The Brand New Heavies were a sort-of Average White Band for the 90's. They were largely English, racially mixed, and played an old school brand of funk. Their debut on Delicious Vinyl, Brand New Heavies, is a satisfying slab of soul. Most of the songs are JB's-style workouts, while others feature Nea Davenport on vocals. If you like modern R&B, you'll like the group's later records, too - they're good enough, but the band didn't stick with the classic sound that originally drew me to them. Veering into rap, smooth jazz, and fusion, the Heavies seemed to have lost their center. After all their varied efforts, their debut (pictured) is still the most satisying listen, though Trunk Funk Classics 1991-2000 does a nice job of collecting highlights from all their albums - even though it doesn't contain "Fake," a spirited, ribald track from Brother Sister (1994).