These two recent releases give a whole new meaning to “Hot” women…
With clear and muscular voice, Billie Williams fronts a team with Stew Cutler/g, Jeremy Mage/key-g, Double Z/g, Tony Allen/dr and a STAXY horn section along with guests on harp, voice and percussion. She’s able to create eerie blues on “Cold November” and gives a film noir atmosphere with “Hour By Hour” while with the horns gets into a New Orleans funkfest on “Drink From My Cup.” She shows her sweet side on the lovely ballad “My Everything” whle gets ominous with Ruedi Schomo’s harmonica on the title track.A dash of gospel works well on “Lost In The Wilderness” and with a choir, she gets defiant on a chain gang stomp of “Ten Million Sisters.” Don’t cross this lady!
Cheyenne James literally breaths fire on this blues-rocker with a team of Rock Romano/b, Dave Dfarter-Mrk May/g, Steve Krase/harp, Randy Wall/key, Jim Brady/dr, Eric Demmer/sax and Lamar Boulet/tp-fh. She mixes up originals with some clever selections, such as Willie Dixon’s swampy “You Know You Love Me Baby” that has her boogie-ing with the best, while Van Morrison’s “Steel Your Heart Away” is a folksy joy with some sublime slide guitar musings. James gets defiant as she struts on the earthy “Grits Ain’t Groceries” and is sensuous on the slithering “Lay Me Down.” Some moody shadows by Boulet take James on a rainy street corner on “What Does It Mean” and she shows how to swing on the Memphis toe tapper “Roll Your Coal.” Wear some asbestos if you see her in concert!