Soul Express CD Review JEFF HENDRICK CAN Bout Time Productions, 2003 Know U Better - Its All About You - Why Ya Gotta Do Me This Way - Fine (Late Night Hang) - Everything I Want - She (2003) - Dance With Me - They Don't Know About Us - What's The Deal - She (original version) - Know U Better (Dr. Octavo Remix) Jeff Hendrick is familiar to most from his excellent midtempo offering, "Fine (Late Night Hang)" from Café De Soul Vol. 4. This talented blue eyed singer joins the likes of Glenn Lewis and Remy Shand as a torch holder for quality soul / R&B from Canada. Like Remy, the emphasis is on quality retro outings, but this differs in that it embraces the modern dancefloor scene more readily. There is an eager audience for quality, bouncy midtempo soul like this; I have already championed blue-eyed soulster Tim Dillinger for creating the type of happy, heart-warming groovy stepper that we were blessed with back in the 1980s and so want to introduce you to the great sounds of Jeff Hendrick. The Rahsaan Patterson / Jamey Jaz / Van Hunt styled funky beats within the jaunty tune open up "Bout Time" are great. It is a song that exudes confidence and gaiety all in one felt swoop. "Its All About You" follows on without breaking the pattern, chugging along with a scratchy guitar, funky keyboard and light, floaty vocal that is very 80s in origin. Lovers of Rahsaan's new set (Think "So Hot") will welcome "Why Ya Gotta Do Me This Way" and if you love the Café De Soul inclusion which is very Impromp2 then you will also love this. My favourite of favourites is the very simple, very catchy "Dance With Me". This song's simple melody will infiltrate you at every level and eat away at you. This is happy soul / dance at its very best and leaves the sinister, nasty and monotonous rap-R&B bilge emanating from black America choking in the dust. What Tim and Jeff have done is remember and champion real R&B in an age where many of their US counterparts readily debase and devalue real R&B and trash its rich history for an ever increasing young, musically ignorant generation brought up on P. Diddy, Teddy Riley, Rodney Jerkins and similar rag-tag and bobtail. Listen to this CD and then listen to, say, the new Mario Winans CD (if you can stomach it for more than 2 minutes) - or any of the other clones. I rest my case. Underlining this is the infectious meaty "They Don't Know About Us" and "What's The Deal". "She" is a gorgeous song that is the slowest tempo on offer; a flute based number that we would expect from Keni Burke back in the early 1980s. Glorious. PLEASE avoid the "She (2003)" and equally dreadful "Know U Better (Dr. Octavo Remix)" though … what the Dickens was he thinking of?! This may not appeal to conservative ears, but I advise everyone to take a visit to www.jeffhendrick.com and take a listen to the set. As I say, I love happy, rhythmic soul - dance as it used to be served up. Jeff has stepped in and supplied that for me with a healthy dose of modern backing that will keep the "Togetherness" crowds happy to boot. I hope we hear more of Jeff in the future. Guess what will be banging from my car stereo this summer, folks? - Barry Towler Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 |