The
Righteous Ones
Toshi Reagon
Marking her first recording for Razor & Tie
Entertainment, Toshi Reagon's latest CD, The Righteous Ones is
billed as the album she was born to make. The Righteous Ones
successfully crosses genres, combining blues, R&B, rock and
folk to appeal to a diverse and loyal fan base. Described by The
New York Times as having a voice that alternates between "a
dirty blues moan to a gospel shout to an ethereal croon",
this album captures the spirit and energy of her live shows. See
for yourself why The NY Post has called Toshi and her band, Big
Lovely, "the best band in New York City, signed or
unsigned." -- Robyn Hansen
For those who know her
through previous recordings or as the daughter of Bernice
Johnson Reagon (of Sweet
Honey in the Rock), Toshi has a shock or two in store. Her
previously acoustic blues- and gospel-based work has only hinted
at the muscular rock and frenzied funk of her fourth and most
freewheeling release. Her musical touchstones now include Talking
Book-era Stevie
Wonder, Prince,
Rufus,
and Living
Colour at their most raging. The modern gospel intro to
"Real Love," Toshi's first recording with Sweet Honey,
quickly detonates into full fury and "Drive It Home,"
with its uninhibited sexuality, comes on like Chaka
Kahn fronting Lenny
Kravitz's band. Reagon tends to mix her metaphors ("I'm
just a little bit corny / Smiling like a baby with no troubles
rumbling / And all cards on the table"), but musical and
lyrical spontaneity this celebratory and emotionally wild is as
hard to fault as it is to resist. --Roy Kasten
![Africans In America [BOX SET] [SOUNDTRACK]](../images2/cover_reagon9.gif)
Africans
In America Bernice
Johnson Reagon with Toshi
Reagon
The soundtrack to the
six-hour PBS documentary Africans in America comes in two
formats: this three-CD box set and a single-disc
compendium. Largely composed and sung by Bernice Johnson
Reagon, the soundtrack tells its own story of America's struggles,
freedoms, and diversity--songs include spirituals, popular songs
from America's early history, European folk tunes, and African
vocal tracks. It can be an odd mix at times: the American
Revolution tune "Brandywine Quick-Step" is followed by
the multilayered, African-inspired a cappella composition "Mandiacapella."
There are simply so many influences and intertwined histories, the
sonic palette overflows with styles. It's overwhelming at times,
but amid these 59 tracks are some gorgeous standouts. Who could
resist the precious guitar solo of Toshi Reagon on "Steal
Away," the simple instrumental joys of "Come unto
Me," or the live congregation in progress found on "Run
Mary Run"? --James Hendrickson
