Sounding off. . - The Best In Recorded Music - This Is Who I Am; Ask A Woman Who Knows; No Distance; - sound recording review

Ebony, Oct, 2002 by Lynn Norment

BROADWAY star HEATHER HEADLEY makes a bold, introspective debut with This Is Who I Am (RCA). The first song on the disc, "He Is," is a soulful, heavy-hitting declaration, while "Nature of a Man" and "Fallin' For You" are set to catchy, rhythmic beats. She also delivers several heartfelt, moving tunes, including "I Wish," "Four Words from a Heartbreak" and the beautiful "Always Been Your Girl." Throughout the recording, she demonstrates versatility, emotion and the electrifying vocals that won her a Tony Award for her Broadway performance. She wrote several of the songs, and worked with an outstanding crew of producers, including Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Dallas Austin and Shep Crawford.

NATALIE COLE is back with another great album, Ask A Woman Who Knows (Verve), on which she effortlessly blends jazz and pop to deliver outstanding vocal performances. Just sit back and relax and let Natalie's crystalline voice soothe you and take you to another place. She delivers the title cut with verve and conviction, and follows with "I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do," both originally recorded by Dinah Washington. She also covers songs previously recorded by Sarah Vaughan, such as the romantic "You're Mine You," and offers the upbeat, feel-good "Better Than Anything," a duet with Diana Krall. Most memorable is the beautiful, haunting "I'm Calling You," which features a moving harmonica solo.

The KENOLY BROTHERS offer a set of grooving pop-gospel songs on No Distance (NGMR Records). The brothers, Ronald and Sam, sons of Christian music star Ron Kenoly, make music that appeals to the young at heart. Their lyrics cover falling in love, sex, resisting temptation and other issues that concern youth, but all with a positive message set atop smooth R&B and hip-hop beats. They close the album with the rousing track, "Because of Who You Are," with a gospel choir backing them.

ALSO NOTED: Keith Sweat, Rebirth (Elektra); Gloria Gaynor, I Wish You Love (BMG); Amerie, All I Have (Rise/Columbia); Goapele, Even Closer (Skyblaze Records); Keplyn, Animus Diaries (Beatnik); Austin Powers in Goldmember soundtrack (Maverick), featuring Beyonce; Morcheeba, Charango (Warner Bros.); Darius Rucker, Back to Then (Hidden Beach);Yasmeen, When Will It Be Me (Magic Johnson Music/MCA); Brandy Moss-Scott, Fresh (Heavenly Tunes); D.J. Rogers Jr., Emo-Soul (Motown); Topdog/Underdog Broadway soundtrack (MCA), featuring Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Wayne Shorter, James Brown, Jay-Z, DMX, Muddy Waters and Wu Tang Clan; Knoc-Turn'al, Knoc's Landin' (LA Confidential/Elektra); Scarface, The Fix (Daf Jam); Styles, A Gangster and a Gentleman (Ruff Ryders/Interscope); Wynton Marsalis, All Rise (Sony Classical); Melba Moore, I'm Still Here (Shout Glory Music); Orbert Davis, Priority (3Sixteen Records); Les McCann, Pump It Up (ESC); Joshua Redman, Elastic (Warner Bros.); Jason Moran, Modernistic (Blue Note); Praise and Worship 2002 (Verity); the Rance Allen Group, All The Way (Tyscot); and Christopher Lewis, Life (Light).