Because he’s best known for his acting work on the television show 7th Heaven and in the movies Set It Off and Dreamgirls, no one expected Chaz Shepherd to come out with a record as lovely and accomplished as Love & Truth. This is the sound of an individual who has been working for years on his musical craft. The playing is warm and organic, and Shepherd’s vocals are subtle and sincere — where other singers might stomp and belt it out Shepherd understands when to hold back and tiptoe. “Chemical Reaction,” “Get You Girl,” “Just Life” and “It Calls Me” have enough class to recall the golden age of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway without resorting to the retro sounds that have recently become trendy. The influence of D’Angelo — a more recent soul master — is felt especially strong on “You Got That Magic,” which digs its heels into a low-key swaggering funk. The album’s centerpiece is “I Can’t Wait,” an enchanting blue-flame ballad that sways before the listener like a fine silk curtain.