R&B

Leela James, “Let’s Do It Again”
Shanachie

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson

Released back in March, Let’s Do It Again is Leela James’ long-anticipated sophomore album. The album is a definite through back with a lot of 70s and 80s beats paired to contemporary lyrics. On “Clean Up Woman,” James sampled the beat of the classic Jean Knight track, “Mr. Big Stuff” (1971), but adds her own flare. James then lends her style to the Rolling Stones classic “Miss You,” James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” and Phyllis Hyman’s, “You Know How To Love Me,” to name a few. There’s no question James can sing, the only problem here is that these originals are so good that her rendition, while still quite good, does not do enough to sell you on it. It probably doesn’t help much that Seal’s version of the aforementioned Brown classic earlier this year is slowly becoming a classic in its own right. “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “I Try,” and “Simply Beautiful” also fall a tad short of their original glory. Overall, James is an indelible talent but if you’re a fan, you’re likely waiting for her next album with new material. 3/5

Buy It: Amazon

Tracy Cruz, “Feel'osophy”
Independent

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson

Influenced by jazz, soul, hip-hop, R&B and contemporary Gospel, Tracy Cruz’s voice will immediately remind you of Toni Braxton, with its deep rich tone and impeccable range, but she is no copycat. On her debut disc, Feel’osophy, the Filipino-American singer is providing an introduction to the kind of music that she’s been performing live across California’s Bay Area for years. While the album starts off with a few predictable R&B tracks, “Emotional Love” is an upbeat Neo-Soul tune that will get your head nodding for sure. In the tradition of the genre, it’s a playful tune about the early stages of love and romance. Then, on “My Valentine,” Cruz slows the tempo down a bit and takes us deeper into her ‘feel’osophy with lyrics like “You’ve got to feel my music/cuz my music feels you”. A little further down, tracks like “Son-Shine,” “Expression Sensation,” “Can’t Change Me” and “Your Dreams” are lyrically strong but also contain a sweet groove that keeps you into each song. Finally, “Blue Eyes” is a sweet love song with an accompanying piano that is the perfect balance to Cruz’s soprano vocal. Ultimately, “Feel’osophy” is a solid debut and hopefully a prelude to a bright and long-lasting future. 4/5

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Nikita Germaine, “Just Kita”
Family Tree Records/Koch

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson

Just Kita is the sophomore release from this Oakland, California R&B songstress. Leading off with the single, “911 L.O.V.E.,” which is a soulful, radio friendly anthem, Germaine sings with a sincerity that just draws you in. Having worked with the likes of Whitney Houston, Tevin Campbell, Shanice Wilson and Aretha Franklin, there’s no doubt this woman can sing, but translating that talent into a solo career isn’t always an easy transition to make. After one listen to Just Kita, her mission is accomplished! Tracks like “La La La,” “Over & Over,” “Enough is Enough” and “It’s So Nice” are solid love tunes. The production here is quality, albeit there are no exceptionally special beats, but Germaine is a vocalist, you can tell. She’s more concerned about the message being conveyed in her lyrics than whether or not they’re laid down to a phat beat. The uptempo “Mmmm” is also a standout tune. With its sexy guitar accompaniment the background vocals echo Marvin Gaye on “Sexual Healing”. Finally, towards the album’s end, Germaine takes us into her world with “One Day”, a personal journey about her own struggles. 4/5

Sakai, “Dream Big”
Family Tree Records

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson

San Francisco Bay area native, singer/songwriter Sakai is no stranger to singing. She has performed with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and Chaka Khan, but on Big Dream, her indelible essence stands alone. The album starts off with “I Like,” an uptempo track with a very smooth, easy listening vibe. You got to love a song that has you singing the hook the very first time you hear it. Other songs like “Friendship 2 Love,” “Nothin’ I can Do,” and “Don’t Touch Me Like That” are lyric driven tracks that can best be described as classic R&B. They make you think; they make you feel; and most of all, through Sakai's earnest voice, you can relate to each tune. Undoubtedly, leaving the title track until the very end was a strategic move because it fully represents who Sakai is, and what this album is about. While Dream Big likely won’t garner the kind of radio play it would have had during the heydays of the R&B ‘90s, you know real talent and good music when you hear it, and this album fits into that category quite comfortably. 4/5

Thelma Houston, “A Woman’s Touch”
Miles High Productions

Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson

A Woman’s Touch is Thelma Houston’s first studio release in over 17 years, and her voice has not changed one bit. On A Woman’s Touch, Houston has put together a collection of her favourite cover songs by some of the greatest male singers of our time, from Al Green (“Love and Happiness”) to Luther Vandross (“Never Too Much”) to Marvin Gaye (“Distant Lover”). While those songs are the more popular ones being redone here, it’s her rendition of Earth Wind and Fire’s “That’s The Way Of The World” that really makes an impression. On that track, Houston adds her own unique disco-like flare to the song turning it into her own. It’s not until the chorus that you recognize it for what it is. That’s the mark of a true visionary. The only problem with this album is that it’s coming after a series of other cover albums, which featured a similar collection of covers. Having said all that, when Thelma Houston lends her voice to any track, she pours herself into its hooks and brings you into her world, and for that reason, the songs on A Woman’s Touch are definitely worth a re-listen or two. 3/5

Deniece Williams, “Love, Niecy Style”
Shanachie

Ms. “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” is back with a wonderful cover album, Love, Niecy Style. There has been several R&B cover albums over the past couple of years, most of which have done nothing to further the brilliance of the original track. But, Deniece Williams has put forth a solid foot forward on each of the classics she redoes on this disc, and the range of eras she taps is also quite impressive. Starting with the 1963 classic “That’s How Heartaches Are Made” to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Love’s Holiday”, you’ll be taken back with a twist a la Williams. Very few people have been able to do Stevie Wonder, but on “If You Really Love Me” an old classic is given a new look and sound that is albeit probably a testament to Stevie’s legacy as a songwriter, but still a refreshing cover nonetheless. The only track that perhaps you may have a hard time taking in is “Cherish”, Kool & The Gang’s indomitable hit from the 80s. Williams does make it her own with a few adlibs, but this is one of those signature tracks that is hard to re-jig – it was just that perfect the first time around. On “Lady Love Me (One More Time)”, George Benson’s 1983 hit is turned into a contemporary smooth jazz track, and that’s definitely a good thing. Finally, perhaps in tribute to the late Luther Vandross, Love, Niecy Style includes the 1981 smash hit, “Never Too Much”. Ultimately, this album is a wonderful tribute to multiple R&B eras where it was not about the club scene, or shaking your butt but about innuendo and lyrics. 4/5

Elizabeth Withers
"It Can Happen To Anyone"
Blue Note

From Broadway to the studio, Elizabeth Withers is one of the brightest singers of the millennium. It Can Happen To Anyone, her debut disc, is not just another album; on the contrary, with this release, Withers' name will be forever thought of in the same vein as soul divas of yesteryear and today, like Anita Baker, Toni Braxton and Jennifer Hudson. Simply put, this girl can sing. Right off the top, "Simple Things" is a classic soul track that highlights her rich soulful pipes. While this album is filled with solid uptempo R&B tracks like "It Can Happen" and "Get Your Shoes On", Withers is at her best on slow jams, like "Be with You" with its seductive lyrics and sexy vocals and her take on the Bette Midler classic, "Wind Beneath My Wings" - you've never heard a cover like this before. It's very rare in the R&B world nowadays to hear an album that is truly distinct and an embodiment of raw talent, but unequivocally, Elizabeth Withers' It Can Happen To Anyone is one of the most inspirational albums of the year, not just because of its stellar production but because it's the kind of music people of a certain age remember from 'back in the day'. 5/5

Vesta, "Distant Lover"
Shanachie Entertainment

Distant Lover is another cover album paying homage to songs from one of the best eras in R&B history - the 70s and 80s. For those who don't know, Vesta's been in the game for years, collaborating with such legends as Anita Baker ("Rapture"), Jeffrey Osborne ("Emotional") and Gladys Knight ("Good Woman"). Of all her renditions, Baby Face's "Whip Appeal", the title track (Marvin Gaye), and Stevie Wonder's "Knock Me Off My Feet" are her most interesting spins on timeless classics. Although she gives a new sound to these tracks, admittedly, there was not much wrong with the original so for some people, it might be a little like the old adage, 'if it ain't broke don't fix it', but if you're open enough to consider the risk Vesta is taking by redoing these classics, you'll likely appreciate her efforts for what they are. Unfortunately, there are a few tracks, like "No Ordinary Love" (Sade) and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (The Spinners) that just don't give the original justice. It's a brave effort by Vesta on this album, but it ultimately falls short. 2/5

Silk, "Always & Forever"
Shanachie Entertainment
by Cheryl Thompson

The 90s was a decade full of male R&B groups. From Jodeci to Boy II Men to Hi-Five to Portrait to Silk, in their own way, each group left an indelible mark in R&B history. Essentially an album of remakes from the 80s, like Al B Sure's "Nite and Day," Michael Jackson's "Lady In My Life," and Shalamar's "A Night To Remember," Always & Forever, Silk's seventh album, is about ten years too late. While Silk has produced a few classic tracks in their own right ("Freak Me" and "Baby It's You"), the classics on this album are on another level. If you're the type who enjoys hearing new spins on old favourites, you'll enjoy this disc. For example, Silk's version of "Don't Disturb This Groove," originally performed by The System, will have you doing a double take. This album is not for everyone, but you gotta give them credit for daring to touch some of these rare gems. 3/5