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Robert Ward
New Role Soul (Delmark)
Ten years into his comeback, this Ohio Players founder and former convict relies heavily on his echoey, shivering and incredibly distinctive electric-guitar sound. He uses it to great effect on long jams such as “Whatever I Receive,” playing give-and-take with organist Kevin McKendree, and the harder-rocking “The Chicken Jerk.” But most impressive is his voice, in the same ballpark as Al Green, just a tad rougher. With spooky guitar and rich organ swirling in the background, Ward’s upbeat anthems (“Don’t Make No Sense”) and soft ballads (Cecil Womack’s “I’m So Proud to Have You For My Love”) achieve the old-school soul effect Robert Cray was searching for on his meticulous “Take Your Shoes Off” album.