CD Review

Rodney Jones has been a mainstay on the soul scene for a number of years, spending quality time with such talents as Maceo Parker, James Brown, and Tina Turner. His most recent album is a live follow-up to 2001’s Soul Manifesto, and features Teodross Avery on sax, Lonnie Plaxico on bass, Woody Dennard on drums, Will Boulware on keys, and Paul Josephs on metrosonics concepts.

Jones has arranged a great lineup, as all of the tunes are well-balanced and unique. From the jazzy “Soul Marossa” to the funked out “Soul Manifesto,” Jones and the band take you on a great journey through different thoughts and sounds - offering tasty flavors as they move through the tunes. It doesn’t get more funky than “Groovebone,” and the soul-heavy “Light my Fire,” but “Morning of the Carnival” outdoes them all with some exceptional guitar work reminiscent of Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

If you’re into soul and you haven’t checked out Rodney Jones yet, stop by the record store.