Michael Ashanti introduces us to his music on his debut album "All Of Me". On fourteen tracks including two interludes and one outro we discover the drive for originality and creativity from this Newyorker. 
As we have learnt from Michael Ashanti he is vocally inspired by gospel and soul music. Musically he embraces different styles from different cultures which might have to do with his childhood when he travelled around the world with his father.

On "All Of Me" we hear a young, gifted and conscious singer-songwriter holding notes. The main ingredients of the album are soul music and r&B accompanied by gospel-oriented backgroud vocals. In "With You I'm Born Again" Michael steps into dancehall and in "Hold On" he moves into dance.

"Cry"is a kind of song that brings in mind "Sly and The family Stone" with their crossover music from soul to pop songs. A delicious and cool groove will make you play "Let Me Go" over and over again. We notice that Michael Ashanti makes a difference between backing vocals and choir vocals. Especially the choir vocals in the gospel tinged song "The Sun Will Shine Again" are fantastic, just like those in "Hold On". In "Hold On" gospel and dance come together to clebrate the good times.

The sweetest R&B song undoubtedly is "A Father's Anthem". In the title song "All Of Me" you'll make a connection to singers like James Ingram and Michael McDonald, artists who really sing from the heart.(TA)
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This CD is definately the bomb!  It has such a mix of different musical backgrounds that it takes your breathe away.  I love All of Me, it really hit home for me.  If you haven't purchased this CD yet please stop what your doing and go get it now... yes I mean right now!
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Michael, your first CD is a work of love and it SHOWS, I loved it, it is inspiring, and sexy.

Now, that being said, in the next CD, I want to hear not only your TRUE voice, which I hear in the lyrics, I also want to hear your OWN TRUE music.  The truth is that I found myself hearing melodies and arrangements that I have heard way to many times, and I KNOW you have some other arrangements coming down the pipe, perhaps it is now time to hire a producer that will help, so that you can concentrate on what you do best, chanel spirit, and leave the arrangement be a magic between you and someone else.

The idea of a dancing mix - sounds fantastic, I cannto wait till it comes out, DO keep me posted

Love and light

Claudia
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lots of slowies with harmony by his gospel-influenced voice! some "house" tracks, try if you like "soulful" R&B
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