The term 'soul' has come to mean different things through the years. Ask a person of a certain age and they'll tell you soul means Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Sam and Dave. A slightly younger demographic would respond with the slicker, more sophisticated sounds of 'Philly soul' that took the music away from it's blues and gospel roots while adding an uptown sheen. And thanks to niche marketing and market fragmentation, what constitutes soul these days is anyone's guess.
Judging by "Did You Ever Wonder," Tad Robinson's debut for Maryland-based Severn Records, he falls somewhere in the middle. While there are hints of blues here - Robinson did, after all, cut his teeth in the clubs of Chicago, and blows some pretty mean harmonica when the occasion calls for it - most of the material here is solidly in a seventies-style soul groove.
But while Robinson's ranged far and wide for material - in addition to a couple of his own collaborations with John P. Bean, he's chosen tunes from the likes of Dan Penn, Jimmy McCracklin, Robert Ward, and one made famous by the Cornelius Brothers And Sister Rose - he clearly favors the hard-edged, northern soul sound that constitutes Chicago's other great contribution to music.
It's a sound characterized by bright, brassy horns, often accented by electric piano (courtesy, here, of Kevin McKendree and labelmate Benji Porecki, both of whom also contribute organ, Wurlitzer, and acoustic piano). Fortunately there's also room for the occasional solo from former Mighty Flyers guitarist (and Robinson's childhood friend) Alex Schultz. The jagged, angular style he brings to the project is just off-kilter enough to help keep things from becoming too slick. Additional personnel are too numerous to list, but of note are bassist Harlan Terson (Chicago's current 'go-to guy') and guest Otis Clay, who contributes backing vocals on a pair.
Which brings us to Robinson. Blessed with a voice that combines honey-smooth with just a bit of whiskey-raw, he may well be the best blue-eyed soul singer around right now. He's eminently capable of rafter-raising power when the time comes to testify. But on the quieter numbers, when confession and revelation are in order, his aching vulnerability seems an almost embarrassingly intimate glimpse straight into the heart. Robinson's conviction is truly soul-deep - he doesn't just sing a lyric, he inhabits it - and as a result so is ours.
"Did You Ever Wonder" is unquestionably Robinson's finest outing to date, a consistently excellent recording that should by rights earn him legions of new fans. That this is the first of a three-record agreement with Severn Records (and another feather in the cap for one of the most intriguing indies around) is cause for celebration. This is the kind of recording that makes one instantly anxious for the next.
Highly recommended!
Severn Records Inc,
PO Box 557, Severn, MD 2044
Telephone: 877-923-2275
Web: www.severnrecords.com
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