POP/SNEAK PEEK : GOSPEL POPULARITY COMING FULL CIRCLE WITH LATTIMORE.

New r&b singer Kenny Lattimore wasn't surprised when gospel record sales increased last year. He knew the music had broad appeal.

``I could tell something was going to happen,'' Lattimore said. ``Gospel got contemporary in terms of production so it could compete in the r&b market. It shows people want depth and meaning in their music.''

People also want a silky old-school soul sound that harkens back to Lattimore's heroes, such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind & Fire. His self-titled debut album, which is rising in both the pop and r&b charts, was named the best-selling album by a new artist in Billboard's Heatseekers list recently. The single, ``For You,'' was No. 1 on r&b radio.

``I feel like we've been away from real r&b for so long,'' Lattimore, 27, said from a tour bus heading toward New Orleans last week. ``The genre became less musical with gangsta-rap and all the other things. I'm just grateful to be doing something similar to what I grew up listening to.''

Lattimore, voted the year's Outstanding New Artist at the 28th annual NAACP Image Awards two months ago, appears Monday at Billboard Live in West Hollywood.

A Lattimore track can be found on the ``Love Jones'' soundtrack, and the Washington, D.C.-born entertainer is recording a gospel project with singer Yolanda Adams.

``When the great soul singers performed, you could feel what they were talking about, as if they were having a conversation with you,'' Lattimore said. ``That's what I aim for.''

Better than a day job

Studio guitarist Randy Jacobs recalls the reaction from his management five years ago when he got off the road with Was (Not Was) and announced he wanted to do a solo album.

``They said, `Maybe you should think about getting a day job,' '' Jacobs said. ``I was crushed.''

Now, after recording with Orquestra Was, Seal, Bruce Hornsby, Tears for Fears, Bonnie Raitt, Paula Abdul and Was (Not Was), Jacobs has his solo project - the Boneshakers, with longtime friend and ex-autoworker Sweet Pea Atkinson on vocals.

The Boneshakers' bluesy ``Book of Spells'' (Pointblank/Virgin) has just been released. The band, which also includes Jeff Young (keyboards), Trent Stroh (bass) and Denny Weston (drums), appears May 21 and 28 at the newly reopened Mint in Los Angeles.

Jacobs said he got Atkinson involved in the 'Shakers after the singer called and jokingly said, ``Nobody wants to see a 50-year-old Jodeci.''

Savoring the jazz

Jazz fanciers should check out alto saxophonist Sonny Simmons and his fine trio tonight and Saturday at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. Simmons will play material from his new ``American Jungle'' album.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1) Kenny Lattimore appears at Billboard Live in West Hollywood on Monday.

(2) The Boneshakers, with Sweet Pea Atkinson, left, and Randy Jacobs, will appear May 21 and 28 at the newly reopened Mint in Los Angeles.