Sophisticated R&B
tagStarted 1984Peak 1985-1996Last big hit still active
Located in 1 route
Jazz-tinged, elegantly restrained smooth soul: cool, understated leads gliding over walking or fretless bass, brushed drums, lush minor-seventh chords, and tasteful sax or muted-trumpet color. Production is sleek and cosmopolitan, dynamics controlled, the overall feel chic, urbane, and deliberately uncluttered rather than showy.
History
Defined by Sade's 1984 debut Diamond Life, sophisticated R&B brought jazz harmony, dub-soul restraint, and cool, minimal arrangements to the quiet-storm world. Sade, Anita Baker, and Basia carved an upscale, internationally successful niche prized for taste and atmosphere over vocal theatrics or chart-chasing flash.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sade_(band)
- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/Sade
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiet_storm