Infectious vocal and instrumental soul and jazz from New Orleans' Sweet Spot. A little from the ol' school and nod to the new.

9 MP3 Songs in this album (50:36) !
Related styles: URBAN/R&B: Neo-Soul, URBAN/R&B: Retro-Soul

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Details:
Sweet Spotâs sophomore effort was a more casual gathering: a summit of talented friends. The horn section was eliminated and bass player, Jimmy Ives, was added. Ives, coming off tours with Buckwheat Zydeco, Mem Shannon and Terrance Simien, set out it write several compositions for his own project âFirst Offeringâ. He brought two compositions to this recording: an ode to Mardi Gras, âFlambeauxâ, and the stellar soul cut âNever Get Byâ.
Keyboardist Evan Ehrhardt, no longer providing the bass lines, was less restricted and able to create on the fly. Ehrhardt stretches out with the electric piano on âNever Get Byâ, and letâs loose on his own organ jam âKey of Double Eâ.
Most notable was the addition of songstress Keena King on vocals. Kingâs laidback approach and delivery inspire the rest of the band to âlet it happenâ. Kingâs composition âDaily Grindâ sets the pace for the entire recording, starting slowly, darkly like a Donny Hathaway tune. âHalf Past Midnightâ is light with a catchy hook, in a slight bossa feel; King provides the vocal arrangements, reminiscent to Aretha Franklinâs âDaydreamingâ.
Ray Busche, co-founder/guitarist, provides five cuts, two of which were written with King. Upbeat jazz inflections permeate his contributions, including âThings Are Looking Upâ, âState Street Jumpâ and a rearrangement of âFunny How I Cryâ. âShow Me Whatâ is a Ronny Jordan inspired cut, where hip-hop meets jazz.
Joining Sweet Spot on drums, is founder of the New Orleans band Smilinâ Myron, Andreas Argenti.
Sadly, this version of Sweet Spot did not last long, with King and Ives relocating in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.