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-DivaJOE LOUIS WALKER
WITNESS TO THE BLUES
NICK GORDON
CHRONIC BLUES PARTY
TAD ROBINSON
BACK IN STYLE
BIG JOE & THE DYNAFLOWS
YOU CAN'T KEEP A BIG MAN DOWN
TOBY WALKER
Shake Shake Mama
DANNY BROOKS & LIL MISS DEBI
ARE YOU READY?
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