REVIEW

Shabazz: Better Day
80s groove heroes, Shabazz, return with a fine set of melodic soulful grooves that will keep both the soul and RnB posse happy. Killer cuts are the smooth-as-silk "Get My Groove On"; the dreamy "Fall In Love Again" and the spine tingling "Always On My Mind". Meanwhile, "Tell Me You Love Me" and "Never Gonna Let You Go" are tasty slices of soulful RnB that will keep those fans that are into the likes of Kenny Lattimore immensely happy. The slow jam crew will drool over "Spend Some Time" and "Father I'm Coming Home" whilst "Have A Good Time" is as near as you can get to a Portrait cut without being Portrait! "Everybody's Special", "I Got What You Need" both offer more quality urban grooves with a soulful twist with the latter in particular quite breath-taking. More nourishment for the soul crew comes in the shape of the classy sawyer "Will You Be There" and to complete the set is the Shabazz classic "Glad You're In My Life". Had the Mary album not hit these shores, this would certainly have been my Essential Album pick. But it did, and it isn't!
 Reviewed by Bigger - Blues & Soul
Following last month's Vaneese Thomas CD, we have yet another eighties soul hero returning with strong fresh product after a long absence. Omari Shabazz has warm, slightly dreamy and ethereal approach which reminds me of that other artist who is greatly cherished by the UK soul fraternity - Tashan. This is the sort of CD you can stick on and kick back to... while carefully timing visits to the fridge to coincide with the more energetic tracks. More satisfying than a vintage Hamlet advert.
 Reviewed by Dean Johnson - Blues & Soul
Album Of The Month Review
Another quality release from this Leicestershire label by a name you may remember from the early 90's. As a four-piece band, Shabazz scored for RCA with the cultish dancer "Glad You're In My Life", then pretty much disappeared without trace. One of the founder members, Paul Stewart, retained the right to the name, changed his own to Omari Shabazz, and carved out a career writing and producing, mainly for hip-hop acts such as Mobb Deep, Ice Cube and Public Enemy, whilst also enjoying success with Bell Biv Devoe's chart-topper "Thought It Was Me". This New York native, who now lives in Atlanta, has kept away from his hip-hop influences here though because "Better Day" can only be described as a solid soul album. There really are too many good tracks to mention, but the mid-paced dancers "Tell Me You Love Me", "Have A Good Time", "Everybody's Special", "Will You Be There", "I Got What You Need" and "Peace To All" all sound very good to these ears. And the 2-steps "Spend Some Time", "Fall In Love Again" and "Always On My Mind" stand out as well. It's a mainly mellow album, although it has a street feel that will help it succeed with the R&B market, and it also contains the original version of the classic "Glad You're In My Life". Shabazz is set to visit the UK in November, and whilst I haven't got his whole itinerary, I know that he'll be appearing at Without Boundaries at the Hardinge Arms, King's Newton, Derbyshire, on Saturday 17th with DJs Fish, Mark Randle, Gavin Paige and Arthur Fenn. Looks like a good night in store there (further info in 0116 2375461).
Reviewed by Steve Hobbs - Blues & Soul
Attention all you real soul connoisseurs out there in B&S land! Here's a stunning album that absolutely oozes class and demands to be granted pride of place in your CD collection. It's the creation of a talented singer/songwriter called Omari Shabazz. He used to be called Paul Stewart and was the lead singer with the 80's New York based R&B quartet called…wait for it…Shabazz. Confused? Let me attempt to enlighten you. As a group, Shabazz were moderately successful, achieving popularity with the singles "Unified," "Respect" and the memorable groove anthem, "Glad You're In My Life," which came out in 1990. Fast forward eleven years and you'll find that Shabazz has metamorphosed into a veritable one-man band, although erstwhile group member, Dennis Brown, lends a hand on guitar. Although this is a long album comprised of 18 cuts, such is the exceptional quality of material and performance that it never outstays its welcome. A perfectly balanced blend of lithe dancers and plaintive ballads, it seems a bit churlish to single out individual cuts but listen out for the mellow "Get My Groove On," "Tell Me You Love Me," the gospel-infused "Share Our Lives," "Peace To All," "Spend Some Time" and "Always On My Mind." The icing on the metaphorical cake is the inclusion of the original version of "Glad You're In My Life," which closes the album on a euphoric high. I will be astounded if this album doesn't receive a nomination for best album in B&S's annual readers poll.
Reviewed by Charles Waring - Blues & Soul