Trumpeter Johnny Britt teams up with Gerald Albright and Kashan to drop the linen suit anthem for the summer, "Summer Love". The single comes from his latest album "After We Play" which Britt says is a phrase he got from one his influences, Miles Davis. It is the follow-up to the the self-titled single "After We Play".
The way Britt delivers "Do you...hear me?" is intoxicating and sends shivers down your spine. The first two verse by Britt really make you want to grab on to the one you love and hold on tight.
On verse 3 we are joined by Kashan who Rap-sings a few bars in the style of Nate Dogg and it sounds amazing. What's great is that he packs a bunch of words in the few lines without getting off beat even slightly. It's very melodic, rhythmic, and does not overstay its welcome.
P.S. The song says it features Gerald Albright but without any notable sax part we must assume that he's either on the Bass or Piano.
Intro
"Summer Love" starts off with a piano and guitar playing two chords before a bongo takes us to the beat. At 0:04 Britt sets the mood with his soothing "ooooh Summer Love" that makes it clear that this a "grown and sexy" affair exclusively. At this point we have the full band in effect with a punchy bass, a chill drum pattern, and the piano hitting chords on the 2 and slightly before the 5 on an 8 beat count. It's a groovy sound that sounds very complex and chunky but also airy and tight...there's some great work going on with this ensemble.
Verses
Britt does his thing during the verses as he reminisces about the great times he has with his lover during the summer. The Pre-Hook is where he lays it out clearly and soulfully.The way Britt delivers "Do you...hear me?" is intoxicating and sends shivers down your spine. The first two verse by Britt really make you want to grab on to the one you love and hold on tight.
On verse 3 we are joined by Kashan who Rap-sings a few bars in the style of Nate Dogg and it sounds amazing. What's great is that he packs a bunch of words in the few lines without getting off beat even slightly. It's very melodic, rhythmic, and does not overstay its welcome.
Hook
The Hook expertly connects the entire song together with the line "Nothing like a summer love un-der the stars above". It is so smooth and romantic which once again makes me want to grab the one I love and never let her go. I can't wait to play this in the car with the top down on a summer night.Break
Johnny Britt not content with simply hitting us with smooth vocals, he drops a killer Trumpet solo from 2:35 to 3:16. What I like the most about this solo is that it is not watered down like typical solos you hear in music that falls within the "Adult Contemporary/Smooth Jazz/Watercolors" realm. The solo is very jazzy and does not feel safe, rigid, or confined...it's authentic.Parting Thoughts
"Summer Love" by Johnny Britt is one of those tracks everyone's Aunt and Uncle will be playing on their way to the winery. It's smooth, soulful, warm and the perfect soundtrack for a good time. Johnny Britt delivers soulful vocals from start to finish while Kashan comes through on the 3rd Verse with a hip flavor that's on message. In my opinion, "Summer Love" is a stand out track on "After We Play" and I'm so glad it was released as a single. Here's to topping the radio charts!P.S. The song says it features Gerald Albright but without any notable sax part we must assume that he's either on the Bass or Piano.
Additional Information
Johnny Britt recently kicked off his summer tour in San Diego, CA with his son Josh who also plays Trumpet in addition to Piano. On his Facebook, Britt has a picture of the two and states that he enjoyed performing for the Girlfriend's Fund Organization. Starting May 31st, he will be touring with Little Anthony across the USA.
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