On the surface, the title of Dianne Reeves’ new album, Beautiful Life seems straightforward
enough, but it holds a deeper significance for the singer after experiencing two major deaths.
Five years ago she returned home to help care for her ailing mother who died in 2012 after
battling breast cancer and a tumor. Then in August of last year Reeves lost her cousin and
frequent collaborator, George Duke due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
“The title of the record is a tribute to really close people in my life who made transitions.
 I got to share this incredible time with them and learn and be a better person because of them,”
she said.
Despite her recent personal tragedies, Reeves decided to present a collection of songs that
 mainly focus on life’s positive aspects such as “Feels So Good (Lifted)” with accompaniment by
 Duke. Plus she covers classics like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You.”
Becoming familiar again with the latter songs reminded Reeves of an earlier time when she was
 just identifying her voice and purpose. Now she believes that she’s found it.
“A lot of the songs took me back to a time of discovering who I was,” she said. “I feel like I am still
 courageous but I know now what I want. Now I want to sing from a very clear place because I see
things and I have access to a broad array of information. I can speak about life now with some
power.”
One of the most popular R&B groups of the 1990s, After 7 (“Ready or Not,” “Heat of the
Moment,” “Can’t Stop”), returned to the stage this month for a special Valentine’s Day concert at
the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with headliner, Fantasia. The trio was originally
composed of Keith Mitchell, Kevon and Melvin Edmonds (both brothers of Kenneth “Babyface”
Edmonds). Melvin officially left the group in the early 2000s and his son, Jason Edmonds now
performs with them. For many, the circumstances surrounding Melvin’s departure remained a
mystery--- until now.
Kevon shared that although Melvin did struggle with drug abuse, which affected the group, that’s
 not why he quit. “Drugs wasn’t the reason why this or that did not happen. But my brother did
wrestle with drug abuse from time to time,” he revealed. “It was an issue but it was important to
keep our reputation and deliver a solid show and handle the business.”
It was the stress of the music industry that Kevon said led Melvin to quit. “Melvin grew tired of the
business. There are no checks and balances or safety nets or protections for you in this business.
 He still loves to sing but it’s the extra stuff that he reached his limit with.”
These days After 7 is also weary of the business side of music and has no immediate plans to
pursue a record deal even though their last album was released nearly 20 years ago. Instead
Kevon is content to perform with the group on occasion, work on solo material outside of R&amp
;B and spend time with his family.
“I am happily married with a family and that’s one of the greatest gifts. So if something good
presents itself and it feels right and seems purposeful then I will take a look at it. But I'm good in
this space.”