(noun: An author, artist or work of art, of the highest excellence.)
Classic…or as the French say…”Classique”.
A crown too heavy and unfit for most modern day works of art. But when
the artist is Will Downing and the work in question is a vintage 2009
edition from one of the most enduring entertainment brands in the
business…the Classic crown fits just fine. Classique…The Man…The Music.
The crowned “Prince of Sophisticated Soul” is back!
Fast
forward two years from the improbable and awe inspiring delivery of
After Tonight, (Downing’s 2007 release and musical monument of triumph
over adversity, as he fought through the debilitating effects of the
muscle disorder Polymyositis), and you’ll find both man and artist with
a renewed spirit for life and a tremendous gratitude to continue a
soulful journey that started over two decades ago. Station stop and CD
#14 on that journey, Classique, is where timeless meets modern-day with
a mutual respect that gives birth to a sound that somehow manages to
feel both familiar and brand new.
Will Downing
arrives at this station in time with complete command of his craft, a
full grasp of who he is as an artist and uniquely positioned on the
R&B road connecting the past to the present. That connection is
made with a production prowess as silky smooth as the trademark vocals
to which we’ve grown accustomed. Classique, effortlessly lives up to
its moniker with a delicious fusion of B3 organs, flutes, vibes and
crushed velvet harmonies, seasoned with a dash of Motown and a pinch of
Philly International. Its retro flavor is an unforced natural blend of
old school savvy and modern technical wizardry served up by Downing and
longtime production collaborator, Rex Rideout.
To
be clear, there’s no need for studio trickery to fill any vocal voids
here. As if Will Downing’s own considerable gifts were not enough,
Classique enlists the veteran talents of Phil Perry, who not only
brings his 80’s and 90’s solo success to the mix, but his 70’s soul
group expertise as well from the Montclairs. 2009 finds Perry in fine
form and lending an undeniably authentic pedigree to the finished
product. The resulting contribution, is a stirring remake of The
Originals’ classic “Baby I’m for Real”, where Perry offers the perfect
high flying contrast to Downing’s signature baritone notations. The two
form what many a female fan might consider the ultimate Dynamic Duo of
romantic crooners, each with his own unique sound.
Ultimately, it’s Will Downing himself that makes Classique…classic.
Besides the union with Perry, this volume is noticeably absent of the
trendy parade-of-all-stars list of guest performers so common on many
of today’s new releases. Intended or not, there’s no mistaking the fact
that this is a Will Downing showcase from start to finish…beginning to
end. It’s a quiet but emphatic statement on the kind of strength and
confidence this Brooklyn native has amassed in an amazingly durable two
decade long career that’s been recognized for excellence by the NARAS
and the NAACP Image Awards.
Classique kicks-off
appropriately with “Ride”, which serves as both an intro and invitation
to its listener to embark on a 10 track sonic excursion. To those
accepting the invite, hang on tight for a trip that gets going in a
hurry and takes a nice scenic turn down memory lane. It moves swiftly
to the catchy tic-toc of “More Time”, which combines the mellow
smoothness we’ve come to expect from Will Downing with a refreshingly
playful undertone that hints of a loose and fun production atmosphere.
The resulting mid-tempo ballad is easily one of the most repeatable
cuts on the project and reflects on the brokenhearted erosion of trust
created in a relationship when too much business causes one party’s
well intended promises to their significant other to be repeatedly
broken. The subject in this case, faced with a possible “last straw”
situation, finally recognizes the need to devote more time and makes a
very passionate simultaneous plea for second-chance time and wishfully,
more time in the day. “More Time” is quite possibly an unconscious
adaptation of the artist’s own revelation and recommitment to the more
important things in life. The follow-up track, “Something Special”, is
such an instant feel-good summer groove you can almost smell the
barbeque through some very MFSB-esque horn and string arrangements.
Further down the road, Downing works both sides of the microphone with
some very tasteful turns as both artist and producer on the CD’s most
lush ballad “I Won’t Stop” and the painfully self-reflective David
Ruffin jewel “Statue of a Fool”, which he has long desired to cover.
Both tunes are distinguished by an excellent use of the simple but
often overlooked beauty of four-part harmony in some carefully layered
background vocal arrangements. A great change of pace comes in the form
of the slightly up-tempo and openly flirty “Love Suggestions” and the
tongue-in-cheek double entendre hidden in the refrain of “Just Think
About It”. Rounding out the fare is Downing’s lyrical love letter
“Let’s Make It Now” and a tribute to the “Maestro of Love” himself,
Barry White, in the form of “I’m Gonna Love You”, making full use of
the unique gift of a natural deep baritone-to-falsetto first tenor
vocal range.
Most importantly, Classique deserves
to be listened to…really listened to. It serves up a sweet redemption
for every music fan that has ever had that empty “something’s missing”
experience after listening to a new CD. The more you play it, the more
you’ll hear, the more classic Classique becomes.
Downing
is also being recognized as a humanitarian through his role as a
spokesperson for the American Stroke Association, which has become even
more important to him in the wake of prominent victims such as Luther
Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. Whenever possible as he
tours, Downing conducts a charity bowling event called “Strike Against
Stroke”, to raise funds towards greater stroke awareness and education
in the African American community, which is disproportionately
affected. The American Heart Association has awarded Mr. Downing for
his efforts and honored him as a Celebrity Ambassador in their Power To
End Stroke national campaign.
Off the road,
Will Downing retreats to the most important roles in his life as a
loving husband and father to his family. Singer, Songwriter,
Humanitarian, Family Man…Another Classic.
Visit Will at his other sites: