Mind, Body & Soul

Personnel: Matthew Lehmann, Liza Lim, Jessica Lee, Sandra Park, Lisa Kim, Sharon Yamada (violin); Vivek Kamath, Carole Cook (viola); Elizabeth Dyson, Eileen Moon, Sarah Seiver (cello).
Audio Mixers: Michael Mangini ; Steve Greenwell.
For MIND, BODY & SOUL, released only a year after her 2003 debut, THE SOUL SESSIONS, Joss Stone conveys an incredible degree of musical maturity that goes far beyond her 17 years. Wisely, Stone reunites with many of the same R&B/soul names that helped make her first recording such a success, including Betty Wright, Latimore, and Timmy Thomas.
This sophomore Stone disc presents a deep stack of all-original soul songs that finds the Devon, England vocalist and her crew sounding a bit more contemporary. "You Had Me" pairs Stone's powerful voice with a clavinet, a dash of strings, and a funky beat for a track that wouldn't be out of place on a Beyonce record. The down-tempo material also works well, whether it's the call-and response slow jam "Jet Lag" or "Right to Be Wrong," with its Muscle Shoals vibe of crisp guitar licks and laidback organ. The UK native also successfully dabbles in reggae (the loping "Less Is More") and more gospel-flavored fare (the uplifting "Security"), stretching her expressive pipes beyond the emotive R&B that made her famous. With confidence and class, Stone secures her star status on MIND, BODY & SOUL.