It’s ladies night…
Vocalist Emma Wilson sounds as Memphis’d as dry rub ribs on this sweaty session of STAXY horns and a strutting rhythm section. She gets gritty with guitarist Joe Restivo on a stomping take of Steve Cropper’s “Water” and stomps out all the cockroaches on “What Kind Of Love” and “A Small World”. There’s a deep and ominous gospel feel to her take of “Since I Fell For You” while she testifies on the lovely “I’ll See You In The Morning”. Don’t run into this lady in a dark alley!
He might be better known for his manufacturing of guitars, but Pal Reed Smith is also pretty good at finding vocalists, and he found a ringer in Mia Samone, who is featured on this blues rocking session with Gary Grainger/b-vc, Dennis Chambers-Gregory Grainger/dr, Benjie Perecki/key, Mike Ault-Bill Nelson-Gregg Erwin/g and some guest vocalists. Samone ha s red clay under her nails on “Sarah” and jobs like a middleweight on “I’m Ready”. The team does a wet-rubbed BBQ read of Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” and stomps out a defiant “War”. The band gets a bit Doobie Brotherish on “Man In The Moon” and has a fun reggae feel to “Look At The Moon”. Blue collar blues.
Vocalist Dianne Fraser delivers Broadw-ish reads of the Leslie Bricusse songbook with her team of Todd Schroeder/p-arr, Adam Cohen/b and Denise Fraser/dr. Her enunciation is clear on her interpretation of “At the Crossroads/After Today” while getting a bit of oomphy on the swinging “Le Jazz Hot”. She has a nice pulse to her “ Crazy World/If I Ruled The World” and is pristine for “Pure Imagination”. Her most emotive moments are with Schroeder on a late night read of “Two For The Road”. Stylin’ styles.