Size: 102,7 MB
Time: 44:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2026
Styles: Blues/Soul/Rock mix
Art: Front
1. Further On Up The Road (4:18)
2. Dimples (3:26)
3. Driftin' And Driftin' (3:50)
4. All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (3:59)
5. Flyin’ High (Yesterday) (3:14)
6. How Did I Ever Get This Blue? (4:28)
7. I'm Burnin' Up (4:00)
8. When I Was Your Man (4:23)
9. Rumour Has It (5:17)
10. It Feels Like Rain (4:27)
11. Memphis, Tennessee (2:49)
It’s been four-and-a-half years since hearing from Harlem-based vocalist and guitar slinger Solomon Hicks (no longer using “King” to precede his first name) on his album, Harlem. Now in his late twenties, Hicks’s sound continues to progress. When many of us were first introduced to him about a decade ago, we reveled in his clean, no pedals sound and pure, soulful Sam Cooke-like voice. He came across as an ‘old soul’ in a young man’s body, with a handsome smile, dressed to the nines. At that time, he was playing mostly covers, and many of us were projecting what he might sound like with original material.
That core of his sound and propensity to lean on covers remains intact, but his sound is now shrouded in electronica and a bit of gadgetry on How Did I Ever Get This Blue?. There are at least two reasons for that. First, Hicks has acquired a rebellious streak. He says, “I want to shock people… It’s great to be alive in a time period where I can reach back to the past, but also be inspired by the now and the future.” Secondly, Kirk Yano continues to be Hicks’s producer/engineer/mixer. Yano is a multiple Grammy-winning recording engineer with well over 30 Platinum and Gold records. He has won three Grammys, including one for Miles Davis’s Tutu. Yano has also worked with Public Enemy, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Placido Domingo, and Phoebe Snow.
Simply put, Yano has many connections. Together, the two conspire to drag blues into the 21st century, much like much of today’s jazz, which often has elements of electronica. As such, Yano uses synthesizers, keyboards, and drum programming. Acclaimed turntablist DJ Logic is aboard, and regular pianist/organist Tommy Mandel adds synths to his bag. Others include Kevin McCormick (bass), French vocalist Benabar, Keith Shocklee from Public Enemy (drum programming), Les Warner (of The Cult on drums), and Frank Amato (vocals). Prominent blues guests include drummer Chris “Whipper” Layton, slide guitarist Joanna Connor, and harmonica player John Nemeth. In addition to Layton, there are five other drummers, each playing a select track. Aside from Hicks, there are a whopping twenty in the credits. /Rock & Blues Muse
That core of his sound and propensity to lean on covers remains intact, but his sound is now shrouded in electronica and a bit of gadgetry on How Did I Ever Get This Blue?. There are at least two reasons for that. First, Hicks has acquired a rebellious streak. He says, “I want to shock people… It’s great to be alive in a time period where I can reach back to the past, but also be inspired by the now and the future.” Secondly, Kirk Yano continues to be Hicks’s producer/engineer/mixer. Yano is a multiple Grammy-winning recording engineer with well over 30 Platinum and Gold records. He has won three Grammys, including one for Miles Davis’s Tutu. Yano has also worked with Public Enemy, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Placido Domingo, and Phoebe Snow.
Simply put, Yano has many connections. Together, the two conspire to drag blues into the 21st century, much like much of today’s jazz, which often has elements of electronica. As such, Yano uses synthesizers, keyboards, and drum programming. Acclaimed turntablist DJ Logic is aboard, and regular pianist/organist Tommy Mandel adds synths to his bag. Others include Kevin McCormick (bass), French vocalist Benabar, Keith Shocklee from Public Enemy (drum programming), Les Warner (of The Cult on drums), and Frank Amato (vocals). Prominent blues guests include drummer Chris “Whipper” Layton, slide guitarist Joanna Connor, and harmonica player John Nemeth. In addition to Layton, there are five other drummers, each playing a select track. Aside from Hicks, there are a whopping twenty in the credits. /Rock & Blues Muse
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