From the 80s of the past century, James Hunter has been making a true retro r&b. He caugh everyone's attention in the middle of the 90s when Van Marisson took him under his wing. Together with Doris Troy, he appeared on his debut iBelieve What I Sayn 1994. Many years have gone by, and Hunter has earned respect from the eminent figures such as Tomm Petty, Aretha Franklin and Etta James. Although he was steadily on the road to the utmost success, he was always missing to be the leading role. In 2006, he earned Grammy nomination for the album People Gonna Talk, but avfter his wife was diagnosied with cancer in 2008, he dissapeared from the music scene. After his wife's dead, he returns as James Hunter Six, with the name that is an homega to the musicians who stayed with him for more than two decades.
Whatever It Takes is the second album by James Hunter Six recorded live directly onto eight-channel track and it was produced by the owner of Daptone Records, Bosco Mann (Gabriel Roth). Roth's obsession with analogue mode of recording proved as a succussful one for sextet, since the brilliant matrix of Hold on! is brouht to the perfection here. The sound is alive, direct and nostalgically ambiguous.
Hunter's vocal is in the focus again, and the fact fhat he had found new love adds another layer to his texture. Songs I Don't Want To Be Without You, Whatever It Takes and I Got Eyes open the record with strong emotion. Instrumental Blisters show that he is still a master of guitar, while Don't Let Pride Take You For A Ride and How Long have temptation as a theme with the support of adequate gospel sound. It Was Gonna Be You is sung in the best soul fashion.
Sextet as a whole sets the perfect atmosphere on each number. Although James takes the leading position, the richness of arrangements would be lost without the other five members. Bravo, my fantastic six!
