Abiah's 'Doves' Flies High


Usually when you come across an artist with an impressive resume and the occasional name drop or two, you either get excited or get a tad suspicious. In the case of Rochester, NY native Abiah, I had my eyebrow raised as I grazed across his credentials. Background vocalist for the likes of George Michael, Yolanda Adams, Chuck Mangione, and Amel Larrieux. Critical comparisons to Nat King Cole. The cousin of pianist virtuoso, Robert Glasper. Hmm, not shabby at all. Abiah's butter rich alto also rung a bell, as I recalled him duetting with Shanice on the track, "Love For Awhile" from way back in '06. At the time he was going by Jeremiah, but after a stint in Africa teaching vocal lessons, he changed his name and game around, and what we hear before us today is the fruits of his evolution. We've all heard Prince covers done multiple times -- sometimes they come zapped from the microwave and other times they come out of the oven, cooked to perfection. Abiah's take on "When Doves Cry" is of the latter. Bubbling from the oven, Abiah takes "Doves" on with enticing and sublime contemporary jazz execution. It's really more than just a cover, it's a simply brilliant experience. Lured in you'll be with its rolling piano, flourish of percussion, and Abiah's gorgeous tone that you'll have to check twice to see if this is the Purple Sultan's classic or not.  More melodic pleasures of this kind will be present on his album, Life As a Ballad, which arrives on the August 28th. And believe me, no resume is needed, he has aurally cast his spell.


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