​The James Hunter Six (from the album Off the Fence

​The James Hunter Six (from the album Off the Fence

​The James Hunter Six (from the album Off the Fence available on Easy Eye Records/Concord) (by Brian Rock)

The James Hunter Six continue to follow the soulful trail blazed by Solomon Burke and Sam Cooke on their ninth album, Off the Fence. The album captures that ‘Mad Men’ 1960’s cocktail-lounge cool vibe with elegance and grace. Hunter’s velvety vocals are perfectly suited to resurrect the spirit of Soul music’s originators. “Two Birds One Stone” sets the tone with exotic, bossa nova rhythms and staccato percussive elements. Soothing background vocals coo with an ebb and flow waves lapping at a Caribbean beach. Despite the soothing tropical ambiance, there is trouble in paradise as James Hunter sighs ‘we went from two in love to too alone’. The lilting musical backdrop clearly hearkens back to happier times as The James Hunter Six bemoan lost love. Rather than blame his ex for his sorry state, he confesses ‘with just one word I broke her heart as well as my own’. Like Smokey Robinson’s “Tears of a Clown”, the cheerful melody cleverly masks a broken heart.

“Gun Shy” incorporates pulses of electric organ to convey the anxiety of being ‘once bitten, twice shy’ about love. “A Sure Thing” is a horn-driven, musical ray of sunshine that celebrates love and loyalty. “Trouble Comes Calling” is pure, vintage Memphis Soul. The band calls in the big guns for “Ain’t That a Trip” when guest vocalist Van Morrison joins James Hunter to increase the already sky-high cool factor to off the charts territory. Singing about the perils of romance, the duo warn ‘with one kiss your fate is sealed’. The joyful, Jazzy melody indicates that fate may not be all that bad though. 

Merging a touch of cocktail Jazz with their Soul, “Particular” recalls Sam Cooke’s “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” while “Here And Now” is another cheek to cheek, slow dance ballad. “Believe It When I See It” adds the rhythms of the cha-cha to the dance rhythms as “One For Ripley” adds strains of Folk guitar to express the regret of realizing the truth too late. “Let Me Out of This Love” and “Only A Fool” address heartbreak from both sides of the relationship. The Off the Fence title track captures the Vegas Lounge-Soul of Tom Jones to demand a not so unusual clarification of commitment. From start to finish, The James Hunter Six deliver dynamic Jazz-tinged Soul that will make you want to get “Off the Fence” and on the dance floor. (by Brian Rock)
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Listen and buy the music of The James Hunter Six from AMAZON
 
Please visit The James Hunter Six website for more information