CD Review: Sharief in Burgundy: Bubby's Luv

"Sharief in Burgundy: bubby's luv" CD is an eclectric mix of rock and soul. Sharief is adamant about not being labeled as "neo" or new soul artist. Soul is soul. If Jimi Hendrix was considered soul music I will eat my hat. Hendrix is listed as one of Sharief's musical influences on his website: Sharief in Burgundy. The influence can be heard on some of "bubby's luv" tracks, such as "Paper Tiger" and "Rocket Luv High". Sharief does not credit Marvin Gaye as being a musical influence, yet the voice he gives to his slow jams has the same three ingredients that make soul singers great, the three S's: silky-smooth, sultry and sexy. Okay, that's four, but who can count when chills are running up and down your spine listening to "The Party Song"? Then he goes off in a completely different direction with both his voice and his music.

Listening to the tracks on "bubby's luv" the music sounds familiar, as if I have been listenting to them for a long time on my favorite smooth jazz radio station. That is not possible, because "bubby's luv" is Sharief's first indie label CD release. He sounds almost apologetic on the CD liner notes. He explains "Budget did not allow for final mixes, so these are the best of the take home listen to's". The feel of "bubby's luv" CD is professional, high quality recording, not "next to no budget". He need not apologize. All songs on Sharief in Burgundy "bubby's luv" were written, arranged, produced and performed by Sharief. Performed, that is, with a little help from his own session musicians and back up vocalists. Again the total sound is smooth. It also is edgy and energetic.

Though this is Sharief's first release, he is no stranger to the music venue. He has been a session musician playing for artists such as Macy Gray, Lauren Hill and Alicia Keys. Mary J. Blige's "Reflection" CD featuring songs like "No More Drama" is among his credits as guitar player. He is prominent in John Legend's "So High" music video, doing what guitar players do best, playing a mean guitar. "bubby's luv" is Sharief's opportunity to show off his vocal skills as well as his guitar playing. I could compare his voice to many artists, but it is uniquely his own. There seems to be an auto-biographical yearning note in "Miracle" and "Wonder" which features some cool guitar riffs. Singing from the depths of ones soul is what defines the genre and Sharief does just that. "Together" sounds like a cross between rockabilly and a playful B-52's pop rock hit. "Cool" is classic old school soul. "Smoke" adds funk to the sound that makes for the eclectric mix of music, which is probably why people want to tack that "neo" label on Sharief. He is hard to define.

He is currently on tour with John Legend. People who have seen Sharief perform live give rave reviews. "Reign Fall" and "The Nasty Song" seem to be favorites among his fans. The CD was recorded on "Real Music Records" label and is available from CD Baby.com. If you have ever been disappointed by online customer service you will love shopping for indie label CD's at "CD Baby". The experience is as unique as Sharief in Burgundy, "bubby's luv". The CD features 10 original songs with two bonus tracks: "The Nasty Song" (live) and "Wonder" (acoustic). You can sample the songs at CD Baby.com and "Sharief in Burgundy" website and MySpace.

CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/
Sharief in Burgundy: http://www.shariefinburgundy.com/
Sharief in Burgundy MySpace: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=74718143