Etta James - The Dreamer [11/8]

Artist:

James, Etta

UPC:

602527831893

See Also:

King, B.B.

Description:

Personnel: Terry Deroven, Josh Sklair, Bobby Murray, Leo Nocentelli (guitar); Jimmy Z. (saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Kraig Kilby (trombone); David K. Mathews (keyboards); Donto James (drums).
Audio Mixer: Ed Cherney .
Recording information: Fort Athens, Riverside, CA.
Photographer: Alan Mercer.
Apparently, Etta James` musical career ends with The Dreamer. The legendary vocalist announced a few months back that this would be her final album; she`s retiring from music in order to deal with serious medical issues. Co-produced by James, Josh Sklair, and her sons Danto and Sametto, The Dreamer`s 11 tracks offer an imperfect but utterly worthy portrait of the places she`s been musically with a couple of selections that reveal her dictum that "every song is a blues." Her signature meld of soul, blues, rhythm & blues, rock, and country are all on display here. The production underscores her lifelong commitment to these styles and suits the material at large. Her musical accompanists include not only her co-producers, but guitarists Leo Nocentelli and Big Terry de Rouen, saxophonist Jimmy Z., trombonist Kraig Kilby, and trumpeter Lee Thornburg. Ms. James` choice of material is rigorous even if two of its selections are questionable: the cover of Guns N` Roses` "Welcome to the Jungle" doesn`t lend itself well to the choogling boogie arrangement here; and the funkified reading of contemporary country stars Little Big Town`s "Boondocks" sounds like she tried too hard to make it fit. These cuts aside, the rest of the material is vintage; it reflects the work of Ms. James` influences and contemporaries. Her readings of Otis Redding`s "Cigarettes & Coffee" and "Champagne & Wine," Bobby "Blue" Bland`s "Dreamer," Bob Montgomery`s country-pop standard "Misty Blue," Ray Charles` "In the Evening," Johnny "Guitar" Watson`s "That`s the Chance You Take" and "Too Tired," and Little Milton`s "Let Me Down Easy" all contain within them not only their original traces, but the musical experience necessary to bring their subtler, deeper meanings to the fore. She re-creates these songs not as mere touchstones or mementos from a career, but as signposts to the living, breathing tradition that bears the signature and considerable influence of her life upon them. The Dreamer is a fitting -- if not perfect -- bookend to one of American popular music`s most iconic lives. ~ Thom Jurek

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Groove Me
2. Champagne & Wine
3. Dreamer
4. Welcome to the Jungle
5. Misty Blue
6. Boondocks
7. Cigarettes & Coffee
8. In the Evening
9. Too Tired
10. That`s the Chance You Take
11. Let Me Down Easy

Album Information

Release Date:

11/08/2011

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Contemporary Blues

Label:

Verve

Producer:

Etta James; Donto James; Josh Sklair; Sametto James

Catalog Number:

2783189

Original Release Year:

2011

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Runtime:

50 : 20

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