Sugaray Rayford – Human Decency
Forty Below Records – 2024
9 tracks; 38 minutes
This is the third collaboration between Forty Below boss and producer Eric Corne and the dynamic singer Sugaray Rayford and it is very likely to do as well, if not better than the previous two; given that Somebody Save Me earned a Grammy nomination in 2020 and In Too Deep won the BMA Soul-Blues Album Of The Year in 2022, that is quite a claim, but this review will attempt to justify such high praise.
The band assembled to record Human Decency is similar to the two previous ones, notably Rick Holmstrom again featuring on guitar, along with Eamon Ryland. The rhythm section is Matt Tecu on drums and Taras Prodaniuk on bass, Drake ‘Munkihaid’ Shining and Sasha Smith are on keys and Saundra Williams (like Holmstrom, a member of Mavis Staples’ touring band) adds backing vocals. Horns appear on most tracks, Mark Pender on trumpet and Joe Sublett on sax, and Dan Kaneyuki plays flute on one track. Eric plays whatever else might be needed, including harp on one track and wrote all the material apart from one song, Sugar Ray sharing credits on two and providing one on his own. It’s a well-paced album, combining several standout tunes and covering themes that range from the physical to the almost spiritual, bringing in contemporary issues along the way.
Swirling keys, soulful horn stabs and Rick’s nagging guitar provide the background for Sugaray’s criticism of people who overreach themselves: “You shine like a star, but good looks and boyish charm only get you so far – that’s Failing Upwards”. He is equally scornful of someone he sees as a “Dirty Rat”: “Now the right hand it likes to lead and the left hand doesn’t always see. It’s like a spray tan and a skinny mirror or a book ban, need to plug your ears. I think I smell a dirty rat, these words just roll right off your back. You can’t concern yourself with facts, you still think that the earth is flat”. Given some of the lyrics here it is hard not to think of the present US political scene, but whoever the lyrics are targeting, they hit home hard and are made even more effective by the contrast of the gentle musical accompaniment. In the title track Sugaray makes a plea for better behavior from us all on a superb tune with a great horn arrangement, enhanced by flute accents, and again hits hard against those who seek to deny climate change in “Run For Cover”: “A canary in a coal mine holding up a stop sign, but we roll right through, shouting alternate headlines”. These are all serious songs about serious issues, all brilliantly presented in attractive music.
Elsewhere we get the overtly romantic “Strawberry Hill”, a pretty tune with another fine horn chart, perhaps to be contrasted with “Hanky Panky Time”, a tale of unapologetic lust, performed with a wink and smile by Sugaray! “Ain’t That A Man” is another standout cut, a tune that sounds like a lost Stax stomper updated with slide guitar, the lyrics making clear that the woman here has reached the end of her tether with this guy. The band funks it up on “Stuck Between”, Sugaray sharing the vocals in almost rap style with Sam Morrow, and to close the album Sugaray takes us back to the crossroad where the Devil lurks, offering his Grandma’s advice that, when confronted by the Devil, you look him in the eye and say… “Aha”! This one is a churning blues with plenty of gospel overtones.
The quality of the music, the range of styles and themes and the omnipresent power of Sugaray’s vocals make this one to watch again come Awards season. A hat trick of fine albums from Sugaray and Eric!
