Theo Leanse 

Jennifer Hudson: JHUD review – a thrilling voice with a workaday backing

It’s a pleasure hearing her sing, but you’d think an Oscar-winner might find better material, writes Theo Leanse
  
  

Jennifer Hudson at Aahh! Fest, Chicago, 21 Sep 2014
Jennifer Hudson … great voice, shame about the songs. Photograph: Cindy Barrymore/Rex Features Photograph: Cindy Barrymore/Rex Features

For her third album Jennifer Hudson’s voice is a thrilling thing set in a workaday, loosely 70s-inspired “urban” blot of backing. There are highs – a belting gospel-house duet with fellow US midwesterner R Kelly, and an album closer with a Whitney-tight grip on the heartstrings, written for her murdered mother. (There are lows too – Iggy Azalea features.) There’s always a gooey pleasure to hearing her sing, but you’d hope someone launched through gospel to the American Idol finals and an Oscar win might find better material in an R&B world thundering with great songwriters.

 

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