The creative growth of modern-day R&B has been spurred on, ironically enough, by the revival of its own sounds. Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones and Nicole Willis are among the artists creating a solid reproduction of soul circa 1960, with nary a sample or electronically processed beat to be heard. In a similar vein, Ivana Santilli's latest recording travels back in time by at least a few decades to capture the essence of the genre, with sonic textures more closely associated with the ’70s and ’80s than the present.

Santilli sets the soulful tone for the rest of the CD with the first few bars of mellow keyboard in opening number “Still Anymore.” It’s a captivating song for all the right reasons: production values that would make legendary uber-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis proud — Santilli’s sultry vocals and, most importantly, her superb songwriting in full effect. Highlights are in abundance on this album, including the title track. Paying homage to the cities Santilli considers home (Toronto and New York), “TONY” shimmers brilliantly, riding high on its Quiet Storm groove and a hook that stays in your brain for days.

Although the CD suffers from having one too many closing numbers that detract from the overall flow, it’s a minor complaint. TONY is a tremendous effort on many levels and one that should bolster Santilli's status as an R&B artist of the highest degree.