From seasoned to fresh

The two CDs today showcase how R&B can be an exciting hybrid by drawing from other musical genres. In the case of music veteran Lenny Kravitz, rock and blues are the obvious influences; and for the Norwegian act, Nico & Vinz, it’s reggae and Afrobeat. 

Lenny Kravitz — Strut (Roxie/Universal Music). Hitting the age of 50, and appearing in films such as Precious and The Hunger Games do not mean Lenny has forgotten how to rock. Strut, his latest studio album, is a showcase of his versatility and range. With a bevy of self-penned tunes and one very surprising cover, the album is a musical gold mine. The great thing about Lenny is how he wants to rock, as in Sex, the title track, and New York City; he manages to do so in a muscular, raw, at times bluesy way. And yet, when he deigns to go soul or R&B, as he does in The Chamber, and the great cover of Smokey Robinson’s Oooh Baby Baby, he’s smooth and all buttery, without losing his edge. It’s a strong statement from the veteran.

Nico & Vinz — Black Star Elephant (Warner Music, available on Amazon.com). I first heard of the Norwegian duo via the single Am I Wrong and was struck by how its sound was both retro and fresh at the same time. Originally from the Ivory Coast and Ghana, and formerly known as Envy, the duo gives Afrobeat a pop sensibility that works as a happy, energized R&B niche.

Musical intros and vignettes that highlight its African provenance dot the album; and I love how this is incorporated in the original compositions. Know What I’m Not and Miracles being prime examples, the looping guitar rhythms the signature aural accent to these songs. With reggae (People), soul and smooth rap (the snappy Another Day) swirling in the mix, Black Star Elephant is an impressive first CD.