"Denials Delusions and Decisions [Edited]" (01/29/2002) R&B Wright, Jaguar, MCA Records (USA)Personnel: Jaguar Wright (vocals); Pino Palladino (guitar, bass); Randy Bowland (guitar); Gregory Teperman, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow (violin); Davis Barnett (viola); Larry Gold (cello); James Poyser, Scott "Tuffjew" Storch, James Gray (keyboards); Leonard "Hub" Hubbard, Jermaine Childs (bass); Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drums). Producers include: James Poyser, Scott Storch, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson. Recorded at The Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Personnel includes: Jaguar Wright, Bilal (vocals); Black Thought (rap vocals); Larry Gold (arranger, cello, percussion); Scott Storch (various instruments, programming); Vikter Duplaix (various instruments); Pino Palladino (guitar, bass); Randy Bowland (guitar); Gregory Teperman, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow (violin); Davis Barnett (viola); Omar Edwards, James Gray, James Poyser (keyboards); Leonard "Hub" Hubbard, Jermaine Childs (bass); Ahmir ?uestlove" Thompson, Darryl Parham (drums). Producers include: Scott Storch, James Poyser, Kamal Gray, Ed King, Junius Bervine. Engineers include: Jon Smeltz, Ed King, Kelo Saunders. Recorded at The Studio, Axis Studios, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sexy, slinky, sensuous, and probably many other adjectives beginning with "s," Jaguar Wright (one hates to think of the comments in the school playground) here stakes her claim as an heir to the long line of tough, street-smart female chanteuses that stretches from Bessie Smith to Mary J Blige. If the material on DENIALS, DELUSIONS AND DECISIONS is any indication, she should have no trouble assuming her rightful position. What's on offer here is a variety of smartly-produced R&B, savvy enough to make all the right musical references (witness the Southern-flavored Fender Rhodes at the top of "Country Song") in all the right places. Wright often recalls her namesake Betty Wright and a youthful Millie Jackson, especially in her spoken asides, and the overall feel of DENIALS is undoubtedly '70s retro. Even occasional nods at contemporary R&B, such as "Ain't Nobody Playin'," are given added depth by Wright's deep soul readings, and when she recalls her roots in "Lineage," it's obvious both where she gets the grit in her voice and that she's here for the long haul.