One of house music’s true greats, Roy Davis Jr teams up with the stunning Billboard chart artist Terry Dexter to deliver a beautiful slice of soulful, emotive, vocal house on the Chicago label Smooth Agent. Remixes are provided by Andre Harris, Aaron Jerome, Julius TMT and Jason B. All versions are great, purchase of this release is Highly Recommended.

The term legend is often overused, but Roy Davis Jr is a true legend in the world of house and garage music. Think of the most influential house institutions, groundbreaking songs, pioneering artists and DJs and Roy Davis Jr will have a link to them: Marshall Jefferson released his first productions; he packed records at Trax alongside Glenn Underground; Steve Poindexter and DJ Rush; was employed by StrictlyRhythm as an A&R scout; replaced DJ Pierre as a member of Phuture and recorded ‘Rise From Your Grave’ and ‘Inside Out’; released music on Thomas Bangalter’s (Daft Punk) uber-cool Roule imprint and is probably best known for kick-starting the UK garage scene with the massive hit ‘Gabrielle’.

Roy Davis Jr has also worked with a string of critically acclaimed Billboard-topping artists. He has produced and remixed songs by the likes of Mary J. Blige, Eric Benet and Faith Evans, Seal, Patti LaBelle, Christina Milian, Gus Gus and Terry Dexter, who he works with here on ‘Horizon’. His influences range from Lil Louis and Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk, to Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder, to Amp Fiddler and Peven Everett, all of which combine to provide Davis Jr’s style, which he describes as ‘Soul Electrica’.

Terry Dexter is known as a ‘singer’s singer’ and has been called upon by all manner of artists including Patti LaBelle, Jaheim and Will.I.Am (Black Eyed Peas) to appear on their records. She’s also released two albums herself including her self-titled debut for Warner Bros which included the singles ‘Better Than Me’ and ‘Strayed Away’, both of which charted on Billboard. A multi-talented artist, Terry has lent her songwriting skills to film soundtracks such as Legally Blonde, Rush Hour, Deck The Halls and Deliver Us From Eva, in which she also made her acting debut.

Providing the first of the remixes on ‘Horizon’ is Andre Harris, the label owner of Innate Soul who has released music on his own label and others such as Estero, Cajual, Om, Large and Blackstone. South London’s Aaron Jerome works closely with BBE Records and cut his teeth remixing Roy Ayers, Bugz In The Attic, Zap Mama and Nitin Sawhney. His three remixes cover 4/4 house alongside 2/4 and 8/4 interpretations. Julius TMT and Jason B complete the package.

Smooth Agent Records is the Chicago-based label run by Sean Smith, one of the city’s top-rated DJs and producers with releases on labels including Soma, Classic and Loveslap.

Ofically release Date: 13th July 2009, but you can find it already on TraxSource

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