Reviewed by Richard Mekdeci
Every genre has its "one-name wonders" – Cher, Legend, Prince, Reba. Now Posi Music has Freebo – a bass and tuba player, guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, primarily known for his work with Bonnie Raitt in the 60s and 70s but in the last 10 years a true force in the budding Posi Music industry with multiple nominations and wins since 2008.
Freebo’s newest release, "If Not Now When" is a masterful culmination of these past 7 years containing 4 of his 5 Posi Music recognitions and lots of co-writes with some of Posi Music’s best. It has the great production and musicianship you’d expect from someone who’s recorded and performed with Ringo Starr, John Hall, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, John Mayall and many others.
I believe the sign of a great artist and songwriter is how well you feel you get to know them after listening to their music. If Not Now When is a very personal journey for Freebo, exposing his heart, soul and politico in an easy to listen to blend of Folk, Rock, Country, Americana and Blues grooves that never tires the ears.
Freebo chooses I Ain’t Runnin‘ No More to open this collection. The message being that up til now, he’s been the victim of fear, shame and blame but no more. It is a realization we all hope to come to more sooner than later in our own lives.
As a songwriter myself, I’m not sure I would have the courage to write my own eulogy in a song, but Freebo does it with Standing Ovation – a touching tribute to a life well-lived.
Amid the serious messages of personal transformation and social justice, Freebo also has some fun with Funk Up the Folk, a tongue in cheek jab at the genre with James Brown horns and Freebo’s bass laying down a butt shaking groove.
To the Light is co-written with Severin Browne, the lesser known of the Browne brothers, but just as amazing songwriter and musician. It is a beautifully whimsical song of unity and oneness, ready made for a number of occasions in New Thought churches and centers.
Segue to That’s What Love Is. Co-written with Karen Taylor-Good and super songstress Lisa Aschmann (both are also multiple Posi Award inducteeds). Dare I compare the lyrics to this song to the universally known soliloque of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians (Love is patient. Love is kind . . . ). You tell me: It’s a whisper you hear in the midst of your fear – it’s revealing. It’s a part of the heart and it’s just who we are – it’s so healing. It’s the power inside always wins over pride, never judges. And it strengthens and comforts us all – That’s what love is. And it just gets better from there.
Other songs that should be standard repertoire in New Thought churches and centers: A God of My Own Choosing with Lisa Firestone, If Not Now When, one of four songs written with Karen Taylor Good, Call Me Freedom and Sometimes It’s For Nothin‘.
If you’d like a little comic relief, check out She’s My Personal GPS and She Loves My Dog More Than Me, a co-write with hit songwriter Harold Payne (yep, that’s Freebo on the Tuba). All thirteen tracks on If Not Now When are very easy to listen to, accessible musically, well-written, produced and sung. It has humor, relevance, and lots of fun-loving grooves. To sum up If Not Now When in three words: Freebo nails it!