Review
Earth, Wind &ammp; Fire’s enduring ’70s hits (“Shining Star,” “September,” “Reasons”) weren’t just catchy tunes; they were celebrations of life fueled by founder Maurice White’s lavish production and Philip Bailey’s skybound falsetto. EWF records have suffered lately since White’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. But The Promise, the group’s first album in six years, maintains their trademark buoyancy on a classy collection of mid-tempo numbers (the Bailey showcase “Betcha’ ”; the frisky single “All in the Way”) and sweeping ballads (“Why?”; “Wonderland,” which features neosoul favorite Angie Stone) reminiscent of their heyday. Granted, White and company’s funkiest stuff may be behind them — the grimiest workout, “Dirty,” is actually a 1978 outtake. Thankfully, though, their talent and resolve aren’t.
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