The crowned “Prince of Sophisticated Soul”, WILL DOWNING has just launched this mini album – a six track EP – in time for the Christmas sales push and we need to say that ‘Luscious’ is a wonderful antidote to all the Christmas music that’s currently being rammed down our ears. Across the half dozen tracks there’s not a hint of sleigh bells, snow flakes or that damned reindeer with the red nose! Instead enjoy, quality, grown up, contemporary sou music – luscious stuff, if you would!
The EP’s imminent release was flagged up via two singles. There was a warm and heartfelt cover of Junior’s 1982 hit ‘Mama Used To Say’ which Will and his team slowed right down while it was enhanced by some shimmering keyboard work from Marcus Johnson. Then there was a tune called ‘The Power of Love’; no not that one – this was a new song. It was/is ultra smooth – yes, sophisticated soul at its best – and the other four tracks deliver the same.
The most interesting of those four cuts is a cover of the standard, ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’ – a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. Here Will takes few liberties. The treatment is smooth with a lounge-jazz undertow delivered by Tim Cunnigham’s sensuous sax. It’s Marion Meadows’ sax that underpins ‘Rashida’ – another slinky, sensual offering. ‘Sugar On The Floor’ is a tremendous blue lights in the basement offering while the sixth cut is ‘Forevermore’ (yes, no gap) which underlines why Mr D revels in his role as ‘’Prince of Sophisticated Soul’. Some lovely harmonica here courtesy of Howard Levy.
Contemporary, smooth, sophisticated soul doesn’t get better than this. It’s warm, it’s emotional, and maybe as much to do with Christmas feelings and sentiments as all those old played out cliché songs.
(BB) 4/5
