Expressions (2007)

While he’s certainly gained a reputation as an artist with a solidly adult following, Ty Causey has often been tough to categorize.  Over the past 4 years, he has quietly become one of the most consistently pleasing soul/jazz singers, attracting a sizeable audience from multiple genres.  And his music has certainly fit in with the smooth jazz crowd, but I’ve hesitated to throw him in that bucket.  There was always a mild R&B underpinning to his work that was somewhat muted but that I thought, if opened up, would make his albums even more interesting.  So the good news is that Causey’s third release, Expressions, moves Causey’s R&B leanings to the forefront, resulting in his most satisfying album to date. 

Working with Executive Producer Bert Caldwell, Causey uses Expressions to unleash his inner soul singer, and he seems extremely comfortable in these surroundings.  Equally important though, are the compositions (Causey’s best yet) combined with the disc’s increased focus on a more urban groove.  The tunes here are a bit hookier than on 2005’s Love Notes, and Causey and Caldwell smartly focus on this material, keeping the instrumentation (save the consistent midtempo beat) relatively unassuming.  This results in an album that flows cleanly from front-to-back, heavy on a late night groove that is more about head bobbing than dancing.  And while one could argue that the disc at times seems too subdued, overall Causey delivers on the disc’s concept in fine fashion, especially on "Pick Up the Pieces," "No Need to Rush" and the disc’s strongest cut, "Heartbreak Paradise."

Ty Causey has taken a strong, creative turn on Expressions that should provide ample material for both smooth jazz and UAC radio to highlight for some time.  It should also accelerate his growth as one of the most enjoyable adult soul singers around.  Recommended.

by Chris Rizik

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