Los Angeles based pianist Daniel Crawford delivers a delightful assortment of Jazz tinged funk and soul grooves. Crawford displays his keyboard wizardry over a number of tracks while inviting an array of talented vocalists along for the ride. Among the highlights are "Strictly For My Negus", which starts out as a piano solo which eventually morphs into explosive forays on the electric piano and synths. "The One" features a soft House tempo as well as the falsetto vocals of Vikter Duplaix. "Trouble" is a mid-tempo tune highlighted by Amp Fiddler on vocals and Flautist Monet."Home" is another winner, an Ode to Africa song by rising soul singer Cleveland P. Jones. "The Awakening" is one of those records that arrives with little fanfare yet eventually becomes a part of your musical rotation. Crawford displays a keen sense of melody combined with a flair for funky compositions. Simply stated this is definitely one of those underrated records you need in your collection.
