Less of a horn-drenched affair than his
Black Top
albums,
New Role Soul
presents
Robert Ward
in a smaller, looser setting that definitely works to his advantage. Instead of taking the usual let's-cut-come-oldies approach, the producers let
Ward
create on the fly, and the results easily rank up there with his 1990 comeback album
Fear No Evil
. For most of
is backed by just a three-piece rhythm section of bass, drums, and organ, leaving plenty of room for his testifying vocals and Magnatone-enhanced guitar. The two
instrumentals
here,
"The Chicken Jerk"
and
"Chitlins Con Carne,"
are classy arrangements full of funky, fingerpicked guitar solos -- like
Albert Collins
,
knew how to milk a guitar-organ combo to the last drop. Even more impressive is
's rhythm guitar playing, a virtual bottomless pit of cool grooves and subtle fills. (Power chords will never be the same after
"Peace of Mind."
) In the decade since
's vocals have lost some power, but that doesn't stop him from diving into tortured-soul territory, as he does on
"Whatever I Receive"
"I'm So Proud to Have You for My Love."
This is probably the most well-rounded album
has recorded. ~ Ken Chang