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-DivaFIONA BOYES
BLUES FOR A HARD WORLD
JOHN NEMETH
Name the Day
THE NIGHTHAWKS
444
THE TWISTERS
COME OUT SWINGIN'
BILLY BRANCH AND THE SONS OF BLUES
BLUES SHOCK
RICHARD RAY FARRELL & MARCO PANDOLFI
Stuck on the Blues
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