If you want to hear the blues like they’re supposed to be done, Ms. Etta James, who just recently departed this mortal life for her eternal reward before a just God, is not a bad place to start indeed. This dvd emphasizes a concert she did back in 1993, but there’s just as much material from earlier Montreux gigs from 1975-90, making this as important a chronology as it is an enjoyable evening of rockin’ out.
The 93 lineup has a cooking band that includes Josh Sklair/g and Dave Mathews/key, along with a brassy horn section that burns through “Funky Good Time” before James saunters on with a raucous “I Just Wanna Make Love To You.” She’s in feisty form throughout, with a burning take of “Hard To Handle” and an earthy “Come To Mama” that will hit you between the eyes.
Starting back with the 1975 session the Afro’d Ms. James growls through “Respect Yourself” an W.O.M. A.N” while the backup band supports with the likes of Klaus Doldinger/ts and Howard Johnson/bs. Her ’77 set features a humid ballad medley including “A Sunday Kind of Love” with David “Fathead Newman on sax, Herbie Mann on flute and Lew Soloff on trumpet.By 1989, she’s got her rocking groove back with a take of “Tell Mama” and “Sugar on the Floor” that she sweeps up with her saucy voice. The 1990 set features only one song, but what more could you want after hearing her go through “Your Good Thing Is About To End.”?
Eagle Vision DVD
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