Will Downing 'Classique' album

Highlights of 'Classique' include the hypnotic tick-tock pulse of “More Time” (a recurring theme of Will’s regarding finding more hours in the day for love), the feel-good summer groove “Something Special” and what will surely become this album’s top contribution to his personal best canon “I Won’t Stop”, a passionate backbeat driven declaration of eternal love. He waxes especially spicy on the clever “Just Think About It” and in the sexy vocal he shares with singer Sherrida on the funky call and response breakdown of “Love Suggestions”.

As always, Downing respectfully dips back into the timeless wax of old for three numbers. Interestingly, all three of them are songs originally made famous by three legendary gentlemen of Soul.

The first is “Baby, I’m For Real”, a monumental 5-weeks-at-#1 smash first penned, produced and arranged by Marvin Gaye in 1969 for his favorite Motown vocal quartet, The Originals. Will recaptures that group vibe by sharing the mic with Phil Perry, whose powerful tenor and trademark falsetto flights play dynamically against his own smooth baritone. Perry, who was a member of just such a singing group called The Montclairs, taps into that experience with overdubbed harmonies.

Next is a stroll through Barry White’s very first hit from 1973, “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby”, Will’s version of which also recently graced the Rideout-produced compilation 'The Strength of a Woman' (in support of breast cancer research for African American women). Finally there’s Will’s version of original Temptations lead tenor David Ruffin’s 1976 solo masterpiece “Statue of a Fool” (a.k.a. “Name It After Me”), a cover of the 1969 Jack Greene country classic that is among Ruffin’s most poignant recordings. Will tenderly delivers the evocative lyric as well as the heavenly backing harmonies for a rendition that goes straight to the heart.

Beyond the music, Downing is a conscientious humanitarian, proven by his role as a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association which has become even more important to him in the wake of prominent victims such as Luther Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. Whenever possible on tour, Downing conducts the charity bowling event “Strike Against Stroke” to raise funds towards greater stroke awareness and education in the African American community, which is disproportionately affected. The American Heart Association awarded Mr. Downing for his efforts, honoring him as a Celebrity Ambassador in their Power to End Stroke national campaign. Off the road, Will indulged his love for photography by self-publishing the 2005 coffee table book 'Unveiled Series I', and relishes his ultimate life roles of loving husband and father.

'Classique' is quintessential Will Downing from start to finish…a quiet but emphatic statement on the strength and confidence this Brooklyn native has garnered as he celebrates his 20th anniversary as “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul” – a career in which the man and his artistry have been recognized for excellence from NARAS to the NAACP.

Will Downing biography
Fast forward two years from the improbable and awe inspiring delivery of After Tonight, (Downing's 2007 release and musical monument of triumph over adversity, as he fought through the debilitating effects of the muscle disorder Polymyositis), and you'll find both man and artist with a renewed spirit for life and a tremendous gratitude to continue a soulful journey that started over two decades ago. Station stop and CD #14 on that journey, Classique, is where timeless meets modern-day with a mutual respect that gives birth to a sound that somehow manages to feel both familiar and brand new.

Will Downing arrives at this station in time with complete command of his craft, a full grasp of who he is as an artist and uniquely positioned on the R&B road connecting the past to the present. That connection is made with a production prowess as silky smooth as the trademark vocals to which we've grown accustomed. Classique, effortlessly lives up to its moniker with a delicious fusion of B3 organs, flutes, vibes and crushed velvet harmonies, seasoned with a dash of Motown and a pinch of Philly International. Its retro flavor is an unforced natural blend of old school savvy and modern technical wizardry served up by Downing and longtime production collaborator, Rex Rideout.

To be clear, there's no need for studio trickery to fill any vocal voids here. As if Will

Downing's own considerable gifts were not enough, Classique enlists the veteran talents of Phil Perry, who not only brings his 80's and 90's solo success to the mix, but his 70's soul group expertise as well from the Montclairs. 2009 finds Perry in fine form and lending an undeniably authentic pedigree to the finished product. The resulting contribution, is a stirring remake of The Originals' classic "Baby I'm for Real", where

Perry offers the perfect high flying contrast to Downing's signature baritone notations.

The two form what many a female fan might consider the ultimate Dynamic Duo of romantic crooners, each with his own unique sound.

Ultimately, it's Will Downing himself that makes Classique… classic. Besides the union with Perry, this volume is noticeably absent of the trendy parade-of-all-stars list of guest

performers so common on many of today's new releases. Intended or not, there's no mistaking the fact that this is a Will Downing showcase from start to finish…beginning to end. It's a quiet but emphatic statement on the kind of strength and confidence this Brooklyn native has amassed in an amazingly durable two decade long career that's been recognized for excellence by the NARAS and the NAACP Image Awards.

Classique kicks-off appropriately with "Ride", which serves as both an intro and invitation to its listener to embark on a 10 track sonic excursion. To those accepting the invite, hang on tight for a trip that gets going in a hurry and takes a nice scenic turn down memory lane. It moves swiftly to the catchy tic-toc of "More Time", which combines the mellow smoothness we've come to expect from Will Downing with a refreshingly playful undertone that hints of a loose and fun production atmosphere. The resulting mid-tempo ballad is easily one of the most repeatable cuts on the project and reflects on the brokenhearted erosion of trust created in a relationship when too much business causes one party's well intended promises to their significant other to be repeatedly broken. The subject in this case, faced with a possible "last straw" situation, finally recognizes the need to devote more time and makes a very passionate simultaneous plea for second-chance time and wishfully, more time in the day. "More Time" is quite possibly an unconscious adaptation of the artist's own revelation and recommitment to the more important things in life. The follow-up track, "Something Special", is such an instant feel-good summer groove you can almost smell the barbeque through some very MFSB-esque horn and string arrangements. Further down the road, Downing works both sides of the microphone with some very tasteful turns as both artist and producer on the CD's most lush ballad "I Won't Stop" and the painfully self-reflective David Ruffin jewel

"Statue of a Fool", which he has long desired to cover. Both tunes are distinguished by an excellent use of the simple but often overlooked beauty of four-part harmony in some carefully layered background vocal arrangements. A great change of pace comes in the form of the slightly up-tempo and openly flirty "Love Suggestions" and the tongue-in-cheek double entendre hidden in the refrain of "Just Think About It". Rounding out the fare is Downing's lyrical love letter "Let's Make It Now" and a tribute to the "Maestro of Love" himself, Barry White, in the form of "I'm Gonna Love You", making full use of the unique gift of a natural deep baritone-to-falsetto first tenor vocal range.

Most importantly, Classique deserves to be listened to…really listened to. It serves up a sweet redemption for every music fan that has ever had that empty "something's missing" experience after listening to a new CD. The more you play it, the more you'll hear, the more classic Classique becomes.

Downing is also being recognized as a humanitarian through his role as a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association, which has become even more important to him in the wake of prominent victims such as Luther Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. Whenever possible as he tours, Downing conducts a charity bowling event called "Strike Against Stroke", to raise funds towards greater stroke awareness and

education in the African American community, which is disproportionately affected. The American Heart Association has awarded Mr. Downing for his efforts and honored him as a Celebrity Ambassador in their Power To End Stroke national campaign.

Off the road, Will Downing retreats to the most important roles in his life as a loving husband and father to his family. Singer, Songwriter, Humanitarian, Family

Man…Another Classic!

Do you also would like to share your opinion? If so, please register or login here.

Details

Popular Songs

New Songs

Will Downing - Classique