Darien Dean "Departures" CD

* Commentary by Yoshiaki Takahashi

A sweet and beautiful voice reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, and outstanding melody sense! A gem of a soul album that inherits the new soul sound of the 70s and continues it to the present day!

Darien Dean, a soul singer from New York, has spent about eight years completing his long-awaited new album. The supporting cast is also impressive, including famous producer Herb Middleton, who has worked with Mary J. Blige and Usher, and Avery Sunshine, a talented female singer-songwriter who is known for performing at a private event for President Obama's inauguration.

She has previously participated in the work of the club jazz group Reel People, and was also a vocalist on the album "It's Personal" by female R&B singer Angela Johnson. In 2005, she also showed off her talent on the soundtrack "25 Strong," which was a hot topic as it featured DJ Spina and Angela Johnson, and her natural, natural singing voice and songwriting sense have captivated many soul fans. This album, "Departures," which took many years to complete, is packed with the energy and charm of soul music, and is full of brilliance that is not influenced by the flow of the times.

■Track list