With the release of his seventh solo album, Sugarray Rayford continues to remind us that he is a force when it comes to delivering songs that roll over a wide variety of grooves and tempos in the world of blues infused soul and R&B.

The onetime vocalist for the Los Angeles-based Mannish Boys possesses a voice that is as emotive as it is powerful as it is immediately recognizable, hence his winning multiple Blues Music Awards over the past few years, as both a recording artist and live performer.

Teaming once again with producer, songwriter and 40 Below Records founder Eric Corne, Rayford slides through a batch of nine tunes, written largely by Corne, with Rayford pitching on the lyric front on three numbers.

Out of the gate Rayford and a fine band, that includes ace guitarist Rick Holmstrom and a crack horn section, pin down a deep groove on a tune titled Falling Upward. A pulsating piece built on a percussive cadence, Falling Upward is anchored by the rhythm section of the bass playing Taras Prodaniuk and drummer Matt Tecu, while perfectly punctuated organ shots and more of the same come from the trumpet and sax team of Mark Pender and Joe Sublett. The song chastises a lifestyle of upward mobility built on false pretenses and delivers a stern warning to a character evidently masquerading as something or someone of little substance that requires a wake-up call.

The title track is second up and lyrically the song could be interpreted as a plea for some spiritual guidance or intervention in troubled times. A beautifully buoyant piece, Human Decency possesses a cool groove and infectious melody, one that streams into a snappy chorus as it all drives home the message of the song.

Rayford’s singing is great combination of exceptional intonation, an impressive range, and a sincere appreciation and understanding for the lyrics at hand. But his superior enunciation and pinpoint phrasing elevates his vocal attack into a realm most singers don’t or can’t inhabit, and nothing is ever left to the imagination when it comes to grasping the lyrics he is dispensing.

The singer and his studio mates slide through a tasty funk drenched number in Stuck Between before cruising through another soul injected offering titled Strawberry Hill that is a heartfelt and impressively economical, missive to a lover, that covers a lot of emotional territory.

Another penetrating and catchy chorus ties the musically muscular and hard driving Run For Cover together as the lyrics once again take a look at the rather sad state of global affairs, and much is left for interpretation.

Dirty Rat could have come from the book of Isaac Hayes, while Ain’t That A Man could go toe to toe with a Jagger/Richards R&B romp, and that it features some sinewy slide guitar and another hot horn arrangement, pushing it further into that territory the Stones favor. 

Human Decency is a captivating listen and it combines more than enough originality with convincing and cool touchstones, ranging from Little Milton and Sly Stone, to Herbie Mann, thanks to the flute playing of Dan Kaneyuki. There’s even a few production and arrangement twists that reminded this listener of the classic CTI soul jazz recordings and proceedings do lighten up on the lyric front with Hanky Panky Time that is an enjoyable blues themed romp about what makes the world go ‘round.

All in all, Human Decency is another strong outing from Mr. Rayford and the 40 Below label. And one can presume that a live helping of these tunes, given Rayford’s outstanding voice coupled with his complete command of a stage, might be nothing short of electrifying. (Peter North)