Leela James
Fall for You
Shesangz Music
Singer Leela James shares more than just a last name with the late R&B great Etta James — in 2012 she recorded an Etta James tribute album, cementing the fact that this impressively coiffed singer has the vocal chops as well. On her latest, James brings more of her new-school take on old-school soul, and covers a lot of sonic ground — from lush, ‘90s-style R&B (“Who’s Gonna Love You More”) to bare-bones piano ballads (“Save Me”). Production is slick and perhaps a bit generic at times. Fortunately, James’ gritty, soulful vocals are always front and center.
