley period, a song of hope, calm and peace. Chris explores the subject from within and without, to do the good things from an inner perspective of knowing and doing what is right (Inside of Me), and also to praise more overtly where this perspective comes from (Only the Lord can do that). 'Doing my thing' probably comes into that latter category, but musically is harder and funkier, and the lyric concerns getting on the Right Track. Lyrically this one is more complex but that is not always the case, some tracks are equally as uplifting in their simplicity (e.g. The Good News).

'He saved me' sounds as if it is autobiographical, nicely constructed over a heavy bassline and Chris's sweet voice and persistent chorus. That familiar guitar sound opens 'All over again' where Chris pledges his allegiance. 'Living for the Lord' is a great funky joyful thing with excellent choral work and is probably the nearest that you get to traditional Church Gospel. 'Come together' introduces some harder 'street' lyrics over a fast persistent funky beat, harder vocals, sweet chorus.

 Tracks :- Only the Lord can do that, In my dream, Inside of me, Doing my thing (for the Lord), Don't take your love from me, The good news, Faithful and true, He saved me, Jesus, All over again, Living for the Lord, Come together (in the Spirit)

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