Review

Jeff Ramsey: My Best

Mr Ramsey contacted me a couple of months ago to see if I’d be interested in hearing his music, then sent a couple of extracts. Yes please! Briefly Jeff has toured and recorded with stars like Whitney Houston, Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand. He’s also recorded with James Day, Tower Of Power’s Rocco Prestia, among others. And now we have him all to ourselves.

Throughout this cd is the wonderful feeling of established R&B/soul delivered by a vocalist who knows his stuff - either soft and sensual, or powerful and decisive over tracks he’s written or co-penned. The introduction is the strongest – 'Give It My Best', confident, soulful, and compulsive in melody as it chugs along.

While on the ballad front there’s 'What Would You Do' with its spoken introduction, followed by a moody 'Move On (Back In The Day)' with its sprinkling of strings against an easy melody and tight support vocals. The music almost hugs you. The early group sound can be heard through the grooves of 'I Know That U Want 2' . Not all the material is instant, exciting and loveable. But let’s face it, it’s impossible for anyone to maintain the high standard laid down by the cd’s first track. Hell, even Stevie Wonder has a bad day. Having said that, 'My Best' is truly everything soul music should be.
Words SHARON DAVIS