(June 10, 2025) There was a time when bands like Earth, Wind & Fire would include an instrumental tune on their albums. Those tracks served to highlight the band’s musical dexterity while reminding listeners that funk, R&B, soul were jazz music’s younger cousins.
Johnny Britt, trumpeter, singer, songwriter and producer, remembers those days, and the memory inspired his new song “Emotions,” which has an EW&F feel, right down to the breezy, falsetto vocalize that nods toward the great Phillip Bailey.
But don’t get it twisted. This “Emotions” is a Johnny Britt creation. That can be heard both in his melodic flugelhorn playing as well as the creativity he displays while conversing with guitarist Keith Henderson when it comes time to improvise.
“Emotions” is the latest single from Britt’s Midnight In Paris, and the artist notes that audience reaction when he performed the tune at live shows made it obvious that this cut was destined to be the new release: “The first time that I played ‘Emotions’ live at my concert, the audience was singing along and couldn’t get enough of it.”
We’re sure you’ll be playing this laid-back jam all summer long. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
