*Martha Reeves isn’t slowing down. The Motown legend will release “Searching,” her first new album in more than 22 years, on Aug. 14, just weeks after celebrating her 85th birthday.
For the voice behind “Dancing in the Street,” the project represents much more than a return to recording.
It is a celebration of endurance, creativity, and gratitude at a moment when many artists have long since stepped away from the spotlight.
“This is a spark of life,” Reeves told RollingStone. “We’ve done good work.”
The album’s title reflects what Reeves describes as hope for the future in all things. That sense of optimism runs throughout the project, which blends jazz, soul, blues, and gospel influences while showcasing a voice that remains remarkably expressive decades after she first captivated audiences.
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A New Orleans Collaboration Sparks a New Beginning
To create “Searching,” Reeves left Detroit and headed to New Orleans, where she worked with acclaimed trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and longtime manager Chris Roe. The collaboration began taking shape in 2023 after Roe envisioned a jazz-focused project and connected with Marsalis at a Dallas film festival.
Although the original concept centered on jazz standards, the sessions quickly evolved once Reeves stepped behind the microphone.
“Martha would get into the control booth and just start wailing, and it started to take more of an R&B/blues feel,” Roe said. “And that was OK. There’s no reason to force something.”
The finished album reflects both New Orleans’ rich musical traditions and the soulful foundation that made Reeves a household name during Motown’s golden era.
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Revisiting Motown Memories and Unfinished Songs
The album includes two versions of the Syreeta and Stevie Wonder duet “To Know You Is to Love You.” One features a vibrant horn arrangement and a funk-driven groove, while the bonus version takes a more restrained approach that allows Reeves’ vocals to shine.
She admitted that Wonder was unaware she had recorded the song when they last crossed paths at a birthday celebration for Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Looking back, Reeves recalled recording countless demos for Motown’s A&R department and expressed hope that the label’s archives of her unreleased work may eventually see the light of day.
Pushing Her Voice into New Territory
Even after a career filled with accolades and timeless hits, Reeves welcomed the challenge of exploring unfamiliar musical territory.
Among the album’s highlights are interpretations of “Mood Indigo” and “Summertime,” two standards closely associated with jazz royalty. Reeves said she first fell in love with “Mood Indigo” while appearing in the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and had long hoped to record it herself.
“That’s got some jazz chords that are not difficult to sing, but they touch a certain place in your heartstrings,” she said. “You know that you’ve been there; you’ve had that mood indigo.”
The title track, which Reeves cowrote with Marsalis, may be the album’s most ambitious performance. Her soaring vocal approach was inspired in part by the musicians surrounding her in the studio, many of whom have performed alongside legendary artists including Allen Toussaint and B.B. King.
Faith, Family and the Road Ahead
“Searching” also reveals the spiritual influences that shaped Reeves from childhood. Her original composition “Thank You, Jesus” reflects her upbringing in a large family steeped in church traditions.
She recalls singing in her grandfather’s church after her family relocated to Detroit and credits those experiences, along with her father’s blues guitar playing, for helping develop the musical instincts that would define her career.
Despite approaching her 85th birthday in July, Reeves says retirement remains far from her mind. She continues to perform regularly and takes particular joy in seeing younger fans embrace songs that were recorded decades before they were born.
“The word ‘retirement’ doesn’t mean a thing to me,” she said.
With a landmark birthday approaching and a long-awaited album on the horizon, Reeves has every reason to celebrate. “This has got to be a big birthday celebration with the release of a jazz album with the Marsalis family,” she said. “I’m just glad to still be here.”
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