RADS Krusaders - Going Way Back Home (2018)

Jazz as the Jazz Crusaders, the members of RADS began their musical journeys at Texas Southern University. Together, they fashion an expansive range of fresh musical concepts, sonic effects, a mix of vocal and instrumental R&B/jazz styles and a forward thinking, 21st century approach to the classic styles recorded and performed for decades by the original Crusaders. Though Krusaders Overture, the multi-movement expository opening track on Going Way Back Home, includes the new band's take on snippets of three Crusaders' classics, the other eight full tracks are a mix of originals and re-imaginings of classic R&B hits by Marvin Gaye (I Want You) and The O'Jays (Use Ta Be My Girl). They artfully and passionately honor Sample's request to honor his groove, keeping the Crusaders' influence prominent while developing their own fresh, forward thinking approach to contemporary jazz. This project acknowledges, as one of the titles states, that they have Big Shoes to Walk In, and they fill them with great chops, rich melodies and harmonies and intensely cool, often swinging rhythms. The track titled JLS is a direct tribute to Sample, starting with a mystical musical intro and spoken word poetry; it evolves into a slow burning ballad with intense electric guitar jamming and tight horns. The sultry vocal ballad Universal Pain shows the band's ample vocal talents in an anthem setting reminiscent of the Crusaders' socially conscious anthems. Veteran Houston based pianist and longtime Sample associate Skip Nalia tackles the stunning piano melodies on two of the album's jazziest tracks, Off Shore and Far From Home, which swings from the get go and features some of Owens' and Scurlock's most dynamic sax-trombone interactions.