Dee Robinson is a poet and she has previously released WomanFlower, an album you could file under spoken words with a soul/jazz background.
The recently released The Voyage by the Black Pearls project has a different approach. Though it features some spoken words it’s basically a soul album. The idea to this album was born when several friends of Dee performed songs on her birthday party. A few days later Dee teamed up with producer N’Visible Man and nine fellow musicians to form the Black Pearls. The result is a very good collection of musically versatile songs with all but one song being original compositions by Dee. At times The Voyage reminds me of better Malaco/Southern Soul releases by Denise LaSalle or Shirley Brown for example.
The introductory A Black Pearl Is finds Dee praising the virtues of black women while the soulful midtempo groove of the 80s inspired Truly introduces Jasmine who does a little bit of Shirley Brown on this song with alternating singing and talking.
Tonya Taylor is another new name for me, who guests on the equally appealing I Never Knew. Actually Dee has chosen all her fellow musicians wisely. And there’s no argueing about the vocal input of Dee’s nine Black Pearls. Personal highlights include Bonnie Harvey on Sounds Like The Blues To Me. Bonnie reminds us why soul has its origins in Rhythm & Blues [that was of course before the acronym R&B became Black Pop]. Bonnie also impresses on the catchy Sing A Prayer.
Thressa Gardner, a mezzo soprano, does an interesting and rather unusual version of Gershwin’s Summertime giving it the opera treatment in a medley with Dee’s own Sweet Pearl Of Summer.
Also worth mentioning is Delores Major’s hypnotic electric violin solo on Slowrocker’s Groove…somehow reminiscent of a slow Isley Brothers song with a violin instead of a guitar. By the way, Dee also recorded a version of this song with Maurice White on saxophone on her WomanFlower album.
Altogether The Voyage is a very good showcase of black music with its inclusion of soul, blues, neo-soul/R&B and even hints of smooth jazz. Of course, it’s also a strong showcase for the talented “Black Pearls” involved here. This album truly offers something for every fan of black music without being undetermined.

Tracklisting of The Voyage: 1. A Black Pearl Is/ 2. Truly/ 3. I Never Knew/ 4. Sometimes Right Now/ 5. Fine Lines/ 6. Sounds Like the Blues To Me/ 7. Summertime/Sweet Pearl of Summer/ 8. Maybe This Time/ 9. Black Pearl Strut/ 10. It’s Never Too Late/ 11. Sing a Prayer/ 12. Slowrocker’s Groove | released 2005 Dee Robinson

For more infos visit theblackpearls.net, cdbaby.com and mentaltainment.com.

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