Leroy Ellington’s Sacred Hearts: Sanctified

If “sanctified” means to be “set apart,” then vocalist and saxist Leroy Ellington must be trying to set himself differently from the bland sounds permeating the airwaves. He’s got the vocal delivery of a street preacher, and mixes it with a funky soul with Max Gise-Marcos Sastre/g, Charlie Fletcher/key, Mike Grosser/b, Rick Powell/dr and a slew of guests, emphasizing funk and fun as on “Good Time Blues” and the gospel’d “Something Funky Goin’ On.” With Chuck Brisbon on harmonica he gets jazy for “Two Tones of Fun” and peppy during “Family Thing” while he takes you to Chicago’s South Side with some wailing guitars on “what Would You Do” and “Looking In The Mirror.” The emphasis is on getting you int a mood to roll down the aisles, and Ellington gets the spirit moving here.

www.leroysacredhearts.com

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