Robin McKelle August 12, 2010

After two jazz albums (‘Introducing Robin McKelle’ and ‘Modern Antique’), songstress Robin McKelle breaks with her former classicism to bring us a magnificent new album that spans rhythm ‘n’ blues, soul and jazz with huge talent and authority.

This as yet little-known but dazzling dimension of the singer’s art covers an entire tradition of great soul music (by Ray Charles and Nina Simone especially) expressed with rare power and authenticity.

Along with covers of standards by Willie Dixon, Arthur Hamilton and Doc Pomus, as well as self-penned songs, Robin McKelle includes highly-successful, original takes on titles by Leonard Cohen, the Gibb brothers (The Bee Gees) and Lennon & McCartney. She is ably backed by a formidable group of musicians. Among them is Fred Wesley (James Brown’s legendary trombonist), who has contributed two superb arrangements to the album legendary sax player Houston Person on two tracks.