Melba Moore & Phil Perry | The Gift Of Love

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Melba Moore & Phil Perry – The Gift of Love

 

If there ever was an urban music central casting to find the next powerhouse duo to record a special collaboration, Melba Moore & Phil Perry would absolutely qualify hands down as two valid candidates.   Their deep musical credentials are solid as a rock even if they have encountered unsteady waters for extremely different reasons in their long tenured career.   Moore survived numerous troublesome business and personal setbacks in the nineties after her glory Grammy award winning days in the R&B/soul music during the seventies and eighties.  Now she has bounced back in graceful style to record a gospel album in 2004 and returned to her first love-musical theater.  Despite an under appreciated career in many aspects, Perry managed to garner raves from loyal fans and fellow musicians as one of soul and contemporary jazz since the early seventies and as one of the top-notch background vocalists in the business.  Through their combined talents and longevity, Moore & Perry possess all the critical ingredients in a vocalists’ arsenal: range, depth, timing, and a touch of charisma on the side.  So when Moore was approached to pair up with Perry and his long time associate – Chris Davis, the Shanachie Entertainment disc The Gift of Love was birthed.  

 

In my mind, Moore & Perry could sing the encyclopedia and I would be chilling in soul music heaven.   Besides, the art of the duet is sorely missing in today’s urban landscape as evidenced in such highly-touted pairings: Rick James & Teena Marie, James Ingram & Patti Austin; Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrill.   As well-seasoned performers, Moore & Perry have also worked in several duo partnerships.

 

Some of Moore’s greatest R&B/soul moments were in duets including “A Little Bit More” & “I Can’t Complain” with Freddie Jackson.   Moore’s own discography is quite extensive in that it is really exhausting to list all her recording accomplishments.   To list a few highlights, Moore’s electrifying voice either in a duet or as a soloist is extremely comfortable with any genre including disco (i.e. “Pick Me Up I’ll Dance,” “You Stepped Into My Life”), Broadway(the original casts of Hair & Purlie) and jazz (“I’m Beginning To See The Light” with Ray Brown Jr., the adopted son of Ray Brown & Ella Fitzgerald.)  Moore also reunited with Jackson on the gospel compilation Songs 4 Worship Soul for Andrae Crouch’s masterpiece “My Tribute.”     

 

Phil Perry’s first exposure to the national soul music scene was with The Montclairs in the early to mid seventies, mostly on the popular independent label Paula Records.  The group eventually disbanded after some minor hits.   Yet Perry’s durable tenor still makes a strong impact throughout his near four-year decade as a soloist, well-respected background vocalist (from George Duke to Ricky Martin) and in duets (CeCe Winans & former Montclairs member Kevin Sanlin) without regularly striking gold or platinum in record sales. 

 

Moore & Perry join forces with two of urban music’s finest producers Chris Davis & Preston Glass (with able assistance by soul/R&B renaissance man David Nathan) for The Gift Of Love.  Because of the duo’s exciting vocal vibe, there is rarely a disappointment to be heard.   This is due to the song selection of soul music tested material, which can make or break the flow of a full-length project; especially in how the song is reinterpreted.  In this category, The Gift of Love gets the job done.  The melodies of both the Marvin & Tammi classics “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” & “You’re All I Need To Get By” are not overtweaked.   Moore & Perry’s adlibs also enhance the emotional intentions of the aforementioned.  In the gospel department, “It Will Be Alright,” an old school church service sparkler by John P. Kee & The New Life Community Choir, is transformed into a stylish jazz/blues arrangement.  “Weakness” – first heard on The Woman In Red soundtrack by Stevie Wonder & Dionne Warwick – combines a flair for smooth jazz and R&B genres, both areas where Moore & Perry have encountered a loyal fan base.  Last but not totally least, the ‘shivering up and down my spine’ honors goes to the heart-wrenching ode – “Sadie” – straight out of The Spinners soul/R&B vaults, and this rendition far outdoes R. Kelly’s take anytime.  

 

As for the newer compositions, the message driven “Survival Kit” and the romantic “Give (The Gift of Love)” could have been ordinary vocal affairs in other artists hands, but Moore & Perry’s vocal expertise add a lyrical pep in their step.  In fact, the only tiny dent on The Gift of Love is The Sounds of Blackness funky inspirational hit “Optimistic,” mostly because of the paper thin production of the backing vocals.   

  

For fans of Moore & Perry, or even those who are being introduced to the duo for the first time, The Gift of Love is a must have.  Both their voices are still in terrific form even after many triumphant and sometimes unappreciated years (Moore is now in her early sixties, Perry in his late fifties).  With overall efforts like The Gift of Love, I also believe they need to serenade the urban music lovers in the near future to remind our ears of how their voices can taste so soulfully great.

 

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene