Earl Dwayne hails from New Jersey, where, as a boy, he was a member of the prestigious Newark Boys Chorus. Not only did his participation with the choir lead to world-wide tours, TV work and high profile concerts, but it also bred in Earl a passion for all kinds of vocal music – popular, classical, standards, jazz, soul, gospel and more . Earl went on to study music before graduating to the position as lead vocalist with the acclaimed Lebanon Valley College Concert Chorus. From there he found work as a backing singer – most notably for Will Downing - but he always knew that he wanted to be his own man and he constantly wrote material for his own projects. His first album was 2008's 'I'm On My Way' and it was generally well received. He's now recently launched this – his second full solo LP and it's a great understated example of modern soul. Here there's nothing forced, no gimmicks or histrionics – just good, properly crafted songs, sung well and sympathetically produced. The work – a mixture of laid-back secular jazzy soul and gospel reflections - reveals the depth of his musical background and experiences as outlined above, and as that suggests there's something for soul lovers of all tastes.

Those who like to dance (albeit sedately) will love the crisp 'Push Pull' where the beats are perfect for the modern soul room. 'I Can't Get Enough' is a neat little mover too; pleasing harmonies on this as well. 'Keep It Moving' and 'Nothing Can Separate Me' are decent too... if a little more mellow. For those who like their music with a message – something to reflect on in a spiritual way – then 'Trouble Soul' and 'So Shall I Be' betray the singer's gospel background while 'In The Flow' wraps the same kind of message in a jazzy-soul setting. The set also boasts plenty of ballads – like 'Side By Side' and 'Above The Water' though the best is a wonderful duet – 'What Good Is A Song'. This is a little bit of an oddity in that the writing and production team are different to anything else on the album and the whole production sounds "bigger" with some great sax weaving in and out of the meldoy courtesy of Bruce Williams. The duettist here, by the way, is Sumya Dabney whose musical background, like Earl's, is clearly a Church-based one. I'd like to hear more of her. The cut is a quality soul ballad; but then the whole album is full of quality music ... a good, no nonsense, modern soul set, this. Earl Dwayne's 'N'Flow' is currently being promoted by www.soulchoonz.com

(BB) 4/5
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Album Reviews

Earl Dwayne - NFlow
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Earl Dwayne’s debut release combines his superb soulful vocals with real instruments, melodies and good old fashioned lyrics. The album does not hark back to another era nor does it try to be too trendy, although a few nods to the rap generation are at hand this does not detract that there are some very, very fine moments on here and these start from the very offset. The warm, expansive and jazzy first song is called “Keep It Moving” and has a stylish British flow. I can hear the likes of Everis approaching this song in a similar fashion, and musically I hear shades of Nigel Martinez. Vocally, though I suggest a mixture akin to both Jesse Campbell and Howard Hewett. No more can this magical mix be heard than in the superb midtempo effort “In The Flow”, complete with a scrumptious female backing support and lively melody.

The jazzier flavour of “Why Do We Still” also echoes the best of an early 80s American sound with the fresh new UK soul flavours and skilfully, smoothly is the way that the instruments – horns and bass, coupled with keys – melt into the vocal flow. For those experiencing warmer climes than jolly old Blighty at the moment this song should fare very nicely indeed. It takes the weather with you, wherever it goes! I heartily recommend that “Push Pull” be given a real chance...yes, it’s real grower and after a few plays firmly establishes itself as a stepping groove of some real fervour! Urban flavours aren’t usually my bag and the nod towards the street is ever-present on “Side To Side”, but I cannot help but love this song...played over and over again it really does work well, and I can yet again her the likes of Howard Hewett and Jesse Campbell. Brilliant.
For me though, all these great songs aside I cannot pay enough homage to the beautiful, atmospheric and totally unmissible ballad “Blind To Love”. This reminds me of a quality ballad that would have been commonplace – and welcome – back in the mid – late 1990s. Even if you weren’t struck on the aforementioned songs (and trust me, folks, you will be!) the set is rendered essential for this and this alone. The haunting intro to “Pointless” again reminds me of a quality major label mid 1990s affair. The vocal phrasing and backing harmonies are simply delicious and echoes of Mario Winans a la his Motown album shine through this ballad. Anyone who has loved and thought about not having that person in their lives will subscribe wholeheartily to this song’s theme...quality lyrics, born from real life experience and created and served with expert production. I suppose that last comment really sums up both Earl Dwayne and this CD...a real must. Come on, alleged Major labels...check stuff like this out. Would it hurt?... BARRY TOWLER
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EARL DWAYNE NFLOW CD 13.99 
Quality timeless old school sounding new soul album from Earl Dwayne with well sung quality songs with positive lyrics and a great jazzy soul feel good vibe throughout. The uptempo ‘Keep it Movin’, ‘In The Flow’ ‘Push Pull’ and the modern soul dancer ‘I Can’t Get Enough will keep the feet moving. The fuller production 2 stepper ‘’Above The Water’ , Mid tempo ‘Why Do We Still’’ and ‘Blind To Love’ and ballad ‘Pointless’ are also good. songs.  Strong album throughout 
Recommended.
Soulbrother.com
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Gospel purists may give silky voiced crooner Earl Dwayne heat for straddling the fence. The criticism could come because Dwayne new CD, NFlow, includes songs like "Trouble Soul" and "So Shall It Be," which are clearly spiritual in nature and songs like "Pointless" and "Push Pull," which are about Eros rather than agapic love. But a closer listen shows that a song like "Pointless" could almost pass for a religious song. In fact, I didn't realize that this very good song was a love ballad until the second verse. And then, only a couple of well place ‘babys' and ‘dears' gave it away. Besides equating a song about romantic love with carnality and pathology is kind of reductive. The kind of passion to which Dwayne gives a voice on "Pointless" is the single minded love that Bible readers find in the Song of Solomon. Clearly, God has no problem with a man declaring that he loves his woman.
At any rate, there is enough spiritual and inspirational material on NFlow for the purists to know where Dwayne stands. A song like the contemporary R&B tune "Nothing Can Separate Me" draws its inspiration from the New Testament Book of Romans. On the inspirational duet "What Good is a Song," Dwayne wants listeners to know that his aim is to do more than entertain: "What are the lyrics/if they can't soothe you/if they can't ease a troubled mind/what good is the beat if it can't move you/it would be a waste of time."
Of course, the music has to sound good, or the artist won't be able to inspire anybody. Nflow succeeds on both counts. The purists might not cut Dwayne any slack, but most listeners will conclude that this New Jersey native is making a very joyful noise.
Notable tracks: Above the Water, So Shall it Be, Push Pull, Blind to Love
Vocals: 3.5
Lyrics: 3.5
Music: 3.0
Production: 3.0
Soultracks Call: Recommended
By Howard Dukes


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