Two and a half years after his Grammy-nominated album, The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq is back with his fifth studio album, Stone Rollin’ (to be released March 22, 2011 on Columbia Records).
This past Thursday night, That Grape Juice attended Saadiq’s exclusive listening event entitled “Saadiq Sessions” at The Royalton Hotel in New York City. Accompanied by an acoustic trio of guitar, bass, and percussion, Raphael took his audience on a journey of classic R&B inspired from the 60’s and 70’s that he has fused with a futuristic twist.
He treated the audience to song after song after song, including the lead single Radio (available now on iTunes), title song Stone Rollin’, Moving Down the Line, Good Man, Just Don’t, and an encore performance of Heart Attack.
Effortlessly, his visual presence perfectly matched his musical styling. Decked out in black frames, dark blue turtleneck, double breasted blazer, Windsor plaid slacks, and Chelsea boots, Raphael’s style could share the same title of his first solo album, Instant Vintage. Listening to his new body of work, and looking at his sartorial selections, you can easily understand his influence by musical legends such as Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Sly Stone, and Stevie Wonder as well as indie acts that he regularly listens to.
Saadiq said “Both the attraction and the reaction to my music from my listeners has given me all that I need to continue pushing the envelope and making music that waves and rocks the soul of many. It’s ready. I’m ready. And I know the world is ready. Let’s all go Stone Rollin.”
If his preview party was just a taste of what’s to come, then his planned upcoming tour is surely one not to be missed. Be sure to catch him as he performs alongside Sir Mick Jagger at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday February 13th as they pay tribute to the late great King of Rock & Soul Solomon Burke.
Check out pics from the show below, which was attended by Columbia Music head Steve Barnett (pictured)
{Pictures and words by That Grape Juice New York correspondent Carl Ayers}