Hailing from Indiana, Aaron Frazer’s day job is drummer and backing vocalist in the wonderful Durand Jones And The Indications, part of the soul revivalist movement in the US.
This sabbatical project does not stray far from The Indications - it’s another excursion into lush soul showcasing Frazer’s beautiful falsetto vocals. It’s no surprise, given he co-writes most tracks by The Indications - this is a very talented guy stepping out into a well-deserved spotlight.
His debut album, Introducing… is produced by Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys, and backed by guests including members of the Dap-Kings, the late, great Sharon Jones’ backing band. It would not sound out of place on any soul boy’s turntable in the early 70s, with seduction in mind.
The album focuses on love, with songs like Have Mercy, You Don’t Want To Be My Baby and Girl On The Phone, the latter swinging between chilled out soul and roaring horns. Elsewhere, Over You thunders along, bristling with energy and heartbreak. Closer, Leanin’ On Your Everlasting Love is a gospel and blues ballad, the album’s ode to happy every after love.
The music is consistently great - lush strings, tight drums, stonking horns, gospel backing vocals and the great Auerbach on guitar - it would be hard to go wrong. Though the sound is vintage, it sounds classic rather than trying to be someone else. It just belongs in your record collection next to Smokey and Marvin.
For fans of: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings; Durand Jones & The Indications, Charles Bradley, Marvin Gaye