2026 – Charles Tiner
Release Date : Jan. 30, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; Feb. 28,
2026
I’m not sure how I missed Charles
Tiner’s first album, but his second one Good Soul sure has grabbed
my attention. His music, energetic and
full of life, is suavely delivered with his smooth-as-silk voice. It is a
perfect blend of blues and soul with a touch of gospel. Tiner’s talents definitely run deep. This
Chicago-based artist recorded and self-produced his debut album N'Treble
in 2021 and was a finalist in the 2022 International Blues Challenge in Memphis,
Tennessee. For Good Soul, he takes
on the roles of singer, pianist/organist, song writer for eleven of the twelve
songs, song/horn/string arranger, and composer.
Tiner opens the album in a fabulous way with “Be A Man”. The song is vibrant and funky. I really like the layers of backing vocals on this electric song. With Tiner on keys, and John Virgin on guitar, this track has a strong Robert Cray vibe. Travis Aldridge delivers a jaw-dropping blues-soaked guitar solo on “Blue Moon”, a song of growing up in hard times. Tiner sings this with a flawless fearlessness. “Night Rider” quickly grabs ahold of me. It hits like a classic George Benson song with “Ready” Eddie Smith on guitar and William “Chilly” Bryant on bass. The crackle of thunder and a smooth saxophone intro from Theodore Fisher ushers in Tiner’s towering spiritual for turbulent times called “Peace by the River”. The negativity in one’s past does not have to be carried forward into one’s future. That’s the message I get from “Don’t Be a Fool Too Long”. Tiner slips out of blues-crooner mode temporarily into a very cool Gil Scott-Heron-inspired moment as he delivers a few lines as spoken-word in a beat-poet type cadence. It’s a really defining moment for the song. The only cover on the album “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”, written by Rev. Oris Mays, gets a fiery and funky make-over. With Tiner jamming on organ with Smith and Fisher, this is gospel-blues at its finest. I say hallelujah and amen to this one.
Good Soul’s polished production and magnificent sound keep me fully engaged from beginning to end. This record surely lands as a top favorite release this year.
Photo by Scott Anderson
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| Photo by Scott Anderson |
For more information about Charles Tiner, visit his website at charlestinermusic.com
Find his music on iTunes:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/charles-tiner/1550063106
Find his music on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5G9WcjXS1vPCTZZgOKboI6