Robin McKelle - Soul Flower

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:41
Size: 116,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. So It Goes
(3:58)  2. Tell You One Thing
(3:34)  3. Nothing's Really Changed
(3:49)  4. Fairytale Ending
(5:09)  5. Miss You Madly
(3:41)  6. Don't Give Up
(3:12)  7. Walk On By
(4:06)  8. To Love Somebody
(3:42)  9. Change
(4:49) 10. I'm Ready
(4:29) 11. Love's Work
(4:47) 12. I'm A Fool To Want You

First, Robin McKelle & The Flytones Soul Flower is not neo-soul. Neo-soul is what Amy Winehouse was and Cee Lo Green is (at least on his "Forget You"). Neo-soul is a cheeky attempt to cash in on a classic style while, at the same time, not taking it seriously. Second, Soul Flower might be better termed retro-soul, except that McKelle avoids the pitfall of clinging too tightly to the old style that has plagued other artists trying to put a new spin on the soul canon. A mixture of originals with some clever covers make up Soul Flower. McKelle is a more than capable composer a roll she shares with Sam Barsh (bassist Avishai Cohen's former pianist).

For any Baby Boomer, Soul Flower can be eaten with a spoon. It is more Motown than Memphis by way of Muscle Shoals, and smacks of Bobbie Gentry having a pool party with Gladys Knight and the Pointer Sisters. McKelle possesses a contemporary authenticity that manifests in her assimilation of multiple older styles presented with a freshness that has the fragrance of experience re-imagined. Pianist Beat Kaestli Ben Stivers ' use of the electric piano lends this collection of a dozen songs that sound, which is at once retro and chic. This, coupled with McKelle's honesty, makes this a recording that should encourage a reappraisal of period soul and that being made today. And isn't that what all art is supposed to do? ~ C.Michael Bailey

  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=44970#.UjyFKhAkI5c

Personnel: Robin McKelle: vocals; Derek Nievergelt: bass; Adrian Harpham: drums; Ben Stivers: keyboards; Al Street: guitar, Scott Aruda: trumpet; Mike Tucker: saxophone.

Soul Flower

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