Sounding off: the best in recorded music

Ebony, Jan, 1996 by Lynn Norment

Music maestr'o Quincy Jones celebrates 50 years in entertainment with Q's Jook Joint (Qwest), a mythological musical journey that features a host of contemporary artists peforming to jazzy rhythms. "Let The Good Times Roll" spotlights Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, while "Killer Joe" offers Tone Loc, Queen Latifah, Hubert Laws, Joshua Redman, Herbie Hancock and Nancy Wilson. Quincy's new discovery, Tamia, is solo on the sexy "You Put A Move On My Heart," while Brandy and Heavy D rock the house with "Rock With You." Gloria Estefan percolates on "Is It Love That We're Missing," while R. Kelly and Ronald Isley are among the artists who sing on "Heaven's Girl." Other artists who perform on the upbeat recording include Chaka Khan, Babyface and Barry White. Throughout there is a wonderful party atmosphere that clearly establishes Q's Jook Joint as the hip place to be.

Gerald and Eddie Levert team up for Father And Son (Elektra), 12 soulful songs that demonstrate that, yes, those talented crooning genes run deep in the family. On the poignant "I've Got Your Back," they sing about being supportive of each other. As on several times, pop and soul merge on "Already Missing You." And on "Wind Beneath My Wings" they bring the house down with this touching duet of respect and admiration, while "I Got You" is laced with rap and female background vocals. The duet's powerful, throaty vocals deliver traditional and '90s harmonies that are sure to appeal to all generations. Gerald Levert, who has been successful with his platinum solo recording career, wrote six songs with Edwin Nicholas, while father Eddie Levert Sr., founding member of the O'Jays, wrote three selections with Dwain Mitchell.

Stellar talent from both gospel and secular music arenas come together to honor Rosa Parks and commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on Verity Records' A Tribute To Rosa Parks. The recording even includes spoken words of inspiration from Mrs. Parks, who sparked the boycott when she refused to remove herself from the front of a city bus reserved for "Whites only." Soulful Oleta Adams contributes "The Captain Of My Ship," while the first single is the stirring, inspirational Something Inside So Strong," which showcases Shirley Caesar, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Tramaine Hawkins, The Sounds Of Blackness, Yolanda Adams and Howard Hewitt.

ALSO NOTED: Janet Jackson, Design Of A Decade 1986-1996 (A&M); Mariah Carey, Daydream (Columbia); *, The Gold Experience (Warner Bros.); Al Green, Your Heart's In Good Hands (MCA); Dead Presidents soundtrack (Capitol); Lenny Kravitz, Circus (Virgin); M.C. Hammer V: Inside Out (Giant); Soul II Soul, Believe: Vol. 5 (Virgin); C C Music Factory, The Utimate: Greatest Remixes (Columbia); Pebbles, Straight From My Heart (MCA); AZ, Doe Or Die (EMI); Xscape, Off The Hook (So So Def); P M Dawn, Jesus Wept (Island); Gerald Albright, Giving Myself To You (Atlantic); Ronnie Laws, Natural Laws (Right Stuff); Randy Crawford, Naked And True (Mesa/Bluemoon); Will Downing, Moods (Mercury); Sweet Honey In The Rock, Sacred Ground (Earth-Beat); The Winans, Heart And Soul (Qwest); CeCe Winans, Alone In His Presence (Sparrow); Shirley Caesar Live...He Will Come (Word); Vanessa Bell Armstrong, The Secret Is Out (Verity).