In the 70`s and 80`s, Earth Wind and Fire drove the dance floor. It's eclectic, and unique blend of R&B, funk, jazz, and soul was nothing short of magical. Unlike many of the dance tunes back then, EWF`s music didn't simply supply a pounding beat, whose melody and nominal lyrics hung in the background like an excuse for it's existence. EWF had substance. You didn’t dance to the beat; you danced to the music.
Okay, I admit it, I was your typical "Disco Queen" back then, and I enjoyed every minute of it. My musical tastes have always been somewhat broad, yet as much as I enjoyed the typical disco fare on the dance floor, I didn't bring it home with me.
When the opportunity arose to do a write up on the new Devoted Spirits` Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire album, I jumped at the chance to revisit an old friend. To my surprise, it was more of an introduction, than a reunion!
Devoted Spirits is comprised of three former key members of EWF, Sheldon Reynolds (guitar and vocals), Larry Dunn (keyboards) and Morris Pleasure (keyboards, bass and trumpet), who decided to come together to pay homage to their roots. As Reynolds noted in their January 24, 2005 press release, "For Larry, making this album was a sweet homecoming of sorts, honoring the body of music he helped create. Morris and I have been both fans and members of EWF, so we've had the unusual opportunity of playing with our heroes and even contributing to their legacy.” He continued, “[EWF leader] Maurice [White] taught us all so much, and it was his vision that we feel blessed to have been a part of."
It's all there as I remember: their unique blend of musical styles, the hypnotic rythmns, the driving horn section...the soul that made EWF so captivating, but there's more here.
Infused with the original EWF`s sound, are some fabulous rock guitar licks, a heavier bodied jazz influence, and a deeper, more mature aspect to the music, which I think will broaden it's overall appeal to a much larger market. Working with the original recipe as a base, Devoted Spirits has obviously taken great joy in playing with the ingredients to create their own distinct flavor. Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire hasn't replaced the old menu; it`s created a vibrant new one.
Contributors to the album include such notables as EWF founder Maurice White, original EWF guitarist Johnny Graham, Norman Brown, Bobby Watson (Rufus), Gerald Albright, Sounds of Blackness, Ronnie Laws, and Teri Lynn Carrington.
Devoted Spirits hope to record an album of all new material next, and have already performed several shows — with the possibility of touring major U.S. cities this summer. While I`m waiting, I think I`ll pick up a few EWF CDs...Until now, I didn`t realize how much I missed them!
Devoted Spirits` Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire “brought it home”.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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