Darnell Kendricks | Smooth Soul Cafe

Darnell Kendricks | Smooth Soul Cafe

Listen to song samples from “Smooth Soul Cafe”, exclusively from Amazon on our R&B/Soul Page by clicking here!!

The music & sounds of Darnell Kendricks.

The funny thing, my friends, is right before engaging my thoughts for this review, I had some quiet disparaging moments about the term & phrase “Soul Music”. I recently went through a deep mental & spiritual meditation that lasted a few months…searching for answers as to why I feel there could be and may be a problem in todays’ pretense of R&B/Soul music coming from this current generational crop of young singers. Why is it that most of what I have been hearing on modern radio now isn’t ‘moving me’ like my hero’s of the past – Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, etc? Before these champions, even a good mix or crop of ”previous’ generational singers did it for me – like Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert, Richard “Dimples” Fields, Gerald Alston, so on – although they ALL had to have came from a international soul music cruise spectacle together in order for them to perfect such unparalled, well doctrined, soliloquies of love & R&B poems that still stands the test of time. So much so, I bet just about every soul music compilation featuring these treats and others (Gladys, Aretha, etc….even Lisa Stansfield – My Favorite) being released this year is probably going to get a lot more recognition then years past.

Could it be the lack of meaningful content? Lack of arrangements? Lack of substance? Lack of ‘singing from the gut’?

OK, before I go on much further & get into a debate of some sort with some of you…and yes, I may care to come back to discuss this issue…let me share someone with you that open my eyes last week:

I came across independent soul singer, Mr. Darnell Kendricks’ mouth watery delight “Smooth Soul Cafe” and I was back at ease. I can sit down & finally chill for a second. There IS someone out there, like myself, who appreciates that kind of energy & brilliance of soul music enough to demonstrate to us once again how it REALLY should come off – appealing, soul searching, & enigmatic. It should be something fascinating. Enough that you, the listener, will want to keep real close to your collection. Let no one borrow it. Even after you buy THIS ONE.

I don’t know where to start with this. Perhaps his tender baritone voice. Or maybe the outstanding romantic overtone in the lyrics. Or better yet, the simplicity of each production, the arrangements, instruments, endlessly capturing the whirlwind or power of the melody & transform it into an affinity of a perfected ballad.

Darnell’s tonality in his voice, in sequence, carried all of these beautiful ‘chocolate treats’ along for a rewarding playback experience that should be on everyone’s ‘Must Have’ category on a notepad. With a ‘!’ next to that column indicating how fast you may need to buy it.

1st, the entrance. “Smooth Soul Cafe Intro” lays out the welcome mat & invites you in. Casually & with endearment. Pop open a cork of wine my friends and fall into a waterfall of beautiful soulful content. Listen to “Let’s Run Away” carefully. Slowly. Then play “Please Believe Me” (Video box below). Here, press play: