Carlton Jumel Smith - 1634 Lexington Avenue Vinyl LP

Release date 2019

Harlem's Carlton Jumel Smith has been fronting bands and making records for the better part of 40 years. Whether singing house and/or techno under a stage name (Napoleon Soul-O), fronting the funky rock band the Thrill Cycle, subbing for James Brown (whom he played in Barry Levinson's 1999 film Liberty Heights) and Ray Charles, playing clubs in New York and Europe, or cutting his own independent records, Smith has done it all. 1634 Lexington Avenue is his debut long-player for Finland's premier indie soul label, Timmion, and his first full-length since 2008. The title reflects Smith's childhood address. He is backed by Helsinki's Cold Diamond & Mink, Timmion's production team and studio band led by guitarist/organist Seppo Salmi, bassist Sami Kantelinen, and drummer Jukka Sarapää. The horn section includes arranger/trumpeter Jukka Eskola, Pope Puolitaival on baritone sax, and global jazz-funk saxophonist Jimi Tenor, with Janne Auvinen on congas and Tuomo Prättälä on organ, piano, and background vocals filling. The ten-song set was co-composed by Smith and the band via the Internet, then cut live in studio with each song captured in one or two takes.

AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek