Singer/songwriter Marlon Saunders has already earned musical notoriety: penning Miller Lite jingles, doing background vocals for Sting and Barry White, singing in Jazzhole and Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra. Those experiences provide the foundation for this noteworthy debut. Fusing old-school R&B, funk and gospel within a contemporary framework, Saunders’ talk-singing tenor takes listeners on a pleasing musical journey. One minute you’re in church stompin’ to the pumpin’ “Keep Doin’ What Ya Do.” The next you’re floating in a mellow groove (“For You”) or bopping to a funky ’70s history lesson (“Afro Blue My Mind”). Not every track is a winner. But unlike most newcomers of late, Saunders commands a strong lead out of the starting gate.—GM
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