DEAN MARK: Goosebumps & Butterflies (DGM Records)

The name of Dean Mark might not mean a lot to most of the soul crowd, but all of ‘em will, for sure, have heard him. You see Dean  is an acclaimed Brit  bassist/multi-instrumentalist who’s  known for his passionate and explosive approach to the bass guitar. Over the years he played with almost every big name on the UK soul and pop  world – including Lemar, Amy Winehouse, Craig David, Boy George and Lulu. Like many serious players though Mr M has always hankered to make his own music. Indeed over the last seven years he’s been working on a solo project – but his reputation meant that he was always being called away to work with others, so his own project was often left on the back burner. Thankfully, after much effort, the man’s solo set is now good to go but to call it a solo affair is a bit of a misnomer. For sure Dean’s name is up there on the cover but to help him flesh out his musical ideas he’s enlisted a whole A team of guests – amongst  them  Romina Johnson, Don E, Najee, Johnny Britt, Ola Onabule and Will Downing. Indeed on the album’s opening track, Dean proudly lists all the collaborators.

The release of this album was flagged up  as long ago as January with the release of Dean’s cover of Roy Ayers’ ‘I Wanna Touch You Baby’ . Dean put a whole new spin on the 1978 original and he even managed get Roy back into the studio to lend a hand delivering some sweet and tasty vibraphone fills. Najee’s sax is involved too while the main vocal’s  down to London powerhouse soulstress Vula. The track sort of set the tone for the whole album – so, here,  expect more covers, some orignals and big name collaborators.

Amongst the LP’s other covers is a reimagining of Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Don’t Know Why’. Here  the vocals  down to DeCosta Boyce and like  the Roy Ayers track, the Stevie tune is given a fresh but still soulful perspective.

Without wishing disrespect to any of the other guests, the biggest “name” on the album has to be Will Downing – right now on a hot streak of his own. He brings his own special sophisticated take on soul to ‘Wait A While’ – his sensual vocals duelling with Najee’s sax lines. Romina Johnson fronts the sedate, contemporary soul dancer ‘Right Here’, Don-E takes lead on the snappy, electro ‘No If No Buts’ while Ola Onabule is out front on the dramatic ‘Who We Are’. The set’s other featured vocalists are Ivy Chanel, LaDonna Young and Luke Pickett and they’re not overawed by being in the company of bigger names. Indeed they add colour and variety to a substantial work which is given a sense of unity by the big, funky bass lines of  the main man!

(BB) 4/5