Safe Flight＜Clear Yellow Vinyl＞

Despite an already considerable catalog that includes four studio EPs and a greater number of singles epitomized by "Petty Lover," Safe Flight represents the true arrival of Jaz Karis. The South Londoner, a BRIT School graduate whose gospel background translates to traditional R&B flowing through everything she does, titled her first album in reference to the texts she received during intercontinental travels that entailed trips to the States to write and record. The set therefore involves a good number of producers. Needlz, (Darhyl) Camper, and (Edgar) Etienne are veterans whose collective work includes connections with Janet Jackson, Brandy, Elle Varner, Ella Mai, and Coco Jones -- to name just a few artists in Karis stylistic vicinity -- and theres also input from relative newcomers such as Prodigal Sons and LOCKNKEY. Somewhere in the middle is Tone Stith, featured on lead single "Met You at the Bar," in which Karis graciously shows her duet partner the door. (The deep and fluid bassline is almost as much of a draw as the voices.) Fellow British R&B singer Mahalia provides support on "Nice Girls," a tender ballad where Karis clearly expresses feelings of jealousy, bitterness, and temptation without raising her voice. Finely drawn, danceable collaborations with Reekado Banks, Juls, and June Freedom meet the Afropop and Afrobeats artists halfway sonically and naturally commingle with the purely R&B material. Beyond "Met You at the Bar," the Stevie Wonder-tinged parting ballad "LYTM," the joyously bobbing "Sunset Blvd.," and the slinky "2242" highlight that portion of the album. Mellow if impassioned with a sense of cosmopolitan sophistication throughout, Safe Flight would warrant Sade comparisons if it was penthouse more than pavement. ~ Andy Kellman

UKのR&Bシンガーがデビューから7年を経て放つ初オリジナル・アルバム。地元ロンドンとLAを跨いで制作され、キャンパーやプロディガル・サンズ、客演とプロデュースで参加したトーン・スティスらの援護で現代LAのレイドバックした空気に包まれながら痛みを伴うラヴストーリーを歌っている。シャーデーの現代解釈といったチルなムードの曲からリカード・バンクスやジュルスのアフリカ勢を迎えたしなやかなアフロビーツ～アマピアノ路線まで、36分の旅を貫くのは柔和で爽やかなトーン。マヘリアと相見えたソフトなバラード"Nice Girls"も含めて風に揺られるようなヴォーカルが芳しい快作だ。
bounce (C)林剛