Shakura S’Aida – Hold on to Love
Self-released
12 Tracks – 54 minutes
Shakura S’ Aida has a resume establishing her as a multi-faceted entertainer with credentials varying from music, theater, film and television roles. Born in Brooklyn, she lived for many years in Switzerland before returning to live in Toronto. She performed as a back-up vocalist for Rita MacNeil and Patti Labelle and was a feature vocalist for jazz musicians Jimmy Smith and Ruth Brown. She credits Bettye Lavette for helping her learn how to prepare properly for a performance. She also was the lead singer for the 13-piece world ensemble Kaleefah before embarking on a solo career. She released her first album, Blueprint, in 2008. Prior to this album, her fourth, her last previous album, Time, was released in 2012. She was nominated several times for the Canadian music Juno and Maple Blues Awards and won as Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2010 Maple Blues Awards. She also was the first runner-up at the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and was nominated for Contemporary Female Blues Artist at the 2013 Blues Music Awards. Following her IBC performance, she has toured in 32 countries.
Her acting career has found her with roles in many movies and most recently was a performer on Schitt’s Creek and as Cora Lewis on the Batwoman TV series. In 2014, Shakura produced and performed in The Nina Project, a four-woman tribute to Nina Simone that was performed aboard the Legendary Cruise line.
She engaged Donna Grantis, who toured with and even scored one #1 hit with Prince, as her co-producer and co-writer of her new album. Donna had previously co-written music on Shakura’s album, Time. In preparation of completing the new album she moved to Martinique where she says she spent her first leisure break in a long time. She took her time enjoying herself and writing the lyrics whenever a song came to mind and shipping them to Donna to develop into the music. A few songs had actually been recorded prior to the pandemic, but that placed a hold on recording. A couple of others had been written for the 2010 album, Brown Sugar, but were not used as they did not seem to fit the album.
The album opens with the title song as she advises “Life is hard / Just hold on till you turn it around / Don’t ever think woulda, coulda, should / Cause in a little while, things will get back to being good.” “Love will help you find your way”. A cover of Michael McDonald’s “Takin’ It to the Streets” is given a soft, bluesy touch unlike Michael’s original, more up-tempo version. “Clap Yo Hands and Moan” was co-written and produced by Keb Mo. She sings, “I know God is listening to every word I say. / I know he is with me every single day / And if you need to call to heaven but you got the devil / stomp your feet, clap yo hands and moan.”
“Glad for Today” moves into a funky mode, maybe into Gladys Knight territory, as she warns “don’t worry about tomorrow, don’t get caught up in the yesterdays”. She seeks a soul mate in a rousing “You’re the One”. Chuck Campbell’s steel guitar rips through the song. Larry Fulcher from The Phantom Blues Band co-wrote and Lee Oskar guests on harmonica on “(Taste Like) Honey”. Her voice goes a little deeper on the song as she says, “you taste like honey, kisses lighter than air.”
“Doodun” is sung acapella with Kyla Charter providing backing vocals as Shakura is “searching for answers that are so hard to find / opening my heart tears me apart / Words can’t say what you don’t know / feelings have nowhere to go”. The title becomes a form of jazzy skat singing. A second cover, J.B. Hutto’s “Too Late”, follows with a jazz story featuring Colleen Allen’s sax and Alexander Brown’s trumpet giving it a feel of a smokey joint with a sad vocalist with a glass of gin in hand. Chuck Campbell’s steel guitar immediately starts to rip up the sound on a jumping “Complicated” with “no indication of when the end is in sight”. Tony Rabalao on drums stands out as well to drive the beat on this one.
Eric Gale is featured on guitar as she tells him “Your lips tell lies / Your eyes show fear” but you “Ain’t Got Nothin” “on me”. She slows things down in a slow romantic blues as she declares “Don’t Wait for Me”. The album ends with one final cover, Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”. She again turns the song into a soft blues led by an acoustic guitar and certainly makes the song her own.
The album was nominated for the Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the 2023 Juno Awards and was certainly deserving of the nomination. Shakura’s voice is constantly smooth and enticing. Her music does vary from blues to a touch of jazz and probably into roots or frequently referenced as Americana. A very enjoyable listen.
