Spent the weekend grooving to Traci Root's "Greener On This Side" and its rich dark luster never faltered. She's part sultry songstress, part prophetic minister.
This young New England singer/songwriter’s deft touch lightly mixes R&B and jazz with the occasional hint of salsa and hip-hop, creating her own soulful fusion for “Greener On This Side.” Traci Root is an interesting combination of contrasts, her vocals both earthy and airy, her lyrics directed vertically as well as cross-culturally. But she holds your attention through the twelve tracks of “Greener On This Side,” particularly significant given that the tempos do not vary all that much. She sings at a lot of coffeehouses, and it makes sense: her music stands up to your close attention, but it could just as easily provide a gentle backdrop for conversation or your own personal worship.
“Greener On This Side” opens with several bouncy R&B tracks, including some sweet funk nuances and jazz moments, her vocals rich and earthy as your morning coffee. “Dedicate” stands out for its hip-hop chorus and its call for racial unity. But things really heat up when the exuberant and emotive “Beautiful Ride” hits. Root’s soaring vocals are matched perfectly by shimmering keys and a quiet funk guitar. Another joyous track follows, as “Greener” celebrates our freedom in Christ. She has you in the palm of her hand when the rich R&B groove of “Beauty For Ashes” begins, with its free-flowing worship. When Traci Root finds her soulful groove, she holds on like a tiger; you can’t NOT listen.
The album’s longest track, at 5:40, is the passionate “Any Longer.” Undulating and nuanced with a slight Spanish flair, the vocals soar powerfully over a thick bass line up to the song’s halfway mark, at which point Root moves into a spoken challenge that feels more prophetic than prepared. She was wise to position the gorgeous instrumental track, “Snow in Japan,” after this message. Its expressive keys, masterfully handled by Root, give you opportunity to absorb all of the sonic and spiritual activity.
I enjoyed the smooth, vibey “Man With Dusty Pockets,” and “Source of Life” came across to me as very personal worship. Especially loved its refrain: “You are all my fountains, Lord.” The project closes with the bluesy “Star,” showcasing Root’s considerable vocal strengths, that rich earthy tone of hers, as well as her keyboard skills. Pick up “Greener On This Side” for Traci Root’s own rich-brewed fusion.
