Artist:     Southern Avenue

Album:     Keep On

Label:     Concord Records

Release Date:     05.10.2019

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When soul singer-songwriter William Bell is a guest artist on a young Memphis band’s second CD, something exciting must be happening. From Bell’s early US and UK chart-toppers like “You Don’t Miss Your Water” (1961), to his Grammy winning album This Is Where I Live (2016), he’s been part of the development of Memphis R&B. “In terms of new artists with the talent to become the stars of the future,” Bell has stated, “you need to look no further than Southern Avenue.”

Southern Avenue’s modern soul sound, with its rootsy flair, was born when Israeli Guitarist Ori Naftaly joined three Memphis natives. Keyboardist Jeremy “Mr. 88” Powell began playing the Hammond B3 in church at the age of 10, and studied music after school at the respected Stax Academy for 12 years. The Jackson sisters are a cut above other young soul artists. Tikyra Jackson’s drumming balances intensity with a distinctive refinement. Tierinii Jackson, a deeply vulnerable singer, retains control of the melody while riffing, and stands 100% behind the lyrics.

The bracing, danceable “Jive” shows off the band’s fine funk chops, featuring famed Memphis bassist Gage Markey, while Tikyra gets great mileage from only a bass drum and a snare. Her thudding bass drum drives “We’ve Got The Music,” Tierinii’s funky duet with William Bell, celebrating music’s power to override our differences.

Markey and Tierinii bring real power to “Switchup,” backed by Art Edmaiston (sax) and Marc Franklin (trumpet), vets of Gregg Allman’s band. On the gritty, bluesy “The Tea I Sip,” Edmaiston and Franklin swing while conversing with Naftaly’s bitter guitar.

Other standouts: “Savior,” featuring Markey, Powell’s cool keyboard textures, Naftaly’s loose, clean guitar, and Tikyra’s spare drumming. Producer Johnny Black, at Memphis’ legendary Sam Phillips studio, perfectly showcases Tierinii’s vocal on the driving “Whiskey Love.” Just can’t get enough,” she sings over and over, and listeners will likely agree.

—Annie Dinerman