Darrian Ford, New Standards Review
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Chicago native Darrian Ford has had a vibrant career from co-starring opposite Halle Berry in HBO’s Introducing Dorothy Dandrige as Fayard Nicholas of the legendary Nicholas Brothers and a recurring role on Disney’s That’s So Raven. To starring in his own concept touring show The Cooke Book – The Music of Sam Cooke. His soulful style is exhibited in his debut full-length album New Standards, a combination of blues, R&B and Adult Standard stylings. Ford is inspired and lends his masterful persona to these prodigious originals that offer soulful readings on various subject matters. That’ the short of it!
Positives:
Ford’s voice has a maturity that is only gained through the doing. His vocal inflections offer a soul tinged mightiness that one might expect in a gospel setting. His phrasing has the buoyancy of Al Green, while his soulfulness exhibits the prowess of Percy Sledge.
Bottom Line:
New Standards, might have the air of a jazz album, but its soul-based vocalist transcends the jazz idiom, to a cross-over appeal that will light the fire of any soul-singer aficionado. Ford moves through a program of original tunes that offer the listener moods of wrenching conviction to convincing anguish to endless passion. Ford’s diction is flawless, and his voice easily moves and stretches in any given direction he takes it, to suit the mood of the tune. New Standards, is an exalted listen.