Perri - Tradewinds (1990/2019)

What Sister Sledge was to disco the Perry Sisters (Carolyn, Darlene, Lori and Sharon) certainly must be to smooth, delectable R&B/pop/jazz they are family and can they ever harmonize. You can almost picture them growing up, a female barbershop quartet, dreaming of the day they could share their formidable and stylish vocal talent with the world. Tradewinds is certainly a realization of that dream. Seven of the ten stellar tunes here were co-written by at least one of the sisters, with most falling into the lush, jazzy Anita Baker groove... yet often even more catchy and harmonic than most of Baker's material. Romance is the name of the game on gems like the title cut and "It's Been You," but the sisters strut their sassy side on the more dance oriented rhythms of "Talk to Me," "You're the One," and the brassy "No Way to Treat a Lady." While the sweet blend of the girls' voices will immediately hook you in, a closer listen will have you enjoying pianist Bobby Lyle's rambunctious solo on "Someone Like You" and the steamy saxwork of Everette Harp. Yet another of '90s great pop/jazz vocal releases, Perri's Tradewinds are certainly blowing loud and clear.