KW

by Alex HendersonAfter 1993's successful You Make It Easy, five years passed before Keith Washington came out with another album. The passionate singer re-emerged on Silas Records (an MCA-distributed label owned by urban contemporary exec Louil Silas, Jr.) in 1998 with his third album, KW. Containing mostly ballads and slow jams, the CD is very much in the late '90s neo-soul vein -- the production is high-tech and hip-hop-ish, but the singing is classic R&B. Washington often brings to mind Alexander O'Neal, and he also shows an awareness of Luther Vandross and Freddie Jackson. A few of the tracks are excellent, including the silky "I Love You" (a duet with Chanté Moore), the remorseful "You Let Me Down" and a sexy remake of Marvin Gaye's "You Sure Love to Ball." Most of the other material, however, is decent, although not remarkable. But while KW isn't the all-out gem that Washington is quite capable of providing, it was still nice to see him recording again.