EP Review: Sharon Musgrave - Jewelweed (2021) - Guest Feature by Ilya Yclept

- October 22, 2021

Cover Artwork

Sharon Musgrave – Jewelweed Release Date: February 2nd, 2021 Label: Zosar Music Format: EP Length: 16:58 Genre: Soul, R&B, Neo Soul, Quiet Storm, Soul Blues, Down Tempo, Soul Jazz, Funk, Adult Contemporary, Jazz Blues, Hip Hop, Chill Hop, Hip Pop, Cool, Smooth, Groove, Urban

Before I even start talking let me put this straight - Sharon Musgrave has the voice of a goddess.

The Canadian-born singer first rose to fame in 1990 as a part of Bass-o-matic, a band that released Fascinating Rhythm. The track was a huge club house hit that defined the sound of the decade in many ways. As it did set the creative vector for Sharon as a performer - she followed the well trodden path, popular among classic soul and r&b singers at the time, providing the vocals for a variety of DJs. Many of those works received quite a following.

As time went by, she moved on to form various collaborations, focused mainly on dance music, but in 2018 we finally received Sha's Archives, an album where she explored the soul/jazzy territories. And her latest Jewelweed EP is another step in that direction.

The release is very conservative, featuring every classic trope of the genres; a real delight for everyone missing the acid jazz/r&b from the 90s. The EP delivers a track for every mood, for any occasion: a tender, slow confession, an upbeat manifesto for a strong independent lady walking down the street, a background murmuring for a promising date.

Musically, there are no surprises, but songwriting and performance is just ace, such a kind of professionalism that you don’t notice, unless you pay enough attention.

Once again, I am very glad, that Sharon Musgrave turned the page and shifted to that kind of material she is currently working with. At least now I can say something good happened in 2021.

Text by Ilya Yclept

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