Thee Heart Tones Forever & Ever (CD)

(Big Crown Records)  12 tracks

Hailing from Hawthorne, California, Thee Heart Tones are both continuing a tradition and pushing new boundaries with their music. Lead singer Jazmine Alvarado is just 19 years old and the oldest member of the group, Jorge Rodriguez, is 21, but when you listen to their record, it's clear that they are talented far beyond their years.

Thee Heart Tones are Jazmine (vocals), Ricky Cerezo (keys and organ), Jorge (drums), Jeffrey Romero (bass), Peter Chagolla (lead guitar) and Walter Morales (rhythm guitar). ‘One day I got an email from Ricky Cerezo asking if I wanted to write a song for his new (then still nameless) band,’ says Jazmine. ‘I knew his drummer and the other guys from secondary school, so they were familiar faces. They sent me an mp3 of an instrumental they'd written and told me they wanted lyrics, so I wrote one and sent it to them.’ That song eventually became ‘Don't Take Me as a Fool,’ a wistful minor-key ballad featuring Jazmine's sultry, perfect vocals, now destined for her debut album. Ricky went home and played his father ‘Don't Take Me As a Fool’, which he had recorded as a voice memo on his phone. ‘I was hesitant. Dad knew that music better than anyone, he grew up with it. But he grabbed my phone and put it to his ear. His approval meant a lot to me. But he had the same reaction Jorge and I did when we heard Jazmine sing for the first time. ‘This is going to be a hit,’ he told me. ‘You've got something very special here’.

It was the same recording that caught the attention of Leon Michels and Danny Akalepse from Big Crown Records, who both immediately recognised the group's potential. After signing with the label, Leon flew to Los Angeles to record their debut album with Tommy Brenneck at Tommy's Diamond West Studio. They recorded 14 songs in five days, capturing the charm of teenage soul and mixing it with their proven production skills - the result is a modern classic soul album.

The album opener and title track ‘Forever & Ever’ is an infectious two-stepper that immediately lifts the mood, while heavy B-side ballads such as ‘Should I Call You Tonight’, ‘Cry My Tears Away’ and ‘It's Time’ give the classics of the genre a run for their money. With ‘Need Something More’ they pick up the pace and fill the dance floor, while Jazmine gets straight to the point with a Northern Soul-style track. They cover the classic ‘Sabor A Mi’ penned by Alvaro Carrillo to great effect, doing it justice and putting their version on a par with the best of them.

Another highlight is their version of The Vanguards' classic “Somebody Please”, which they take to a whole other level. The pounding drums of ‘No Longer Mine’ contrast with Jazmine's honeyed vocals and end with the gritty energy of a mid-90s hip-hop sample. Forever & Ever is a testament to both their unmistakable musical chemistry and talent. Their intentions as a band are a testament to their collective character.

The decision to cover ‘Sabor A Mi’ ‘allows us to let our audience know that we're going back to our roots,’ says Jazmine. ‘When you grow up in L.A., you're influenced by the city, the artwork and the music,’ says Ricky. ‘Dad didn't own a lowrider car, but other members of our family did. Impalas. El Caminos. We were influenced by the culture, especially Chicano culture. And oldies and soul music played a big role.’ The style. The culture. The nod to the past. ‘That's what we're aiming for. We want to connect young Chicanos with their heritage. And we want to unite people, old and young.’