Synchronized with the 50th anniversary of the active
Earth, Wind & Fire,
Love Will Find a Way is
Philip Bailey's first solo album in 17 years. That's a mighty long time -- longer than the time span between "Keep Your Head to the Sky" and "System of Survival." Nonetheless, this continues in the direction
Bailey was headed on his 1999 and 2002 efforts for the Heads Up label, though the singer and percussionist goes deeper and farther out with a presumably larger recording budget. Like
Dreams and
Soul on Jazz, this release mixes originals and a greater percentage of interpretations, and above all else is a jazz LP. Moved by the younger generation of musicians who know their history and how to recontextualize it with skill and invention,
Bailey places himself at the center of a gathering that welcomes keyboardist and co-producer
Robert Glasper, saxophonist
Kamasi Washington, and bassists
Christian McBride and
Derrick Hodge. He makes it multi-generational with
Chick Corea and
Kenny Barron also on keys, and
Steve Gadd on drums. Even the group of background vocalists, from
Valerie Bailey (née
Davis) to
Bilal, bridges generations. The full ensemble numbers over 30 and, much like the material itself, changes shape significantly from cut to cut (which could explain the lack of track-specific credits). There are updates of two songs by fellow falsetto colossus
Curtis Mayfield. Cautionary narrative "Billy Jack" begins the album in startling fashion, transmuting the original's lean and choppy reggae-funk into a tightly wound groove synthesizing Afro-beat and blaxploitation.
The Impressions' black pride anthem "We're a Winner" is easier going.
Bailey sings with a little more swagger than usual, true to
Mayfield. Rather surprisingly, there are only two one-on-one love songs, but
Bailey makes them count. In the case of
Marvin Gaye's anguished "Just to Keep You Satisfied," treated like a standard with a fuller arrangement,
Bailey gives one of his most stirring performances. It starts impressively enough, but around the moment he hits the final note of "My one desire was to love you," all other versions have been left in the dust. The three originals, primarily instrumental, are subtle grooving knockouts. "Sacred Sounds," written by
Bailey, his son, and
Glasper, is the finest, evoking the spirit of mid-'70s
EWF while grounded more in jazz-funk -- somewhat akin to what
Eddie Russ did with "See the Light." It takes off when
Washington's piquant sax strays from a joyous group vocal.
Bailey finishes by teasing out the
EWF from one of
Washington's key influences. "Love Will Find a Way" closely echoes the levitating version on
Pharoah Sanders' like-titled album, all the while seeming to inch toward "Love's Holiday." It ends this invigorating album just as effectively as the blueprint began its parent release. ~ Andy Kellman