VINCENT INGALA is a US smooth jazz sax man who debuted back in 2010 with his album, ‘North End Soul’ He was just 17 and the jazz mags praised the album for its maturity and depth. Since then, Vincent’s released six more studio albums and en route he’s enjoyed nine #1 Billboard hits and twenty-two Top 10 singles causing Jazziz Magazine to describe him as “one of the most exciting artists to emerge this past decade”.
If you’ve not yet caught up with Mr I, you may want to check out his just released Shanachie album, ‘Escape With Me’. It’s a 10 tracker and the immediate attention grabber is a delightful cover of the Delfonics’ Philly classic, ‘La La La Means I Love You’. The Thom Bell/William Hart penned song is perfectly suited to the smooth jazz treatment and Ingala does it full justice- sensual, mellifluous and romantic, topped with a gently-cooed vocal chorus hook.
The album’s other cover is, maybe, a little more surprising; it’s a pacey rendition of Ultra Nate’s house anthem ‘Free’. Also surprising is the vocalist letting rip on the song ; it’s Lindsay Webster, a doyenne of the smooth soul and jazz world. Here she proves she can deliver energy, duelling with Vicent’s sinuous sax lines.
‘Escape With Me’s’ other offerings are more predictable – predictable in that they’re crafted from the essential ingredients that make smooth jazz so popular – memorable melodies, soulful grooves and polished performances, typified by the opener ‘Movin’ And Shakin’’. ‘Let’s Get To It’ and ‘Ramp It Up’ are a touch funkier while pick of the slower moments (apart from ‘La La La Means I Love You’) is the title track.
VINCENT INGALA; ‘Escape With Me’ out now via Shanachie.
