New Role Soul - Robert Ward

Less of a horn-drenched affair than his Black Top albums, New Role Soul presents Robert Ward in a smaller, looser setting that definitely works to his advantage. Instead of taking the usual let's-cut-come-oldies approach, the producers let Ward create on the fly, and the results easily rank up there with his 1990 comeback album Fear No Evil. For most of New Role Soul Ward is backed by just a three-piece rhythm section of bass, drums, and organ, leaving plenty of room for his testifying vocals and Magnatone-enhanced guitar. The two instrumentals here, "The Chicken Jerk" and "Chitlins Con Carne," are classy arrangements full of funky, fingerpicked guitar solos -- like Albert Collins, Ward knew how to milk a guitar-organ combo to the last drop. Even more impressive is Ward's rhythm guitar playing, a virtual bottomless pit of cool grooves and subtle fills. (Power chords will never be the same after "Peace of Mind.") In the decade since Fear No Evil, Ward's vocals have lost some power, but that doesn't stop him from diving into tortured-soul territory, as he does on "Whatever I Receive" and "I'm So Proud to Have You for My Love." This is probably the most well-rounded album Ward has recorded. ~ Ken Chang, All Music Guide