You may not know John “JB” Bigham by name, but you’ve heard his music over the years. He started out in the ‘80s as a sideman for El DeBarge, and through the years has worked with Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Dr. Dre, Nikka Costa, and was a member of the pioneer ska/punk’funk band Fishbone for eight years.

Back in 2003, he set out on his own, creating the alter-ego band he calls The Soul of John Black. That first eponymous album showcased an artist that is drenched in soul, rooted in rhythm and blues, practiced at the art of funk and dabbling in hip-hop. Since then Bigham has continued this wonderful blend through two more successful albums, “The Good Girl Blues,” and “Black John.” Now The Soul of John Black has released the fourth album in their catalog, “Good Thang,” and the funk just keeps getting funkier.

But beyond the funk, there is beautiful and moving ballads like “Dream (Turn Off The Phone),” smooth rhythm and blues like “How Can I,” get-down-dirty blues like “My Brother” and just plain good-ol’-rock-n-roll like the tune “I Love It,” that makes “Good Thang” more than just your average R&B album.

It’s truly refreshing to hear an artist virtually ignore the artistic trends of today—there are, thankfully, no Autotune effects used—and get back to the roots of rock, soul and rhythm and blues. The songs are equally thoughtful in their composition, drawing on the techniques of classic Motown and Stax recordings over the formulaic and repetitive aspects that too many of today’s artists rely upon. So if you’re wondering whatever happened to real soul music, look no further than The Soul of John Black. You’ll most definitely find a “Good Thang.”

Hear Wildman Steve’s internet radio station, Internet radio for music lovers 24/7, at wildmansteve.com.