It’s not enough to crown Omar as the King of UK Soul for his unmistakable voice is recognized and cherished worldwide. With his seventh and easily one of his strongest lps entitled “The Man”, his star should shine even brighter. The thirteen track disc hits hard and often with a myriad of musical styles enhanced by edgy grooves and crafty production that we’ve come to expect from him. The first single “The Man” finds Omar singing about his maturation from a young man to family man, highlighted by a tasty bass clarinet and flute melody. “High Heels” is a funky soul jazz tune that features the Hidden Jazz Quartet”. Pino Palladino transforms the 1990 classic “There’s Nothing Like This” into a chilled out mellow gem. The disc wraps up with Latin flavored “Ordinary Day” that is a tribute to the additions of his twin daughters to his family. Overall “The Man” is filled with so many superb tracks that it will be hard to pick a favorite. It will not be hard at all however to recognize this as one of the best records of the year.
