Jason Weaver | Love Ambition
Back In The Day Review: Jason Weaver | Love Ambition
By Peggy Oliver
(Motown Records - 1995)
(Motown Records - 1995)
Ever
since he made his presence known in the industry, Jason Weaver is one
of the most in demand actors on television and movies. His most prolific
roles were that of a young Michael Jackson in the T.V. mini series, The
Jacksons: An American Dream in 1992 and co-starring with Brandy the
following year on the television sitcom Thea. Still one year later,
Weaver voiced Simba in one of Disney’s smash animated features, The Lion
King. In the millennium, Weaver experienced a fair amount of success on
the big screen, including Drumline in 2002 alongside Nick Cannon. More
recently, Weaver took on a producer role for a movie soon to premiere on
BET, He’s Mine, Not Yours, which portrays black men as faithful
romantic partners.
Besides his screen work, Weaver
tasted a brief recording career and was signed to Motown Records in
1995 at the age of sixteen. Supposedly the heads of Motown envisioned
his debut release, Love Ambition, intending to find that next Michael Jackson type. Yet the direction of Love Ambition
leans more towards the new jack swing stars like Bobby Brown, Jodisi
and New Edition, who dominated the nineties with their romantic smooth
ballads and their hip-hop induced jams. Love Ambition drives off of
Weaver’s appealing personality and his deep appreciation for the
aforementioned, the production team including Keith Crouch, Christopher
‘Tricky’ Stewart & Hakim Abdulsamad and Khiry Abdulsamad of The Boys
and backgrounds by The Boys and Rahsaan Patterson (the year before he
broke out with his solo debut). Two major singles emerged from Love Ambition:
the vocoder filled “I Can’t Stand the Pain” and the title track. Though
Weaver manages a decent interpretation of “For the Love of You,” there
is virtually no comparison to Ronald Isley’s rich, luscious tenor on the
original version. The two tracks of special note - “Ordinary Guy” and
“My Love” – produced by Hakim & Khiry - comprise Weaver’s strongest
performances; where some of the Michael Jackson influence takes over and
his vocal grit and passion truly take flight.
Weaver’s follow-up to Love Ambition, the EP Stay with Me,
never saw the music shelves, yet those sessions presented the talents
of soon to be future R&B heavyweights, Missy Elliot and Rodney
Jerkins. In the meantime, Weaver is working out details for an upcoming
mix tape with Sky Keeton under the moniker Sons of Bobby Brown. In the
meantime, step into the Back in the Day time tunnel to re-experience
Weaver’s smooth pipes on Love Ambition. Three and a half stars.
Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene
Posted by Administration at 12/12/2011 7:05 AM 
Categories: Rhythm and Blues, Videos, Perspectives, New School Soul
Tags: 90s Music Music Videos
Categories: Rhythm and Blues, Videos, Perspectives, New School Soul
Tags: 90s Music Music Videos
Comments