These two ladies show that you don’t need a Y chromosome to play the blues like a man. Two different paths up to the same delta.
Jane Lee Hooker is an all female team here, but this isn’t a gimmick like The Runaways. These ladies hit hard with some real raucous guitar playing from Tracy “High Top” and Tina “T-bone” Gorin on pieces like “Mean Town Blues” and “Mannish Boy.” Dana “Danger” Athens has a raspy growl and uses it well as the band sways between rocking the gospel tunes of “wade in the Water” and “Didn’t It Rain” and more ominous material such as “The Hunter.” The rhythm team of “Hail Mary” Zadroga/b and Melissa “cool Whip” Houston/dr are able to shuffle while Athens tells a story like The Oracle on “In The Valley” and deliver an alluring lazy beat as Athens cries it out on “Bumble Bee.” The muscles are flexed here!
Tasha Taylor is the daughter of famed soul singer Johnnie (“Who’s Makin’ Love”) Taylor, and the acorn doesn’t fall from the tree here, as she is backed by a STAXY team of horns and keyboards. She sings with an earthy allure that makes you feel like vintage Delaney and Bonnie, while Nathan Watts/b, Don Wyatt/key and a rotating team of guitars, horns and percussion deliver on upbeat tunes like “Feels So Good” and a jazzy “Places I’ve Missed.” Keb Mo brings his guitar and voice on a heartfelt Memphisy “Family Tree” and Samantha Fish does a cameo on a stomping “Leave That Dog Along” The whole band has a deep and smoky feel, straight out of the dry rub BBQ Pit, and Taylor’s spicey voice is the perfect condiment for this delicious serving of sound. Bravo-Is she coming to LA?!?