The mix of silk and sass work well with vocalist Rene’ Marie. She can do wonders with a lyric, and puts out another impressive release here with a core team of Elias Bailey/b, John Chin/p and Quentin E. Baxter/dr and a handful of cameo guests.
She shows how to get earthy with the blues as the lazy lilt of the title track has Marie sounding world-wise alongside Sherman Irby’s alto sax. She can get wispy with Baily on If You Were Mine” and pants in scintillating style on “Lost.” Romero Lubambo’s romantic guitar brings out the inviting and hush toned nuances of Marie’s delivery, while the vocalist gets both clever and poignant on “This is (not) a Protest Song.” With Chin, she gets cozy and coy on “Many Years ago, while the closing “Blessings” features a gospel chorus that will get you on your feet and praising God. This is a lady with her roots in the right soil.
Motema Music