LEON TRIPLETT (http://www.triplettrecords.com) exudes coolness and strength, qualities that Marvin Gaye had in gallons.
In fact, somewhere between Gaye and James Brown lies the magnetic energy of Triplett. And if Triplett sounds old school - an explosive blend of soul, jazz, R&B, and funk - it's because he is. Triplett was writing songs for other people as way back as the early '70s. On "The Leon Triplett Project," he takes to the microphone, and we wonder why he hadn't done it sooner.
Triplett begins the festivities with a cracking cover of "Smile," remade here with dynamic percussion and jazzy horns. The deep talk-singing of Triplett is a '70s trademark that many still attempt but fail to do effectively. Not so with Triplett. You simply can't mess with a seasoned vet. The upbeat "Try Love" has a splendid reggae-ish beat. However, Triplett's real strengths are displayed when he takes a Smokey Robinson approach, crooning seductively on "Weekend Madness" and "Like Takin' Candy From a Baby," the most engaging cut on the record.
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Those who think this is simply music for their parents will be knocked to the wall by "So Sexy," a ferociously energetic dancefloor burner in the frenzied James Brown funk style. There's even a scorching rap thrown in. Clocking in over five minutes, "So Sexy" doesn't want to stop - and you don't want it to, either.
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