Carleen Anderson is no stranger to readers of jazz-not-jazz and I’m sure everybody has a different story how and when he has discovered her. Like many, I first heard Carleen as the voice of the Young Disciples, then one of the best acts on the young Talkin Loud label. But it wasn’t until the Young Disciples had released their Move On EP with the epic versions of All I Have In Me and Freedom that I’ve actually bought my first record with Carleen on vocals. But from then on I was hooked on Carleen’s voice and her music and I hardly missed any new release. With her three solo efforts True Spirit, Blessed Burden (both released on Circa) and the independently released Alberta’s Granddaughter Carleen has courageously broadened her musical spectrum. While she may have lost me on a few songs of her previous albums I was nevertheless impressed that she doesn’t compromise as an artists and as she says of herself takes the road less travelled, continuously.
Carleen’s new album Soul Providence finds her re-discovering her soul roots and is a dream come true for people like me, who especially liked Carleen’s soul songs in her discography.
“This album represents the mature me,” says Carleen, “the woman who survived the disappointments with a passionate smile of joyful restitution.” It’s this maturity, celebration of survival and being content with oneself and the found inner peace that makes Soul Providence a classic and timeless soul album with Carleen’s personal and meaningful self-penned lyrics and it’s organic orchestration.
With sixteen strong tracks there’s enough for continuous listening pleasure and food for thought. Just let me pick a few of my favourite songs so far.
Careful is Carleen’s interpretation of the commandment Do unto others as you would have them do to you (Luke 6:31) and her plea for real humanity amongst people that comes in the shape of a beautiful midtempo soul song.
My Door Is Open with its horn section is a great uptempo funky song that finds Carleen in voluptuous territory.
Another highlight is Sweetness that starts more acoustic with congas, sparse keys and then takes you all the way to the gospel choir thanks to Tracey Riggan, Louise Fellingham and Detroy Hutchinson on backing vocals.
Salvation Is Free finally finds Carleen playing piano again on this thoughtful ballad.
I can virtually recommend every single song on Soul Providence whether it be the introspective A Different Me, the uplifting Gotta Believe In The Future or the two duets Wanna Be Where You Are (with Paul Weller, this is a cover of the Leon Ware and T-Boy Ross tune made famous by the Jackson Five) and Parting The Water (with Jocelyn Brown).
To sum it up, Soul Providence shows an impressive development of Carleen Anderson as a musical artists and it is her best album so far.

Tracklisting of Soul Providence: 1. Soul Stream Intro/ 2. A Different Me/ 3. Gotts Believe In The Future/ 4. Whose Business/ 5. Wanna Be Where You Are (feat. Paul Weller)/ 6. Careful/ 7. My Door Is Open/ 8. All In My Mind/ 9. Sweetness/ 10. Parting The Waters (feat. Jocelyn Brown)/ 11. Just Like Me/ 12. Little Wouldn’t I Do/ 13. The Preacher’s Prayer/ 14. Salvation Is Free/ 15. Soul Stream Outro/ 16. Onwards & Forwards | released September 12th, 2005 Orange Room Music/Dome Records

For more infos visit carleenanderson.net, domerecords.co.uk orangeroommusic.co.uk and True Spirit.

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