Robert Cray has created his own niche with a slick but powerful Memphis-styled R&B/soul/blues stew, with a song quality that remains way above average.

Cray and keyboardist, Jim Pugh -- an increasingly pivotal player in Cray's work -- produced this 13th album.

While his "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" ethic allowed multiple Grammy wins, Cray clearly wanted to step outside the box he built, resulting in a slightly different direction this time around. Those who enjoy the comfy fit of his previous work fear not; there is plenty of the love-lost/found R&B that he's known for. But, for example, the slightly off-kilter Sly & the Family Stone horns from Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini on "Your Pal" twist that tune towards a more edgy approach and on 2 tracks he's accompanied by the Turtle Island String Quartet, another unique addition.

While he's not making radical moves, Time Will Tell proves a different route for Robert Cray