Kenny Lattimore - Timeless - CD

The name Kenny Lattimore is synonymous with a sensual and seductive sound guaranteed to make even the coldest woman's heart thaw if not outright melt on the spot. He nearly had male R&B sex symbol sewn up as a soloist in the late '90s with chart topping hits from "Never Too Busy" to "Days Like This" and "For You," but unfortunately the turn of the 21st century was unkind. Lattimore's heartfelt crooning was out of step and style with the harder, raunchier, more crass and more hip-hop driven R&B dominating the airwaves. As an artist familiar with biding his time until the right opportunity came along from previous stints in failed groups, Lattimore shelved his solo style for a while and worked with equally talented singer Chante Moore on a series of duet albums, with an intensity fueled by the couple being husband and wife outside the music business.

That same passion can be heard in Lattimore's voice now that he's returned to his solo ways on Timeless. Lattimore's latest offering is covers of songs that fit the album's description, and as such is filled with more highlights than can fairly be fit into this short review. I'd be remiss not to share at least a few with you though, starting with his take on Norman Connors and Michael Henderson's "You Are My Starship." Lattimore's voice soars over the clouds, taking this '70s rocket-fueled ode to love to new heights. His interpretation of Al Green's "Something" is no less a joy to behold, although Lattimore seems far more sure he'll find that "Something" than Green did back in the day.

The most surprising of all his covers though may be "Everybody Here Wants You," a soulful song from Jeff Buckley in the '90s that was overshadowed by his untimely demise on the brink of becoming a pop music superstar. In every case on Timeless Lattimore shows respect to the original singers and the framework of their songs, while still letting his powerful vocals reshape and breathe new exciting life into their sound. Like the songs on this disc, Lattimore's singing remains Timeless in any era.