Unfortunately, it's not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can't force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Ready For Love. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
Ready For Love is a pleasantly varied, mix of 11 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly superb artist. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are his own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, and the pain of failed relationships can certainly be heard.
Walter Beasley possesses the characteristic of being able to bowl you over with his talent alone. The kind of artist I frankly just flat out enjoy listening to.
Listen to Ready For Love and I believe you'll find there's not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and Walter Beasley's horn blowing is clearly in top form. Of particular note on this offering is his amazing rendition of Be Thankful For What You've Got. If you're even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you'll enjoy this CD.
While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorite tracks are track 3 - Be Thankful For What You've Got, track 4 - Ready For Love and track 8 - Land Of The Sun.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 6, She Moves Me. What a nice track!
Ready For Love Release Notes:
Walter Beasley originally released Ready For Love on Jan 23, 2007 on the Heads Up Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Free 2. La Nina 3. Be Thankful For What You've Got 4. Ready For Love 5. Rhea's Song 6. She Moves Me 7. Miss You 8. Land Of The Sun 9. Sugar Puddin' 10. Why Not You 11. Willa Mae's Place
Personnel include: Walter Beasley (vocals, saxophone); Tiffany Davis (vocals); Jeff Lockhart, Rick Walford (guitar); James Lloyd (keyboards, programming); Phil Davis (keyboards); Joel Powell (bass guitar); Lil' John Roberts (drums); David "Pookie" Cole (programming). Recording information: 2006.
