Maxwell
blackSUMMERS'night
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

Sealed 2016 180gm 2LP Gatefold Original, Includes Digital Download. "blackSUMMERS'night Begins The Way BLACKsummers'night Ends: With A Riveting Groove In Need Of An Extended 12" Version. Like The Instrumental Finale Of The Album That Preceded It, Which Now Sounds Like A Set-up, "All The Ways Love Can Feel" Is A Dynamic And Deliberate Soul, Jazz, And Funk Fusion, Neatly Interlaced And Enlivened With Kenneth Whalum Iii's Saxophone And Keyon Harrold's Trumpet. The Grain In Maxwell's Voice Evinces The Reality: The Seven Years That Passed Between His Grammy-winning 2009 Album And This Follow-up, At One Point Anticipated In 2011. There's An Extra Texture And Richness In His Voice -- It Sometimes Strains With Purpose But Never Falters -- Adding Tension To These Songs Detailing A Love That Ultimately Eludes His Grasp. While The Album Is Not As Fluid As Blacksummers'night And Has A Couple Frayed Ends, It Includes A High Quantity Of Open-hearted Ballads And Variable-tempo Jams That Sparkle With Indisputable Power. Each One Is Supremely Sculpted. Their Decreased Vocal Smoothness And Increased Rhythmic Friction Are Major Factors In The Set's Allure." AllMusic Review by Andy Kellman.