Sensual Journey

1	Cool Water 4:00
2	I Can't Help It 5:09
3	Home 4:09
4	Don't Talk to Me Like That 5:22
5	Almost Like Being in Love 4:27
6	Maybe 4:34
7	If I Ever Lose This Heaven 4:56
8	Drowning in Your Eyes 4:21
9	Just Don't Wanna Be Lonely 4:02
10	Brooklyn Breezes 4:01
11	Bolero Nova 4:44

Barnes & Noble

The best cuts on smooth-jazz vocalist Will Downing’s Sensual Journey are the ones with the leanest instrumentation. With only guitar and bass backing him, Downing’s “Cool Water” has the passion of an old Spanish love song. “Bolero Nova,” with a Hubert Laws flute running through it, has a Spanish theme but is actually a lush love song, while “Maybe,” with light keyboards and a spoken-word opening, is a bedroom ballad that could melt the stoniest heart. For the Brenda Russell/Vinx Parrette-penned tune about verbal abuse, “Don’t Talk to Me like That,” Downing is joined by Vinx (for a fabulous scat solo), vibist Stefon Harris, and organist Ronnie Foster. Together they create layers of lamentation. Stevie Wonder’s “I Can’t Help It” perks along with a hint of Brazil and a Boney James saxophone solo. Downing’s “Home,” which features the saxophone stylings of Gerald Albright, is the kind of catchy tune a lover hums on his ride home. The funky warmth of the Downing-penned “Brooklyn Breezes” is the only hint of urban sounds in the set. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

Will Downing moves to a new label and takes romance to new heights on Sensual Journey. The dynamic singer/songwriter and producer is joined by a stellar constellation of musical stars on 11 inspired ballads that will warm even the coldest heart. Downing's proven composing skills are again at their best on such heartfelt tunes as "Home," "Almost Like Being in Love," and "Maybe," to attest to his ability to tell a great story. Best bets are the radio friendly "Cool Water" and"Can't Help It," which present Downing's sophisticated baritone vocals in undiscovered arrangements. Another emphatic arrangement is the mellifluous approach to Brenda Russell's "Don't You Talk to Me Like That," which features Vinx's unique scatting and Downing's one-of-a-kind interpretation of a very personal matter. Despite its title, it is one of the prettiest tunes on the CD because of Stefon Harris' sensitive vibraphone solo. As the CD closes, Will Downing takes his listeners from Brooklyn to the Caribbean via the inspired "Brooklyn Breezes" -- which he co-penned with Kashif -- and "Bolero Nova," a slow, sentimental bolero done with a modern spin. Downing definitely captures the essence of contemporary jazz, classic R&B-soul singing, and the Latin tinge on this excellent recording of his vocal mastery. And so another theme, another concept for the continuing journey into Downing's vast repertory. However, these 11 stories of love with their beautiful harmonies and lush melodies set Sensual Journey apart from his previous efforts because of the splendid musical accompaniment and variety of gorgeous ballads. Paula Edelstein