Good Life

by Ledisi

Overview

Ledisi switches it up a little for Good Life, her 11th album and first set of original material in four years. Rex Rideout, her chief partner dating back to third full-length Lost & Found, is still very much involved, working here on roughly half of the songs, while she enlists many additional writers, producers, and players, from Marsha Ambrosius and Tish Hyman to Isaiah Sharkey, Burniss Travis, and Cory Henry. As usual, Ledisi co-composes everything, and her smart choices for new collaborators result in an album that further strengthens her body of work. Much of what transpires is suited for a grade-A playlist of modern quiet storm. The slowly swinging "I Need to Know" is one of several songs that finds Ledisi in a situation that's either unresolved or conflicted, but it's among her most elegant and seductive ballads, even as she puts forth an ultimatum and proclaims that "You can keep whatever this is." An alluring duet with Kenny Lattimore recalls René & Angela with its soft bounce and impeccably intertwined vocals. Most surprising is that her meeting with the usually frisky jazz-funk band Butcher Brown, "Quality Time," is the LP's most instrumentally spare and restrained (if still stimulating) moment. The quintet's levitating construction sets the scene for Ledisi to hold a rapturous note that lasts long enough for a listener to shake their head ten times in wonderment. A few of the high points are more introspective. The title song, produced by Darhyl Camper, is an offering of thankfulness, setting a positive and poised tone for the album. Even better are the two finishing tracks, the relatively scruffy and funky "Good Year," driven by Rideout and close Emily King associate J. Most, and the glistening "Hello Love," another Rideout gem. The finale is essentially a sequel to Deniece Williams' "Free," both musically and lyrically, if a declaration of recovery written after the first-person protagonist lost herself. Gazing into a mirror with a lilt in her voice, Ledisi sounds invigorated and untroubled as she realizes that she's her former self again. It's likely no coincidence that the glamorous cover of Good Life wouldn't be out of place beside those of Williams' early albums. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/2024
Label:	Bmg / Bmg Rights Management
UPC:	4099964028546
Rank:	16769

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ledisi   Primary Artist,Vocals (Background)
Ethan Ridings   Guitar
Matthew Rideout   Guitar
Andrew Randozza   Bass
J. Most   Bass,Piano,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Cory Henry   Keyboards
Kenny Lattimore   Featured Artist
Eric Krasno   Bass,Piano,Guitar
Ronnie Garrett   Bass
Rex Rideout   Keyboards
Melvin Jones   Flugelhorn
Cornelio Austin   Keyboards
Kevin Woods   Trumpet
Josh Foster   Drums
Taron Lockett   Drums
Alan Wilkins   Sax (Tenor)
Daniel Abel   Guitar
Burniss Travis   Bass
Corey Fonville   Drums
DJ Harrison   Keyboards
Butcher Brown   Featured Artist
Ray Keys   Keyboards
Frank Rein   Trombone
Nick Mercadel   Drums
Morgan Burrs   Guitar
Camper   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Jeffrey B. Anderson   Composer
Augustine Lim   Engineer
Matthew Rideout   Composer
J Shriver   Engineer
G.A.D   Engineer,Producer
Guillaume Alexandre Delormeau   Composer
Philippe Mark   Composer
Back in the AM   Engineer
J. Most   Producer,Drum Programming
Cory Henry   Composer,Producer
Kenny Lattimore   Composer
Chris Gehringer   Engineer
Eric Krasno   Composer,Producer,Drum Programming
Isaiah Sharkey   Composer
Ronnie Garrett   Composer
Ray Bardani   Mixing
Rex Rideout   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Vocal Producer,Vocal Recording
Marsha Ambrosius   Composer
Gene Grimaldi   Engineer
Erik Madrid   Engineer
Dave Gutter   Composer
Cornelio Austin   Composer,Producer
Shoji   Engineer,Producer
Jeremy Most   Composer
Francesca Richard   Composer
Ledisi Young   Composer
Marcus Tenney   Composer
Taron Lockett   Composer
Burniss Travis   Composer
Corey Fonville   Composer
Darhyl Camper   Composer
Devonne Harris   Composer
Terrell Roper   Composer
Tish Hyman   Composer
Kevin KD Davis   Mixing
Butcher Brown   Musician,Producer
Brittany Barber   Composer
Ray Keys   Producer
Raymond Komba   Composer
Morgan Burrs   Composer
Camper   Producer