New Role Soul
OnNew Role Soul, Ward's bubbling, vibrato guitar lines are fluid and snappy, his vocals even sweeter on top and rougher on the bottom than before, his grooves deeper than ever. The session features able support from Kevin McKendree, whose organ work provides crucial texture and an effective second lead opposite Ward's guitar. The covers are, for the most part, wisely chosen: a gem of a soul ballad in Cecil Womack'sI'm So Proud To Have You for My Love, a push-me-pull-you take on Eddie Floyd's hitNever Found a Girland a dark reading of Kenny Burrell'sChitlins Con Carnethat drummer Wayne Stewart and bassist Willie Samuels nudge toward a deep groove. Ward contributes six originals, many of which carry his trademark positive, quasi-mystic message. OpenerPut Yourself in My Placerips, blasting out of the gates with its plea for understanding. Ward weaves mock-Oriental figures throughPeace of Mind, a hard, trance-funk vamp, dropping a snaky, red-hot guitar lead into the middle. Ward muses more deeply onI Come To Save Youand the gripping centerpieceWhatever I Receive, a raw, slow minor blues that's like an exposed nerve - another Ward performance likely to achieve immortal status. --Tom Hyslop, Blues ReviewYou read about a lot of 'comeback' stories in the blues these days but none are sweeter than the one Robert Ward has written. He first appeared as the leader of the Ohio Untouchables (later to become the Ohio Players) in the early 60s. His trademark vibrato guitar, played through a magnatone amp, appeared on the Falcons' hitI Found A Love(sung by the one and only Wilson Pickett) as well as on several solid regional hits.New Role Soulshows that Ward hasn't lost a step, either vocally or instrumentally. His singing is as soulful and exuberant as it ever was, and he still has that great watery tone on guitar. His sound is easily the most distinctive of any guitarists playing the blues today. His songwriting is always positive and upbeat. Standout tracks include Ward's ownPut Yourself In My Place, Eddie Floyd'sNever Found A Girl, the funky workoutSomethin' Funky's Goin' On, and the stunningWhatever I Receive. The band provides super backing for Ward. Listening toNew Role Soulis like hearing from a dear old friend. It stands, so far, as one of the best blues releases of 2000. --Graham Clarke, Blues News, Phoenix Blues SocietyRobert Ward is a prolific songwriter whose unique guitar style and tone is perfectly suited to his buoyant R&B; material. OnNew Role Soul, the Georgia-based Ward exhibits the same down home charm and soulfully urgent vocals that have come to typify his work since the early '60's. He testifies like a Baptist preacher on the 10-minute sermonWhatever I Receive. Robert revives memories of Otis Redding and the Memphis sound onI Come to Save Youand he weaves his own eccentric spell on Kenny Burrell's instrumentalChitlins Con Carne. --Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times