New Reviews

Rita Chiarelli & Inmates Of Louisiana State Penitentiary, Music From The Big House Soundtrack (Mad Iris).  I haven’t seen the movie, but the soundtrack is more than enough to move me.  Ms. Chiarelli figures on some of the tracks, but the stars are the inmates, whose talents remind me that many other fine singers have been incarcerated in that system, most notably Leadbelly.  This is a different era musically, heavy on the gospel, electrified, and featuring tight vocal harmonies.  My picks are Don't Let Him Catch You (With Your Work Undone) (4), Mississippi Boy (2), Rain On Me (10) and fittingly enough Leadbelly’s Midnight Special (12).  – NAD 09/11

Cornell Dupree, I'm Alright (Dialtone).  Mr. Dupree played the key guitar parts on lots of your favorite records, from artists like Aretha Franklin, Brook Benton and King Curtis, as well as on his own string of albums.  This is an album of all instrumentals with funky grooves, complete with horns and a Hammond B3.  I like Erma’s Shades (3) and I Ain’t Got You  (7).   It would be hard to resist Rainy Night in Georgia (4), since he also played on the original hit.  This being the blues, though, I have to report that Mr. Dupree passed away between the recording of this album and its release.  – NAD 10/11

Steve Gerard & The National Debonaires w/ James "Rock" Gray, Voodoo Workin' (Blue Edge). No offense to Mr. Gerard and the band, but the star of this CD is Mr. Gray, whose vocals remind me of his childhood buddy Sam Meyers.  No great range or polish, but straightforward and honest singing with the most authentic of Delta inflections.  My picks are Voodoo Workin' (1), TV Mama (4) and There Is Something On Your Mind (9).  – NAD 09/11

Travis “Moonchild” Haddix, Old Man in Love (Benevolent Blues).  Tight and clever R&B infused blues from the Cleveland master.  Top picks include She Hit a Grand Slam (1), Stankin’ Thankin’ (3) and Break a Habit with a Habit (6). –NAD 08/11

Candye Kane, Sister Vagabond (Delta Groove). High energy belter brings home a set of infectious grooves that pull from jump blues, R&B and rockabilly.  My picks are Love Insurance (2),  Side Dish (8), and Down With the Blues (12). –NAD 08/11

Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three, Middle Of Everywhere (Free Dirt).  Touches of old time jazz, hillbilly and ragtime combine in a combustible mix that must be great fun to witness live.  Check out So Long Honeybee, Goodbye (1) or Weedwacker Rag (9) and see if you don’t come out smiling. – NAD 10/11

Eric Lindell, West Country Drifter (MC). Charming confection of countrified soul, with a laid back delivery that belies the tightness of the tracks.  For a double CD, this works remarkably well as an album, with enough consistency to invite a full listen through, and enough variety to keep it engaging.  For the radio though, my picks are West County Drifter (Disc 1, 9), Try To Understand (Disc 2, 2) It's So Hard To Believe (Disc 2, 4) and Bodega (Disc 2, 5). – NAD 09/11

Wynton Marsalis And Eric Clapton, Play The Blues Live From Jazz At Lincoln Center (Reprise).   I like any album where Mr. Marsalis plays with friends from outside the jazz world because they tend to bring out the playful side in him, and the best musical instincts in his guests.  This recording reflects song selections from Mr. Clapton (mostly from the early days of recorded jazz and blues), arrangements by Mr. Marsalis, three days of rehearsal and on with the show.  My picks are Forty Four (2), Corrine, Corrina (10), with vocals from Taj Mahal, and yet another classic version of Layla (20), ironically the only song that Mr. Clapton did not pick.  –NAD 09/11

Demetria Taylor, Bad Girl (Delmark).  Ms. Taylor is an unrepentant follower of the late great Koko Taylor, and this album of Chicago blues with gutbucket vocals is a fitting tribute.  My picks are All Your Love (2), Voodoo Woman (3), and When You Leave, Don’t Take Nothing (5), –NAD 07/11