A Spiritual Vibe Vol. 1 is the fourth release from Guthrie Ramsey and his group, MusiQology. And it is exactly as the title of the album indicates- a spiritual vibe! An amalgamation of influences including jazz, hip hop, R & B, soul, gospel, and much more, it is an album filled with optimism and leaves the listener feeling inspired. It tells of Ramsey’s spiritual journey through his battle with cancer, victory over his illness, and how it made him see life differently.
The mixture of arrangements and originals are all complimented with exquisite arrangements. Ramsey’s playing is right in the pocket always and serves as the anchor for the tight rhythmic feel the album has. Providing accompaniment that showcases his intuitive listening that fits perfectly with the amazing vocalists on this album. The harmonies are rich, full, and are heavenly (no pun intended)! And the music definitely does have that Philly R & B sound that reminds me of Boys II Men at times! The way these tunes develop individually as well as how they flow together over the course of the whole album really make it impossible to pause the album anywhere. You want each song to go on forever and at the same time, you want to see what the next song holds!
Guthrie Ramsey, also known as Dr. Ramsey, as a very renowned scholar, and often times in the world of academia the music can be seen as being too academic and lacking soul. Well, I challenge anyone to say that about this album or any of Ramsey’s musical projects!
The songs feel organic and pleasing to the listener throughout the entire duration of the album, and it’s the perfect to start out the day with and keep it on replay throughout the day. When my Occhi colleague Darryl Yokley, told me about this album he said “You NEED to check this album out!” He then relayed a story about how the first time his daughter heard one of MusiQology’s albums she stopped what she was doing and started dancing. Yokley said it was no different with this album as she proceeded to start bopping her head to the beat as she was eating her breakfast. This is a testament to the power of this music to be timeless and transcend generations, and I’m sure it will continue to be remembered for a long time to come.
For further information, please visit the following links:
https://themusiqdept.bandcamp.com/album/a-spiritual-vibe-vol-1-2
https://twitter.com/DrGuyMusiQology
https://www.instagram.com/ramseymusic/
Cover Art by Candace Ramsey-Brown Art
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