Singer Barbara Dane’s career goes way back to sessions with Earl Hines, Jack Teagarden, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Memphis Slim and The Chambers Brothers. I didn’t know she was still alive, but she is, and is well!
She mixes rootsy blues with graceful jazz on this album with pianist Tammy Hall, bassist Ruth Davies and drummer Bill Maginnis. Her red clay blues roots come out when Pablo Menendez brings his harp along for a few tracks. The team slinks together on “King Salmon Blues,” a boogie-ing “Blues Over Bodega” and a ravenous “ Tell Me How Long Blues.” She shows her sass on “I’m Sellin’ My Porkchops” and saunters with Davies on ”Throw It Away.” As with all great vocalists that know the ropes, she has learned to relax with a lyric, as when she teams with Richard Hadlock’s soprano sax on a patient “All Too Soon” and take s Paul Simon’s “American Tune” with Hall and makes it into a graceful hymn. I can think of about two dozen present day singers who could learn a few things from this lady; just listen to her sizzle on the late night shuffler of “ My Brain” and you realize only someone who’s lived a full life can deliver the goods like this. WHEW!