2008-08-12
"Simply Grand" -- a simply great concept for a simply great blues artist. Irma Thomas pairs up with 12 accomplished blues/jazz pianists and allows their keyboard work to gracefully adorn her signature vocals. Highlights include the songs with Henry Butler(#1, doing a John Fogerty tune), Dr. John (#2 and #8), Jon Clary (#3), Norah Jones (#7) and John Medeski (#11). Medeski's relentless piano pounding is particularly well done and I think the Butler and Jones cuts are also mighty fine. Irma is finally getting her due. After an early overlooked career, the "Soul Queen of New Orleans" was brought back into the spotlight by Rounder in the late '90s. We're all musically better for that. 08/08 MJVD B-DivaNICK MOSS & THE FLIPTOPS
PLAY IT 'TIL TOMORROW
THE BOTTOMS UP BLUES GANG
HANDLE IT
GEOFF MULDAUR AND THE TEXAS SHEIKS
TEXAS SHEIKS
Jeff Plankenhorn
Soul Slide
Ray Goren
Slaves To The Money
RICK ESTRIN & THE NIGHTCATS
CONTEMPORARY
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