Larry Graham's first album since 1998's GCS 2000,
Raise Up involves an updated version of his
Graham Central Station: vocalist Ashling Cole, longtime guitarist and vocalist Wilton Rabb, keyboardist David Council, and drummer Brian Braziel. On three songs,
Prince assists on several instruments and background vocals, while
Graham's fellow Oakland native
Raphael Saadiq performs on the closing "One Day." Everything seems to have been written and recorded for the purpose of live performance -- one that has the crowd dancing and singing along as it switches its gaze between the leader, primary bandmembers, and the horn section and backing vocalists as well.
Raise Up has the same lively spirit and beaming energy of those '70s
GCS albums. That's due in part to new versions of "It's Alright," "Now Do U Wanta Dance," and "It Ain't No Fun to Me" (the
Al Green song originally covered in 1974). There's also a cover of
Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" led by Cole, and
Release Yourself's "'Tis Your Kind of Music" slyly serves as the foundation of "No Way." Each performer gets her or his time to shine. It plays out like a well-organized throwdown.
Graham, of course, is the center of it all with his deep baritone and nimble basslines. ~ Andy Kellman