Former Miss Black Atlanta GABBIE McGEE proves she can sing and she has something to say on her debut CD "Certified Soul" (2005), which has received favourable reviews among neo-soul enthusiasts. The first few tracks reminded me closely of Erykah Badu and even N’Dambi’s and Antoinique’s jazz-inclined songs, with Gabbie delivering swinging mid-pacers and improvised lyrics. The opening track Boobie’s Groove has a nice "Anotinique-ish" touch with scat vocals, and it is followed by an attractive melodic neo-soul song "Now I Know". "Something S"o follows in a similar fashion, and it was also featured on the Soul Brother collection "This Is Soul 2006" . Still, my personal favorite is a track entitled "Sunshine & Colors", which contains a delicious bouncy backdrop with a meaty bass line and some spirited piano playing over which Gabbie sings the jazzy melody line. A couple of tracks veer into R&B, and the closing track is the only ballad on the album, but let’s hope Gabbie continues in her jazzy neo-soul style on her next project. The Soul Society of Finland - Soul Express ONLINE