Frayne: Frayne

Ramsey Lewis’ son Frayne first made a name for himself as a producer and musician on his father’s Urban Knights projects, and now the young bassist/producer has stepped out on his own with an eponymous band and album (Higher Octave). Frayne is an R&B band that knows how to create an infectious party tune, like the funky title track and the urban number “Bump That.” Most of the tracks convey positive ideas, like the soaring “Trying Times,” with its message about keeping the faith, and the gleeful “Ooo Wee,” in which singer Cristina Sanchez expresses her joyful, somewhat risque, appreciation of a lover. The song “There Is Nothing Left,” however, addresses the issue of domestic violence; Sanchez offers an anguished portrayal of an abused woman, and an alternate version of the song features scathing lyrics from female rapper Teefa.

Originally Published October 1, 2004