The new soul sounds - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby A. Gil

He still has to make it to US shores but the buzz is already steaming about teenage R&B sensation Craig Da-vid. The 19-year-old from Southampton recently emerged with four nominations at the upcoming Brit 2001 Awards. These are for Best British Dance Act, Best Male Solo Artist, Best British Newcomer and Best British Album for his Born to Do It.

Amidst a predominance of pretty sounds from boy bands, teen divas and other pop idols, David’s sweet soul singing and sexy tones put a seductive swing into the hit charts. Put a mix of Aaron Neville pipes, Barry White sensuality and R. Kelly spunk into the blender and you will get the mix of ingredients that will surely propel this newcomer to the top of the hit lists of the world.

David’s debut album Born to Do It says it all. Made up of 11 cuts that David composed or co-wrote with others, the collection is a showcase of what soul singing is supposed to be. Backed by simple string-based arrangements, David silkily caresses every word while hanging on to velvet pauses that sends wave upon wave of romantic imaginings. And think, this guy is not yet 20 and this is only his first album. In a year or so, he could be at the forefront of a musical revolution that could send ‘N Sync and Eminem to oblivion.

Stand-outs in Born to Do It are the jaunty Fill Me In which comes in three versions, David’s original mix, the Artful Dodger Mix and the Sunship Vocal Mix, the exciting Motown-flavored Once in a Lifetime and the deliciously sinful Can’t Be Messing ’Round. Of course, I am sure that listeners will also enjoy the rest. Rendezvous, 7 Days, Follow Me, Last Night, Walking Away, Time to Party, Booty Man and You Know What.

And for those who are interested or for whom looks should be part of the package of pop stardom, Craig David of the neatly-trimmed beard is also very attractive.

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Canada’s contribution to creating this new soul music awareness is Sleepless, the new album by the Ontario-based group Jacksoul. This one takes the listener across a wide spectrum of soul music; from R&B to hip hop and from acid jazz to rock. And the result is a feat that would have put less talented musicians up for cruel scrutiny. But not Jacksoul. These guys have soul savvy in big numbers plus the right vocals to boot.

The vocals belong to Haydain Neale, lead singer of the group. Neale’s singing is smooth and funky, a sort of Luther Vandross or Teddy Pendergrass in a hip hop mode. For better reference for those who belong to the current generation, Haydain echoes the sound of Tunde Baiyewu of the Lighthouse Family, whose last album was a huge hit in this country.

Also mostly acoustic, Sleepless offers up a dozen new songs excellently performed by Neale. But the best proof in the album that Jacksoul is an act that deserves a lot of watching is the take on the Hall and Oates classic from the ’70s She’s Gone. The undulating rhythm of the song easily brought it up to date and it doesn’t hurt that it is also very familiar. The great result of the cover also opens up the possibility of Jacksoul taking on more songs from that period, or others for that matter, and making them its own.

Neale, is not only the lead singer, prime mover and face of Jacksoul, he was also co-arranger and bass player for Sleepless. The other member of this collective is multi-intrumentalist and programmer Jon "Rabbi" Levine of The Philosopher Kings, who wrote and performed the music with Haydain.

First single out is the swinging Can’t Stop. The other songs are I Know What You Want, Let Me Call You Baby, I Miss You, Somedays, Never Say Goodbye, Never Give Your Love Away, Baby I Adore You, I Remember, Don’t Tell Me and Sleepless.

If yours is the kind of soul who likes to wallow in the hypnotic atmosphere created late at night by cool, smoky music then you should not be without Born to Do It and Sleepless. Watch these albums go up the charts and watch out for more songs from Craig David and Jacksoul.