Sounding Off - Review

Ebony, Oct, 2001 by Lynn Norment

With Superhero (Motown), singer/writer/producer BRIAN MCKNIGHT continues his legacy of delivering supermellow pop/R&B music. The title song is rock influenced while "When Will I See You Again" has a gospel flavor and features gospel singer Fred Hammond. McKnight is joined by 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake on "My Kind of Girl." "Love of My Life" sizzles with sensuality, and the romantic "Still" is among the prettiest songs of the set. Fans can see McKnight perform this fall during the "Sears Presents an Evening with Brian McKnight" tour that will stop in 38 cities. MARY J. BLIGE delivers an array of moods, grooves and emotions on No More Drama (MCA), and they all add up to great music. She gets the party started with the pumping, get-your-body-moving "Family Affair," produced by Dr. Dre. The mid-tempo, gospel-laced title song, written/produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, is dramatic with emphatic lyrics. Then there are the bluesy, melancholy "PMS," with guitar solo from Lenny Kravitz; and the poignant, easy-flowing "Never Been," produced/written by Missy Elliott. Saxophone maestro CHARLES LLOYD demonstrates masterful artistry on Hyperion with Higgins (ECM). The eight-song set of smooth, original compositions draws from Lloyd's "extraordinary telepathy" with master drummer Billy Higgins, with whom he worked closely over 45 years. The album is dedicated to Higgins, who passed after completing the recording, and it includes wonderfully orchestrated cuts that show Lloyd and Higgins at their best.

ALSO NOTED: Tramaine Hawkins, Just Tramaine (Gospocentric); Beverly Crawford, Beverly (EMI Gospel); Dr. Creflo Dollar, From the Heart of God (Arrow); O'Landa Draper's Associates, All About Him (Jesus) (MCG); Voices of Unity/Deitrick Haddon, SuperNatural (Tyscot); Danniebelle Hall, Remembering the Times (EMI Gospel); Richard Smallwood, Persuaded, Live in DC (verity); Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (1933-1944); Melissa Walker, I Saw the Sky (Enja); Herbie Hancock, Future 2 Future (Transparent); John Coltrane, The Best of the Bethlehem Sessions reissue (Rhino/Ave Jazz); Rodney Jones, Soul Manifesto (Blue Note); Archie Shepp/Roswell Rudd, Live in New York (Verve); Three Mo' Tenors (RCA); BeatleJazz, Another Bite of the Apple (Zebra Acoustic); Lonnie Plaxico, Melange {Blue Note); Donny Hathaway, Live 1971 concert reissue (Label M); Odetta, Lookin' for a Home (MC Records); African Odyssey (Putumayo); James Ulmer, Memphis Blood: The Sun Sessions (Label M); Gerald Levert, Gerald's World (Elektra); P. Diddy & the Bad Bay Family, The Saga Continues ... (Bad Bay/Arista); Kenny Lattimore, Weekend (Arista); Michael Cooper, This Heart of Mine (Major Hits); Lisa (Left-Eye) Lopes, Supernova (Arista); Damian Marley, Halfway Tree (Ghetto Youths/Motawn); Sean Ardoin & ZydeKool, Pullin' (Tomorrow); Foxy Brown, Broken Silence (Def Jam); RZA, Digital Bullet (Koch); Tha Liks, X.O. Experience (Loud); Killarmy, Fear, Love & War (Loud); Dirty South Representaz, Dirty, Dirty (N Da Hole); Lil' O, Da Fat Rat Wit Da Cheeze (Atlantic); Gangsta Boo, Both Worlds *69 (Loud). DVDs: Earth Wind & Fire: Shining Stars (Eagle Vision); It's Black Entertainment (hosted by Vanessa L. Williams)(Showtime); Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Live in New Orleans (Capitol), and Marvin Gaye, Searching Soul (Beverly Wilshire Filmworks).