Artist: Gerald LeVert Rating: Release Date: September 24, 2002Genre: Rhythm & Blues
Review This modern R&B stalwart has always offered the perfect blend of dreamy old-school soul textures; jangly, guitar-driven atmospheres; and slick, modern funk grooves. And oh, that voice -- mellow and sexy, seductive to the core. The best "come to beddy bye" tone since
Barry White , and so steeped in that era. The vibe on "Too Much Room" artfully merges all of those things and sounds like a modern twist on
the O'Jays (where his dad,
Eddie Levert , still holds court), but he gets a little ambitious with the sometimes-annoying scowl/screech of guest artist Mystical. "Since You Ain't Around" is all bedroom-eyes fun, his vocals almost a plea. "Wilding Me Out" has a sparse production (mostly just Fender Rhodes and a rhythm track) which allows for one of the clearest vocal tracks on the recording.
Levert will hopefully educate some of his fans to the art of jazz with the inclusion of
Roy Ayers ' vibes on "Oh What a Night."
Levert 's scatting duet with Ayers is a highlight. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Tracks
Too Much Room
Gerald LeVert , Michael Tyler , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert , Mystikal (4:30)
Since You Ain't Around
Gerald LeVert , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (4:22)
Wilding Me Out
Gerald LeVert , Edwin Nicholas Gerald LeVert (4:35)
Funny
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (4:29)
The Top of My Head
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (4:16)
The G Spot
Gerald LeVert , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (5:10)
Oh What a Night
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney , Randall Bowland , Flem Brown Gerald LeVert , Roy Ayers (4:53)
Closure
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (4:43)
Raindrops
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (5:26)
Your Smile
Tommy Johnson , Nickolas Ashford Gerald LeVert (3:52)
Backbone
Gerald LeVert , Niles McKinney Gerald LeVert (4:35)
Catchin' Feelings
Gerald LeVert , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert , Mystikal (4:54)
All That Matters
Gerald LeVert , Randall Bowland Gerald LeVert (4:56)
[Untitled Track]
Gerald LeVert (:58)
Credits Gerald LeVert (Arranger), Gerald LeVert (Vocals) , Gerald LeVert (Vocals (Background)) , Gerald LeVert (Producer) , Gerald LeVert (Engineer) , Gerald LeVert (Executive Producer) , Gerald LeVert (Vocal Arrangement) , Gerald LeVert (Vocal Engineer) , Roy Ayers (Vibraphone) , Roy Ayers (Scat) , Dunn Pearson, Jr. (Conductor) , Dunn Pearson, Jr. (String Arrangements) , Troy Johnson (Stylist) , Larry Abramovitz (Violin) , Davis A. Barnett (Viola) , Diane Barnett (Violin) , Pablo Batista (Percussion) , Daryl Burgee (Drum Overdubs) , Scott Cannady (Bass) , Jeff Chestek (Engineer) , Jeff Chestek (Mixing) , Larry Gold (Conductor) , Larry Gold (String Arrangements) , Doug Grigsby (Bass) , Ted Jensen (Mastering) , Edwin Nicholas (Drums) , Edwin Nicholas (Sequencing) , Edwin Nicholas (Keyboard Programming) , Peter Nocella (Viola) , Alvin Patterson (Hair Stylist) , Christine Reeves (Violin) , Jon Smeltz (Engineer) , Jon Smeltz (Mixing) , Mystikal (Rap) , Kathleen Thomas (Violin) , Dennis Williams (String Arrangements) , Charles Parker (Violin) , Ben Arrindell (Mixing) , Ben Arrindell (Mixing Engineer) , Gregory Burke (Design) , Olga Konopelsky (Violin) , Emma Kummrow (Violin) , Charlene Kwas (Violin) , Niles McKinney (Organ) , Niles McKinney (Synthesizer) , Niles McKinney (Organ (Hammond)) , Niles McKinney (Producer) , Niles McKinney (Fender Rhodes) , Niles McKinney (Associate Producer) , Niles McKinney (Wurlitzer) , Igor Szwec (Violin) , Gregory Teperman (Violin) , Mark Ward (Celli) , Marc Baptiste (Photography) , Randall Bowland (Bass) , Randall Bowland (Guitar) , Randall Bowland (Keyboards) , Randall Bowland (Executive Producer) , Randall Bowland (Synthesizer Bass) , Aaron Draper (Drum Overdubs) , Nina Cottman (Viola) , Ruth Frazier (Viola) , Tracey Booth (Vocals (Background)) , Tracey Booth (Voices) , Tracey Booth (Noise) , Teresa Williams (Vocals (Background)) , Ron A. Schaffer (Engineer) , Ron A. Schaffer (Mixing) , Ron A. Schaffer (Mixing Engineer) , Gordon Goss (Mixing Assistant) , Gordon Goss (Mixing Engineer) , Carlos "Storm" Martinez (Engineer) , Rob Wood (Drum Programming) , Derrick Hodge (Bass) , Tommy Johnson (Keyboards) , Tommy Johnson (Vocals) , Tommy Johnson (Vocals (Background)) , Tommy Johnson (Vocal Arrangement) , Junius Bervine (Keyboards) , Jeff Bradshaw (Trombone) , Matt Cappy (Trumpet) , Alexandra Leem (Viola) , Vincent Dilorenzo (Assistant Engineer) , Vincent Dilorenzo (Mixing Assistant) , Lynne Beiler (Celli) , Jennie Lorenzo (Celli) , Chislaine Fleischmann (Violin)
