- News & Reviews FeedJeff Ramsey - My Best (2009)
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Glenn Jones. That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I heard Jeff Ramsey hit one of his soaring high notes on "Give It My Best," the inspirational first track on Ramsey's My Best. Comparing artists is a mental reflex that performers like Ramsey probably wish that music fans could unlearn. Everybody wants to be listened to and judged on their own terms. Still, Ramsey could do worse than be compared favorably to Jones. Besides, Ramsey also knows that with serious music fans, the judging will come soon enough -- and the Berklee College of Music graduate and professor of voice more than measures up on this very good CD. Fans of adult soul and R&B will find a lot to like about the aptly titled My Best. The record has a powerful and soulful ballad in "What Would You Do," midtempo songs that sport great conversational lyrics, head nodding melodies and memorable hooks such as "Move On" and "I Know that You Want Me 2," and funky dance numbers like "Anything" and "Speechless." My Best is one the grown and sexy crowd can throw on when they want to play something other than holiday music.
Memorable tracks: Just Let Me Love U, What Would You Do, Happy On Hold, I Want U More
Vocals: 3.0 stars
Lyrics: 3.0 stars
Music: 3.0 stars
Production: 3.0 stars
Soultracks Call: Recommended
By Howard Dukes
Comments
I've had the pleasure of
MattiS - June 23rd, 2010
I've had the pleasure of hearing and viewing this performer " live " on more than one occasion and all I can say is " this man not only can sing but he knows how to tear the house down ". Yea...he's that good and then some. He performed for an art show that I featured him in and the audience went wild over him. They would not let him go that easily and forced him to do an encore. Wow...My Best is what great soul music is all about. Mr. Ramsey has been influenced by some of the great soul artists that have preceeded him ( Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, Russell Tompkins and Sylvester...amongst others ) but despite this he has developed his own style and knows how to woo a crowd. He writes all his own songs and that's probably one reason why he can sing them so well...they're his songs. The other reason: he's super talented...gifted is a better word. All the cuts on his debut CD are great but my all time favorites are Give You My Best and Speechless...where he doesn't sing the words...he just makes music out of sounds that come out of his precious voice...not quite scat but something he does best...soul singing. Jeff has a long career ahead of him and I hope to be there to support him all the way. If you want great r&b soul music, this is the CD you want to add to your collection. Play it loud...and get ready for the journey of your life. This man has done his homework and he deverves an A plus. Memorable cuts: all of them!
Matti Kniva Spencer, Boston poet, writer, photographer and humanitarian
