Now that's an album that has been very long in the making. One might have expected an solo album by Raphael after one of the last real soulful groups had split (of course we're talking about Tony Toni Toné) instantly, but it was his brother Dwayne Wiggins who was the first Tomi to come up with a solo album under his own name (productionwise there was of course the Art'n'Soul album Touch Of Soul in 1996 on Big Beat/Atlantic that was produced by then-Toni member Timothy Christian Riley).
And having a closer look at my record collection I was astonished that Raphael's first solo single was released some 8 years ago in 1994, Ask Of You from the OMPST Higher Learning. Inbetween we saw the split of the Tonies and the rise and fall of the so called supergroup Lucy Pearl. And finally after a really long wait we have Mr. Saadiq's first solo album.
And with a plethora of guest musicians Instant Vintage is some sort of er, instant winner. Raphael is joined by Angie Stone, D'Angelo, T-Boz, Calvin Richardson and Rosie Kaye.
Musicwise Raphael's solo efforts are not so dissimiliar to the last Toni Tony Toné albums. Which means soulful soulful songs with Rapheal's voice on top.
It's a little hard to pick some real favourite because there's not really a dull track here. The only bad thing is maybe that some of the songs are too short and thus comes around more like a blueprint of what could've been achieved (like Oph, Charlie Ray or Make My Day).
But if you have a closer listen, make sure to listen to Be Here (featuring D'Angelo), You're The One That I Like and of course Excuse Me which features Angie Stone and Calvin Richardson! Though you shouldn't leave out Different Times (with T-Boz), Tick Tock, the uplifting string ladden Faithful or Blindman or the relaxed Uptown (that features Skyy on vocals)...so complete your Toni Tony Toné collection with this release!