Sometimes
I wish I had graduated from a University of Soul because
my actual degree did me no good at all! Judging by the
music on this album however, my attendance at this funky
institute would have given me a first rather than the
'gentlemen's' degree that I ended up with particularly
with the Professor marking the papers! Whilst this is a
debut set from Ross that crosses the boundaries of soul,
jazz and RnB the man himself has a lifetime of music to
his credit. Born in Detroit he was a founding member of
the legendary funk band Brainstorm and a Ross original
composition 'This must be Heaven' continues to gain
world-wide airplay even today.
Other than a cover version of the Johnny Mercer classic
'Autumn Leaves' which manages to add an even more
melancholy sadness to the original perfectly capturing the
loss of warmer times the album is full of originals. None
better than 'Wishing' an intricate love song that weaves
the soft almost falsetto vocals of Ross with strong
backing support from Sandy Griffith to capture the longing
of two people in love who are not yet entirely sure of the
other's feelings towards them. My favourite the gentle
raging against the state of the world 'When we've had
Enough' is a gem of a song led by Ross on electric piano
and oh so measured vocals. Indeed the laid back feel to
the album is one of it's strengths as is it's natural
production recorded at the famed Capital Studios in
Hollywood.
Overall this is a very passionate album full of an old
school type of soul that highlights a seasoned and very
talented performer of soul and jazz who brings a unique
style to the format. As in-house keyboard player for the
world-famous Fantasy Studios Ross has worked with them all
and it shows. This is most definitely the real deal and if
you are a good student you can even go to the website and
download an honorary degree from one of the best teachers
of the art form around.
