‘File under soul’ says the music industry of the young American singer-songwriter, yet jazz is an integral part of this work. The structural finesse of the arrangements, the richness of the harmony and above all the exacting standards of musicianship make Lawson an obvious scion to the likes of 1970s stars such as Hathaway, Hutson and Stevie, though the deafening buzz that he has created in the past year can also be ascribed to a strong personality, lyrically as well as vocally. Indeed Lawson's flighty tenor smartly balances strength and sensitivity while his integration of bustling Afro-latin elements in his material, in a manner that slightly recalls the late George Duke, is also impressive. To a certain extent Lawson has stepped into the space vacated by one Frank McComb and if the arrival of the new kid on the block forces the older champion to step back into the arena then it will be mission accomplished twice over. In any case this is a very strong debut that bodes well for the future. McComb once had a great working relationship with saxophone virtuoso Branford Marsalis; let's see if Lawson ends up sharing a studio with an improviser of equal stature.