K. Willis & The Collection offer a refreshing blend of raw, yet pleasant vocal stylings and very tangible lyrical concepts carried by warm enveloping melodies. All of this is supported by a solid foundation of cool, crisp, live music. Due in part to the players, the “Collection” flows with elements that fully embrace an almost forgotten concept of the straight-forward, plain and pure essence of the music known as R&B. Each song arranged, written, or co-written by K. possesses a musical style and lyrical content appealing to all ages, genders, and nationalities. Yet, the 32 year-old lead singer says K. Willis & The Collection seek to “target a seemingly forgotten market of music lovers” their age and up—a concept which is clearly a departure form the current big-name producer and track-driven R&B market geared toward the under 30 crowd. The name alone sets this work apart from a range of current R&B acts by borrowing from a concept rarely seen in today’s market but often used by icons of days gone by (i.e., Gladys Knight and the Pips, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Prince and the Revolution, for example).
Much like the R&B groups of yesterday the sound of K. Willis & The Collection calls for a stage on which to spread its wings and come even more to life. Its positive energy, sincerity, and honest emotion lend itself well to securing a spot among the realm of today’s top artists.
Elle Murphy WilliSongs, Inc. 30 ottobre 2004 01:03