Album: Beautiful Soul /  Artist: Cynthia Layne /  15 tracks: 1:09:38  /   owlstudios.com

The album Beautiful Soul wonderfully captures the passionate vocals of singer Cynthia Layne, whose vocal styling is reminiscent of soul queens, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight. The producers, Reggie Bishop and Rob Dixon, both of whom do double duty playing on this CD have enveloped Layne’s beautiful voice with some lush arrangements. Bishop and Dixon take turns on the keyboards, and Dixon at various times throughout the disc creates cool grooves, alternating between soprano, tenor and alto saxophones. On “Kings and Queens,” a Dixon composition, a horn section also consisting of Mike Hackett (trumpet), P.J. Yinger (trumpet), and trombonist Rich Dole, get an opportunity to show their chops.

Four of the tracks including the opening track “Be You,” (3:43), written by co-producer Reggie Bishop, are of a length that is easily fit into terrestrial radio format, and one would think that the quality of all of these tunes would dictate they would find a home with satellite or internet stations.

“Letting You Go,” is a good dance club tune, built on an electric bass groove and moved along nicely by the upbeat drumming and percussion work of Kenny Phelps. However, this CD would simply be another average, instrumental CD were it not for Payne’s colorful and emotive vocals. There is an evident strong connection between Payne and songs that she co-wrote with both producers, such as, “Pimp Talk,” the gospel influenced rhythm of “Free Yourself,” and the lengthier (6:01) Bishop/Layne collaboration, “Funny.” Layne’s funky approach to the uncertain missive that is “Free Yourself,” demonstrates that she clearly is not a one-dimensional singer, and the team of Dixon and Bishop, have come up with a creative arrangement, which should make this song an often-requested tune at Layne’s gigs.

“Funny,” is one of the few songs on the album, where the musicians one-ups the singer, not because she lacks in her delivery, but because Dixon gives his saxophone a very expressive voice, as he creates a melancholic background for Layne’s lyrics.

The fifth track, “I Can’t Change You,” provides a subtle change of tempo, and style. The pace slows, the vocals and music become more ethereal, with a jazzier style, as the album takes a momentary departure from its more decidedly R&B leanings.

I enjoyed the combination of synthesizer and electric keyboard strokes that introduce and propel “Will You Be There,” another song which will beckon clubbers to the dance floor. The song possesses a ‘move your feet,’ rhythm.

The CD Beautiful Soul has a little something for every fan of R&B and soul. Rather than being content to serve up music that we have heard before, the trio of Layne, Dixon and Bishop have demonstrated lots creativity, placed the songs within a modern context, and yet remained true to the genres’ traditional rhythms and roots

Reviewed by Joe Montague for Riveting Riffs (www.rivetingriffs.com)

Reviewed March 2008

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