The release of
Perfect Union
is bittersweet.
Kool & the Gang
's first proper album since 2007's
Still Kool
was completed just before the death of
Ronald Bell
, and issued only a couple weeks after the death of
Dennis "D.T." Thomas
, leaving
Robert "Kool" Bell
and
George "Funky" Brown
as the band's surviving co-founders. Back in 2016, the funk legends hit the Adult R&B chart with the easy-striding "Sexy," which introduced
Walt Anderson
, a singer who is spirited and engaging like
James "J.T." Taylor
-- the band's mainstream-era frontman -- and to his credit is no impressionist. "Sexy" lands in the middle of
and is followed by a romantic midtempo cut with even more appeal, "All to Myself" (with former members
Amir
Royal Bayyan
teaming on guitar), and another highlight, the smoothly uplifting "Hold On." It's obvious why
have remained a major draw on-stage. The interplay among the musicians is lively, and there's a fine balance struck between
Anderson
and a group of additional vocalists that includes
Shawn McQuiller
, who is in his third decade with the band. Despite the inestimable losses of
Ronald
D.T.
, there's a way forward for
Kool
,
Funky
, and the evolving
Gang
. ~ Andy Kellman