Gravy / BJ the Chicago Kid (2023)

"BJ the Chicago Kid" って言いにくい名前やな、と思ってましたが、「シカゴ小僧の Bryan James (Sledge)」てな感じだったんですね。
それにしてもミドルネームをイニシャルに入れる？

アルバムは、ソウル＋ポップの絶妙なミックスって感じでしょうか。
完全ポップな曲もあれば、PJ Morton 的ソウルな曲もあるかと思えば、Prince 的あるいは Childish Gambino 的な曲、ギターサウンドの曲、ジャジーな曲等、かなりバラエティに富む曲の集まりになっています。
かと言って、散漫な印象ではなく、飽きさせない内容になっています。

ゲストも素晴らしい。中でも Philip Bailey は大御所を引っ張り出して来たな、と思います。
それと、女性ヴォーカルが光ってます。Coco Jones、Chlöe、 Andra Day。
彼女らが参加した曲はどれもいい。

1. Best Night Of Your Life (Intro) [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
2. Spend The Night (featuring Coco Jones) [Yeti Beats]
3. Never Change (featuring Philip Bailey) [Yeti Beats]
4. Forgot Your Name (featuring Cory Henry) [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
5. Liquor Store In The Sky (featuring Freddie Gibbs) [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
6. Get Loose [Yeti Beats]
7. Who Cares [Yeti Beats]
8. Honey (featuring Chlöe) [Yeti Beats]
9. Long Time [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
10. Smoke Break (featuring Robert Glasper) [Yeti Beats]
11. Feel Something Do Something [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
12. Feel Good [Yeti Beats]
13. Crazy Love (featuring Andra Day [Yeti Beats]
14. Nobody Knows [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]
15. We'll Be Alright (Outro) [Charlie Bereal & Yeti Beats]

[ ]：Producer

• BJ the Chicago Kid : Arranger, Composer, Lyricist, Vocals
• Yeti Beats : Producer, Programmer
• Coco Jones : Vocals
• Cory Henry : Composer, Keyboards, Lyricist
• Alissia Benveniste : Co-Producer, Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Lyricist, Producer
• Andra Day : Composer, Featured Artist, Lyricist
• Boo Mitchell : Engineer, Piano, Producer
• Charlie Bereal : Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Lyricist, Producer
• Chloe Bailey : Composer, Featured Artist, Lyricist
• Freddie Gibbs : Featured Artist
• Philip Bailey : Composer, Featured Artist, Lyricist, Vocals
• Robert Glasper : Featured Artist
• Rogét Chahayed : Co-Producer, Composer, Keyboards, Lyricist, Producer, Strings

Recorded at Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee

---