Huffington Post,
CD Review
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It didn't surprise me seeing Jahdan Blakkamoore popping up on former Soulive vocalist Toussaint's first album, Black Gold (I Grade). While the two men's styles are stylistically different--Toussaint's Gregory Isaacs to Blakkamoore's Don Carlos--there exists a kinship between them, predominantly in their honest, soul-seeking lyrics. Beautiful voices both, their minds merge on the upbeat horn-drizzled "Rise and Fall." It is only one great cut on an album of many. Toussaint reminds me of Luciano's non-VP Records albums: midtempo, sensual, excellent production, solid bass grooves punctuated with horns and a killer rhythm section. The man can write a ballad ("Hello My Beautiful," "Black Gold") without being clichéd, as well as hype a crowd ("Roots in a Modern Time," "Conquering Cocaine"). Toussaint is at his best right in the middle, with an irie classic like "Sunshine in the Morning," relying both on the exceptional production and his heartfelt, bold vocals.
08/12/10
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