The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, Will Downing set to release his 28th studio album, Luscious!

 

Living out the music and entertainment industry's equivalent of "For the Love of the Game", Will Downing has found his new North Star.  With a stellar career in the books, spanning a mind-boggling 5 decades and boasting a massively impressive stat line rife with Top-Ten Hits and World-Wide acclaim, The Prince of Sophisticated Soul has declared, that what comes next...he has to "feel"!

 

Staying true to that mantra and his incredible artistry, Downing summoned that heartfelt "feeling" and laced it with his masterful writing and interpretation gifts to deliver the deeply personal 6 song EP, Luscious!  The connective tissue in this rotation...a couple of tributes to the small and unique fraternity of deep baritone crooners of which he is a ranking member.

 

Feeling fresh and unleashed from the constraint of concept or format and free to simply express himself for the sheer "love of the game" Downing kicks off this new journey with a single appropriately entitled, "The Power of Love".  While that may sound familiar, this is no interpretation, but the first of two original singles from Luscious, offering a delicious slice of that "feel good" for you to savor.  Downing collaborates beautifully yet again with bandmate/guitarist Randy Bowland, with amazing results to weave a sweet whisper-soft ballad and much needed reminder of the power we possess to soothe and uplift each other from the everyday stress of the world around us.  Get swept away from the very first chord and escape to a beautiful peaceful oasis lavished with soothing harmonies that serve to enrich Downing's mellow bellow.  

 

No serious discussion of baritone balladeers would be complete without acknowledging the contributions of British Virgin Island legend Jon Lucien to the Smooth R&B music scene.  Downing previously paid tribute with "Lady Love" on the 2020 release Romantique, Pt. 2.   In what most certainly seems to be a perfect pairing, this time Downing chose to tackle the classic title cut from Lucien's 1973 album "Rashida".  Longtime and dedicated fans will detect a distinctive "Pleasures of the Night" vibe courtesy of the sweet sax accents of Marion Meadows, laying the perfect canvas for Downing's careful phrasing.  Each note gets milked for every ounce of passion, on a take that should most certainly make Lucien smile from above.

 

Similarly, Downing's turn on the standard "In the Wee Small Hours (of the Morning)", evokes the spirit of another celebrated baritone, Johnny Hartman and his work with John Coltrane.  After a lush string intro, the track melts into the quintessential smokey jazz cafe quartet, with saxophonist Tim Cunningham taking on the role of Coltrane.  This is also not Downing's first ode to Hartman, as a previous release, 2019's Romantique, Pt. 1.  featured an outstanding rendition of "My One and Only Love".  As before, this track allows Downing to dive deep into smooth crooner mode and swim in the depths of a range most cannot. 

 

Inspiration for "Forever More" comes from the 1995 supergroup, Urban Knights, (consisting of Ramsey Lewis, Grover Washington, Jr., Omar Hakim and produced by Maurice White), with the almost unfair advantage that the original recording was written and performed by non-other than keyboardist and Downing bandmate Mike Logan, Sr.  The song is written from the perspective of a heartbroken man, hellbent on the chance to make things right.  Although smooth as silk, this is some good old-fashioned begging, which ensues in fine harmonic fashion between a funky mid-tempo chorus and a rather fitting choice of a harmonica bridge by Howard Levy, a founding member of Bela Fleck and the Flames and a standard bearer for the instrument.

 

"Sugar on the Floor" written in the mid 70's by Kiki Dee and covered by icons from Elton John to Etta James, now adds Will Downing to the list of artists that got a special "feeling" and couldn't resist putting their spin on it.  There seems to be multiple interpretations on the meaning behind the metaphor, but there's no mistaking this is a tender love song and Downing delivers from the heart!  

 

In unquestionably the most daring expression of this newfound freedom, two well-heeled sons of soul, Downing and keyboardist/entrepreneur Marcus Johnson combine their collective wisdom to totally reimagine and re-invent the 80's dance classic "Mama Used to Say" (Junior) into a slow-brewed groove that "takes the time" to appreciate the wisdom and guidance inside every lyrical phrase.  This one's for all Mamas praying and sharing their sage advice to protect, encourage and grow their boys to men.   

Ultimately, Luscious triumphs as a love story.  The love Will Downing has for his fans and his commitment to only expand his massive discography with songs he truly loves.  If you listen closely, you will not only "hear" it...you will "feel" it too!