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Few artists of his generation or beyond are as consistently and succulently satisfying as veteran singer, songwriter and musician Will Downing.  So experiencing Today, his second EP in an independently released trilogy, is a tautly-executed and tantalizing tease (since he’s keeping the final set under wraps until June), but well worth the effort to behold it.

Even in its abbreviated state, Mr. Downing’s latest is as rich and as resonant as its predecessor, starting with the flirtatious finger-snapper, “One Step Closer,” where a call from a lovely lady gets hopes up for dinner, dancing and beyond. The breathless “Sexy” spells out, in sumptuous detail, how he enjoys the way that her roaming lips and hands start off a new morning. A life-long quest for love and companionship comes to an end with “The Blessing,” a tender altar-worthy soliliquy that finds Will rejoicing the gift of a forever love: “God knew my heart, He blessed me with you.” “Like Last Night” closes out the catchy quartet with sizzle, with Mr. Downing comparing a passionate encounter with an out-of-control blaze and practically begging to get another taste of that forbbidden flame.

Will Downing has always been creative in his approach to his music and in his interaction with his audience. And he continues his successful 2012 trilogy experiment with the excellent Today, showing again why he is the called the “Prince of Sophisticated Soul” — and why he is getting his loyal fans excited for part three. Highly Recommended.

By Melody Charles