“Private Time” has to be Walter Beasley's finest hour. This was one hell of a CD, crammed with sensual ballads, uptempo monsters and silky instrumentals. Walter has, for my two cents, not come up with anything as invigorating as this album since and I really and truly hope he returns to this winning formula of soul, jazz and funk. Everything that we love in a soulchoon is encapsulated within this 1995 CD release. The album was praised – much to my surprise – and it is so easy to see and hear why. I even love the graphic design and artwork that are part-and-parcel of the album. Hard hitting, funky and riff-laden the contemporary urban 90s groove works as a strong foundation for Walter's tenor sax, and the result is not so much as hard but it's like a clenched fist in a velvet glove. Smooth...with a bit of a punch! The vocalist on the next gem, “Calling To Me”, is the super-talented Kenya Hathaway (expect her début CD soon!), and the tempo is irresistibly catchy and hook-led. This is a 90s version of the bouncy uptempo tunes that we all love from the 80s. Superb and equally timeless. Now, anyone who has followed Walter Beasley will know he loves his cover versions. Usually I find a quiet corner and start sucking my thumb, rocking gently back and forward at the prospect BUT what he does with “A Love Of Your Own” is superb. It's a fresh, funky downtempo take and DIFFERENT!!!!! I really was – and still am – impressed by this version.
The title track is a top-draw instrumental, minus the 90s urban feel, and more in tune with what he later recorded for Shanachie and Heads Up. This is about as far as I go into “smooth jazz” before I start looking for a quick escape route! No means of escape necessary for the KILLER cut on here, “If You Let Me In”. In the same vein as “Treat U Rite” with that back beat, and a seriously resounding and pulsating bass line, tasty guitar licks and a stunning A1 vocal delivery from Walter himself, this is one of the best tracks this man has ever laid down. Liz Withers released her début CD on Blue Note recently – and I for one was not one iota with it. However she makes an appearance her with Walter on the superb ballad “I Will Be The One”, where her vocals truly shine out in the right sort of setting. If Walter's 80s output was more to your liking then “Baby Can't You See” is a vocal that will resound with you, but I think that anyone of any persuasion cannot fail to fall in love with the scintillating semi-vocal “Deep In My Soul”. This is atmospheric in the extreme, and the haunting backing harmonies do nothing but elevate this higher. It's at the end when the vocals kick in that I really get the shivers. Superb. If this was a set you bypassed then click on the link below and snap up a copy. Believe me, it's worth every single penny.
Barry Towler
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