reggie b: tinky's jam
Francisco Espregueira
Reggie B’s output is one that can’t be put in any kind of box. For over 25 years he has showcased an impressive body of work that touched many genres, producing, engineering, arranging, composing an array of of sounds that have a common ground - a trademark touch that is unmistakable his own. He returned this week with the the long awaited Tinky’s Jam that dropped via Onra’s NBN Records. The album was most definitely worth the wait, taking the listener through a personal and musical journey inspired by the birth of his son, who he affectionately calls “Tinky,” and the connection they share. Tinky was a major part of this album, oftentimes found in the studio during the conceptions of many of the songs, which certainly makes this a very special album for its creator.
Tinky’s Jam is the result of countless days in the studio which yielded scores of a dozen slabs of head nodding funk. Mostly instrumental and showcasing Reggie's many styles from the heavy bounce of "Futuristic Slow", to the George Clinton nod on "P For Life", and the crafted soul of "Gone Fishing" with Dominique Sanders to the cool street jazz feel of "Realize" with Donald Hates's sax adding flare as well as the beat of "Nose Dive" providing the nod factor for the heads. Although the album is unlike any other record released by Reggie, the sequence of the 13 tracks connect to the ethos of a jam, like others before, conducted by his supreme flair for funk, soul, r&b and futuristic elements. Closing out the LP in style, “Tinky's Dance" is a raw soulful jam that lies somewhere between Prince and Larry Heard. Available on vinyl, courtesy of NBN Records. Nothing But Net.