……Today, Jonathan’s 18 studio CDs and over 30 years of performing with a who’s who of jazz and soul musicians would make any struggling ingénue jealous, but there are times that trials and tragedies can make one forget how blessed they actually are, which explains the intent and optimism of Butler’s latest set, Living My Dream.

On Living, Butler uses virtuosity in combining African rhythms with contemporary jazz and soul, along with his collaborations featuring Marcus Miller, Elan Troutman, Dave Wood, his own daughter Jodie and the late, great George Duke, to name a few, to create an incredibly versatile set. Living offers everything from fluttery instrumentals (“African Breeze,” “Sweet Serenade” and “Be Still,” where Duke’s piano is heard) to uncomplicated, yet enraptured songs that flirt with an often-seen, yet out-of-reach tantalizing stranger (the mid-tempo “Song For You”). Butler can apologize for an argument that spun out of control (“Heart And Soul”) or, if that falls short, seduce her to get back into her good graces (“Night To Remember”).

Since few people recognize the good if they haven’t endured the bad, there’s acknowledgement of those fragile moments: a sliver of vocalization alongside Jonathan’s guitar gives plaintive introspection to his track with Marcus Miller, “Let There Be Light”…… (click here for the full-length review at soultracks.com)