Rachelle Ferrell wore two hats in the 1990s: straight-ahead jazz singer and commercial R&B/pop singer along the lines of
Anita Baker,
Miki Howard, and
Angela Bofill. Produced mostly by
George Duke, this self-titled album is an example of her R&B/pop side. With this smooth, classy effort, Manhattan/Capitol was obviously intent on appealing to the more adult-oriented tastes in the urban contemporary market. While artists like
Mary J. Blige,
Bell Biv DeVoe, Babyface, and
Janet Jackson were making R&B relevant to hip-hoppers,
Ferrell opted for maximum quiet storm appeal with this album. If you were buying a lot of
Baker,
Luther Vandross, and
Freddie Jackson albums in the early '90s (along with some
Grover Washington, Jr. and
Joe Sample, perhaps), you were exactly the type of listener Manhattan/Capitol had in mind with sophisticated numbers like "It Only Took a Minute," "'Til You Come Back to Me," and "Sentimental." Most of the songs are appropriate vehicles for the Philadelphian's big, rich voice, but while this collection of mood music isn't bad, it isn't the gem that
Ferrell had the ability to deliver. As pleasant and likable as much of the material is, one got the impression that she was capable of a lot more. ~ Alex Henderson