New Role Soul

by Robert Ward

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	06/06/2000
Label:	Delmark
UPC:	0038153074128
Rank:	183263

Tracks

1. Put Yourself in My Place
2. New Role Soul
3. Never Found a Girl
4. I'm So Proud to Have You for My Love
5. Peace of Mind
6. The Chicken Jerk
7. Whatever I Receive
8. Don't Make No Sense
9. I Come to Save You
10. Ark of Safety
11. Chitlins con Carne
12. I Ain't Drunk
13. Somethin' Funky's Goin' On

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Ward   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Steve Wagner   Recorder
Kay Reed   Vocals
Roberta Thomas   Vocals,Tambourine
Theresa Davis   Vocals (Background)
Kenny Anderson   Trumpet
Willie Henderson   Sax (Baritone)
Sonny Seals   Sax (Tenor)
Wayne Stewart   Drums
Hank Ford   Sax (Tenor)
Roberta Ward   Vocals

Technical Credits

Steve Wagner   Engineer,Producer
Bernard Seigal   Composer
Kenny Burrell   Composer
Robert G. Koester   Producer
Pete Nathan   Producer
Roberta Thomas   Vocal Arrangement
Cecil Womack   Composer
Willie Henderson   Horn Arrangements
Robert Ward   Composer
Jimmy Liggins   Composer
Brett J. Bonner   Liner Notes
Al Brandtner   Design
Roberta Ward   Composer