Since the early days when rhythm & blues became a common music term, there has been so many versions of what constitutes a true R&B sound, with variations like New Jack Swing flying around like free birds. Yet, it is very hard to say what should constitute a ‘classic’ or one of the variations of the R&B sound.
Maybe the good way to go is to include the original R&B elements with all the current stuff that came along the way and just call it modern R&B. Or, just come up with good R&B music as such, ‘classic’ or not so classic.
That might be exactly what the artist that goes under the name of Real J Israel who hails from Atlanta, Georgia had in mind when he was making his new album with quite a clear title – For The Sake of R&B.
Quite a few soul and R&B artists started out in gospel choirs, and Real J Israel is no exception. To get into such a choir, your vocal qualities have to be exceptional, and as he exhibits on the album, Real J Israel’s certainly are.
Yet, just exceptional vocals are not enough to make a good album of any music. You have to have great knowledge and feel for the music you are trying to come up with, and Real J Israel certainly knows his R&B/ soul, particularly its ballad/ late night sounds side.
Couple that with some immaculate musical backing and production and very strong songwriting, and what you get is one of the better recent late-night R&B/soul albums.
This one certainly goes for the sake of R&B.
