Heat and Horn Engine: (Put Your) Trust in Love

"(Put Your) Trust in Love" from Heat (a multi-artist recording source created in 1979 and led by Tom Saviano) and trumpeter Bill Dowling's "Horn Engine" is a throwback to the recordings of great male vocalists such as Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, and George Benson. It is a stellar effort.

Rhythmically, the track falls into a hip, R+B double-time feel and hooks deep. Co-composers Bill Dowling, late of a national tour of "Tootsie," and multi-instrumentalist, Tom Saviano, former Musical Director for Melissa Manchester, have done a fine job on all components here.

Singer Jevon McGlory, whose voice has been heard worldwide, having opened for Earth, Wind, & Fire and Natalie Cole, floats through the lines silky-smooth. His is a fine tenor voice without unnecessary, syrupy flavoring or jive inflection. His presentation and obvious joy effectively brings one into the song. The backing voices, all overdubbed by McGlory, have that lush, Take 6 vibe. The horns and voices are perfectly placed, well-recorded (not buried in the mix) and balanced, never stepping on vocal toes. The added synth strings add a classy final statement that leads to an open end (probably to allow for open solos in a live performance).

The rhythm section (guitarist Michael O'Neill, Saviano on keys, bass and drums, and Dowling on piano) is right in a pocket that propels. The overall texture echoes back to the days when groove, melody, lyric and horns dovetailed hand-in-glove.

"(Put Your) Trust in Love" is a most entertaining track and wins in every regard.