Jarrod Lawson – Just Let It
It’s finally here: the new album by Jarrod Lawson who delivered our record of the year with “Be The Change” back in 2020 and who we’ve featured here regularly on these pages since 2015. It’s his third album since his brilliant debut in 2014. We’ve been treated to a few singles which were leading the way up to the latest release (May 1st) and which are all included here. There is the wonderful, smooth soul ballad “Do Whatchu Gotta”, the very uplifting and joyful “If We Pretend”, and the utterly sensuous and moving duet with Raquel Rodriguez, “Next Move”. Still in heavy rotation here and reminding me of the 1983 Isley Brothers classic “Between The Sheets”. Yes, it’s that good. And there is lots more here on this 60-minute gem, which is also out on double vinyl. What really got me hooked right from the start is the incredibly sumptuous and funky title track which opens the album. It sums up all the many facets of Jarrod’s talent: the fascinatingly rich and soulful voice, superb production techniques, brilliant songwriting and arrangement, stellar keyboard skills which are on full display here with the use of the shining Rhodes. It’s one of those songs you want to get back to over and over again.
I would also like to compare some of his songwriting and compositional characteristics to one of my all-time heroes, Stevie Wonder. The social commentary and mood of “Smoke Me Out” somehow reminds me of Stevie’s pivotal 1974 album “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” (ok his 70s albums were all pivotal). It opens again with a very warm and soothing Rhodes intro and turns into this horn-inflected, bluesy soul burner. It’s the first time by the way that Jarrod uses horns on his record (Max Ribner on trumpet and flugelhorn). The vocal performance on this one is pretty outstanding. Elsewhere on this really versatile and embracing album, there are three tracks which include rappers. Usually not really my cup of tea, JSWISS somehow manages to come up with a fitting, organic rap part on the positive “Let Your Heart”, but I can’t really hang on to his part on the sensitive and healing “I’d Do It Again”. donSMITH guests on the subtle and bubbling “Head-On”.
Eric Roberson is featured on the very light-hearted and sunny “Laugh At Yourself” and Allen Stone graces the very dynamic “There Can Only Be One” which turns out to be quiet funny. Another highlight is the very lush and luxurious “Gentle Soul” with its different keyboard layers and a very fancy bass line. I also like the thumping groove on “Nothing To Forgive”, complete with savvy background vocals and thick drums courtesy of Tyrone Hendrix. Actually, some of the keyboard parts here remind me of “Guilty” by Streisand/Gibb. More or less in the same vein is the sunny and rolling “I Got Your Back”. The album closes with the seven-minute “Authentically Me”, a ballad and love poem which shines with his warm falsetto and some sensational phrasing which makes the six year wait between albums worthwhile.
Jarrod has two gigs coming up in Europe: he plays North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam on July 12th and Union Chapel in London on July 18th.
