Don Blackman & The Family Tradition - Listen

 

Ralph Tee, owner of Expansion Records, is meanwhile an accepted and acknowledged expert of Adult Soul. His label is specialized in Soul music. If you are searching this kind of music, his catalogue is an absolute treasury. When a Soul singer is addicted to Jazz, you can be certain, Ralph will not hesitate until he can count this artist to his roster. Quality and perfect performance is unalterable condition for his acceptance. 

Ralph thanks Don Blackman for the privilege of giving "Listen". Don"Captain Keyboards" Blackman's album is a corner stone of jazz funk, soul and rare groove moments through the 80's and 90's. Now take a "Listen".

Coming To You - Coming To Me presents Don's sensible voice partly in a recitative partly in a chant. I don't know, which artists are accompanying Don, I hear a phat bass and  intriguing keyboards. Don's piano play is superior and masterfully relaxed.

Watch Your Heart is another flashback to good old Motown era. Don counts Herbie Hancock, Alphonson Mouson, Lenny White and Toots Thieleman to his heros. I would like to experience which hero is an piano player. Don could be a perfect jazz pianist. 

Get Your Dance On is a contemporary ironic ovation to modern rap and dance floor music. DJ Nate "Raaw" Simpson is responsible for the scratching.

Ghetto Lament is a social critic about the Ghetto situation in the tradition of Marvey Gay. Smooth music and critical words. Will the world understand?

It's All About That is a reminiscense to the music of the Gap Band or Cameo. A funky rap.

Personally songs like He'll Keep Loving You can warm my heart. Adult Soul, Gospel and Funk are combined to an irresistible mélange. Roger Byam 's sax adds a jazzy component.

Fast Lane is introducing Don's sun Kyle James Blackman on electric guitar, while Don plays the keyboard guitar solo. Tonni Smith 's vocals are a real highlight, a young Chaka Khan.

Life is full of surprises and astonishing is the lightness how Don wraps critical words in an attractive melody like on Can You See The Son. Is this the bitterness of own experience? Tonni Smith 's warm vocals and Don's jazzy piano solo are making this song memorable.

Stop what you doing right now and "Listen"! Don and Ladora Knight are breathing tenderly together. Ladora is a member of "The Voices of Praise Ensemble", an anointed Gospel Ensemble in Jercey City, New Jersey.

This Thing Called Love is featuring Jonathan Butler on electric guitar. This song has the spirit of EWF interpreted by Don's falsetto voice. 

Crowd Controller is a return to rap. Lead rapper is Nate "Raaw" Simpson.

Just Can't Stay Away is more EWF stuff. A tune designed for the dance floor.

Rap and scratching are mean incredients of So You Wanna Be A Rapper. Let's scratch about it.

The next pray WTC is dedicated to the tragedy of last September. 

Last snippet is So What Do You Think?

All in all a worthy asset to Expansion Records' collection. 

 

© HBH