DAUNIELLE

Daunielle

2014-02-28

Daunielle sings the kind of blues that was once called Rhythm and Blues, back before it turned into R&B. Call it Soul. Her debut album is just called Daunielle, pronounced Dawn-Yell, the same as her one-word name. Daunielle earned her chops singing backup for Solomon Burke, Huey Lewis and the News (she's toured with them for four years) and Cee Cee James.

Daunielle is from Memphis, but her dramatic soul approach, horn arrangements, and use of backup chorus would fit right in with Etta James and stars of Motown like Gladys Knight and Diana Ross. For this, her first album as a solo artist, she is backed up by the Catfood Records house band, The Rays. Dan Ferguson injects tasty organ riffs from time to time.

"Runaway Train" and "Early Grave emulate classic Motown sound, horns and all. "Damn Your Eyes" is a nicely done cover of the Etta James classic, medium paced and heartfelt.

"I Got a Voice" speeds things up a bit. It's about having a voice with something to say. Trite but listenable. "Biloxi" has just a hint of Cajun to it. "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" is a fine piece of nostalgia that doesn't seek to add anything new to the classic. "Fallen Bird" slows things down again.  And so it goes. It's all good for a change of pace. The CD finishes up strong with "Goodbye Kiss" a sweet tale, slower paced.

Try:  10, 6, 1, 5.

---Gerald Etkind

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Quick Links:

• Catfood Records