Easy Evans - At Ease (2010)

Poised, polished and on the precipice of a breakthrough: Easy Evans is the total package, from his velvety tenor, above-average lyrical range and mature, yet modern material, which is neatly showcased in his debut EP, At Ease.   

A drummer and play-by-ear pianist, Easy discovered his affinity for music as a youngster in church during his Peoria, IL years and developed his style while pursuing his degree in Information Technology, frequenting talent show competitions in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. Both his vocals and his lyrics unfurl just as smoothly as his nickname suggests, whether he's pleading to put a ring on it ("May I"), asking for clarity about the emotional shift in their relationship ("Talk To Me") or offering encouragement to others about pursuing their dreams, no matter what obstacles they may face ("Not 2 Late").  "It's True" is melodic mid-tempo determined to quell the doubts of a woman about his intentions, and "At Ease" is the most evocative track, where he spells out his intentions to soothe and scintillate: "No Matter what mood or state you want to be, the music's for the mind and soul, thoughts in harmony/Days good or bad, your ability/relax, re-control, and feel the melody."

 "Miss Communication," which posits the performer as the recipient of unwelcomed advances from a twisted stalker after a one-night-stand, is well-done, but its inclusion feels forced, as if he came up with it at the last minute to demonstrate his ‘bad boy swag' and prove that he could do more than charm and tantalize. Other than that, if this EP is a sign of things to come, R&B lovers can definitely feel At Ease that even more gems are just around the corner for this evolving artist.

Notable tracks: "At Ease," "Talk To Me," "It's True"

Vocals: 3.5
Lyrics: 3.5
Music: 3.0
Production: 3.5
SoulTracks call: Recommended

By Melody Charles