Vocalist Kandace Springs delivers an album that gives two dimensions to the phrase “old soul.” On one hand, the Larry Klein produced album has the vocalist teamed up with Vinnie Colaiuta/dr, Terence Blanchard/tp, Jessie Harris/g, Dan Lutz/b, Pete Kuzma/p-key has a feel one of those relaxed sessions from the 60s, with Springs’ sweet and calm voice giving new breath to a piece like War’s “The World Is A Ghetto” and Shelby Lynn’s “I Thought It Would Be Easier.” She delivers compelling interpretations of lyrics, holding back when necessary and not indulging in overblown technique.
With Blanchard, she performs with a marathoner’s pulse on Mal Waldron’s “Soul Eyes” and doesn’t overplay “Too Good To Last.” A handful of the songs have a gently funky soul groove, just hip enough to get you going as on the neck bobbing “Novocaine Heart,” but even here the feel is relaxed, luring you in. Real impressive-is she coming to LA soon?
Blue Note Records