Keeping a nonet tight is always an exercise in organization. When its members have backgrounds ranging from Motown to Latin jazz, it seems that chaos is inevitable. But blue number nine never lose the thread, tying jammy combo interplay to smooth, soul-based lead vocals.

Blue Number Nine, a funky band that carefully blends a slew of influences ranging from ‘70s funk, Motown, Latin jazz, and R&B, is here to live it up. The vocalist Stefanie Seskin is truly great with a dynamic weaving of melody... If you’re looking for great funk and perfect groove, look no farther.

Stefanie Seskin and Marco Accattatis are the driving forces behind the inventive Blue Number Nine. The two produced Living It Up In The New World, guiding an impressive troupe of musicians. The CD features beguiling bass lines flowing under a diverse range of instruments including an animated horn section. The music melds funky-soul with jazz, pop, R&B and rock. The songs are fresh and contemporary yet have a cool retro vibe. All twelve-tracks are innovative and insightful with multi-layered parts. Stefanie is a strong singer and her leads harmonize well with the other vocalists. The CD opens with 'Don't Let Them' with its funky bass lines, vibrant instrumentation and catchy hooks, followed by the up-tempo, jazzy 'Love The Beat'. The album also finishes strong with 'I'm In Debt' an astute song about financial obligations enhanced with animated horns and an extended jam clocking in at over eight minutes. These two songs book end a solid collection of colorful songs. Live it up and pick yourself up a copy of Blue Number Nine's latest release!

Soul music didn't totally evaporate after the '70s, but you have to know where to find it. One option is the neo-soul of '90s and 2000s artists such as Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, D'Angelo, India Arie, and Mary J. Blige; those singers have combined their appreciation of classic '60s and '70s soul with urban contemporary and hip-hop elements -- an approach that critic Nelson George terms "retro-nuevo." But there are others who offer a faithful re-creation of classic pre-'80s R&B, and Living It Up in the New World -- like albums by the Brand New Heavies and the Boston-based SuperHoney -- is unapologetic in its devotion to '70s-style soul and funk. This 2005 release isn't neo-soul; under the direction of lead singer/founder Stefanie Seskin, Blue Number Nine offer an enthusiastic celebration of R&B as listeners knew it in the pre-urban contemporary era (with a few detours into pop/rock territory). And the influences that have served Seskin well on previous BNN albums -- Rufus & Chaka Khan, the Average White Band, LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, among others -- continue to serve her well on infectious tracks like "Dig My Hands" and "Castles." Seskin takes a very hands-on approach; on top of singing lead and playing the flute, she co-produced Living It Up in the New World (with BNN bassist Marco Accattatis) and wrote or co-wrote all of the songs. Seskin is no innovator, but if this album is derivative, it is pleasingly derivative -- for those who are seriously into the soul and funk of the '70s, it isn't hard to enjoy Seskin's celebration of that era. Anyone who has spent a lot of time savoring the retro-soul pleasures of the Brand New Heavies or SuperHoney is advised to give Living It Up in the New World a close listen.