This Much Is True:

21st Century soul doesn’t get much more imaginative than Maiysha’s This Much is True (2008). This supple-voiced Brooklynite isn’t afraid to broaden the familiar R&B sonic palette by adding rock, blues, and jazz tones as the mood strikes her. In tandem with producer/multi-instrumentalist Scott Jacoby, she invokes the eclectic tradition of Stevie Wonder, Maurice White, and similar Old School masters. Tunes like “Over My Head,” “Orbit” and the absolutely infectious “Chase” combine a playful intelligence with erotic sizzle. Her willingness to confess abject need (shown most potently in “Hold Me”) is balanced by a keen-edged wit and satiric touch (heard on the show biz send-up “Celebrity” and the consumerist commentary “U.S.H.”) The tracks are enriched by unexpected elements, like the ’30-style Latin groove of “Gods” or the rococo vibe of “Alchemy.” The biggest eye-opener here is a live, delta blues-style cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer,” showing off Maiysha’s ability to fire up a crowd. This Much is True is sophisticated stuff, yet never sacrifices its earthiness for mere technical finesse.