Buy From Amazon.com

Irma Thomas: After The Rain (Rounder) 

 The Soul Queen of New Orleans, as she's known, is back after after a six year absence from the studio and after some particularly trying times for her beloved city. "After The Rain" is a rich, emotionally complex recording that captures Thomas in powerful, resilient form on wide range of material.

 Thomas is best known for her remarkable 1960's output like "You Can Have My Husband (But Don't Mess with My Man)", "Ruler of My Heart", "Break-a-Way" and of course "Time Is on My Side." Since 1985 Thomas has found a home at Rounder Records cutting seven uniformly strong records for the label. "After The Rain" was issued at the confluence of a number of important events including her 65th birthday, her 20th anniversary with Rounder and of course her first post-Katrina release. Recorded at rural Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana only months after Katrina, "After The Rain" captures Thomas at her mature and resilient best.

 Like so many, Thomas lost everything in Katrina and the shadow of that disaster looms like a shadow over these songs. While the songs here were all selected before the storm they take on and added poignancy in the wake of that terrible tragedy. Particularly resonant are a stunning, dramatic reading of "Another Man Done Gone" a blues/gospel hybrid with these telling lines: "The water's at his door/He couldn't stay no more/ Another man done gone" and the telling line "another storm has come." Adding to the power of the song, and to the rest of the album for that matter, is the smoldering slide playing of Sonny Landreth and the rock solid rhythm section of drummer Stanton Moore and bassist James Singleton. Thomas revives other traditional material including an achingly soulful rendition of the ancient "Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor" and a stripped down version of Blind Willie Johnson's classic "Soul of a Man" featuring sensitive acoustic guitar from Corey Harris. There's a wide range of material here including a lovely, hushed version of Arthur Alexander's "In The Middle Of It All", the surging drunk driving tale "Flowers", the joyous, gospel infused "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" featuring wonderful piano/B3 organ from David Torkanowsky, who's a standout throughout, and the strutting "Soul Survivor" with some blazing slide from Landreth.

 Ultimately"After The Rain" is a hopeful and empowering recording. Irma Thomas has rarely sounded better and simply gets better with age as she sails effortlessly into her fifth decade of recording.

(Jeff Harris)

Buy From Amazon.com

Blues Harp Meltdown Vol. 3: Legends (Mountain Top)

 Since 1991 harmonica ace Mark Hummel has been both producing and performing at his annual Blues Harmonica Blowout. Like prior volumes, "Blues Harp Meltdown Vol. 3: Legends" was recorded in front of a sold out crowd at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz, California. The focus on this 2-CD is on blues legends featuring great performances from 2004 by Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Lazy Lester, Carey Bell and Cephas & Wiggins. Also on board are Mark Hummel and guitarist Steve Freund.

 Disc one features hot cuts by Mark Hummel backed by his fine Blues Survivors Band, Steve Freund, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Cephas & Wiggins. Hummel's swinging brand of west coast blues is heard to good effect on "My Kind Of Baby" and he really cuts loose on a blazing version of Little Walter's "Rollercoaster." Hummel joins ex-Chicago guitarist Steve Freund, who played with Sunnyland Slim for twenty years as well as cutting some strong albums under his own name for Delmark. He's lays down a romping "My Little Playhouse" (from 2004's excellent "Is What It Is" with Dave Specter) and delivers some back alley blues on Sunnyland's "I Done You Wrong." Willie "Big Eyes" Smith is best remembered for his lengthy drumming stint with Muddy Waters. He's cut a number of solid records in recent years featuring his harmonica talents which are on display on the classic "Hoodoo Man Blues" which he also sings. Cephas & Wiggins have been recording together since the early 1980's and specialize in those downhome Piedmont blues in the tradition of East coast legends like Blind Boy Fuller, Gary Davis and Sonny Terry. The two provide a nice acoustic contrast on traditional numbers like "Going To The River" and "Broke & Hungry."

 Carey Bell truly came into his own in the '90s as a bandleader with terrific discs for Alligator and Blind Pig but hasn't cut anything under his own name since 1997's "Good Luck Man." Backed by his old pal Willie "Big Eyes" Smith plus guitarist Steve Freund, Bell puts down some loose, tough Chicago blues on the chugging "I'm Ready" and "I Shudda Did", an impassioned slow blues in the vein of Muddy Waters spotlighting Bell's expressive vocal chops. Louisiana legend Lazy Lester has remained active in recent years cutting excellent albums for Antone's in 1998 and 2001 and most recently a strong collaboration with Paul Orta. Of course Lester's reputation was cemented a long time ago on those classic Excello singles in the 1950's. Lester's in fine form here with his country tinged vocals and his upper register, Jimmy Reed styled harp playing. With no disrespect to the other players, Lester's set may be the highlight here delivering charming versions of his old numbers like the atmospheric "Bloodstains On The Wall", the propulsive "Sugar Coated Love" and a beautiful reading of "Raining In My Heart", a number originally done by Lester's buddy and old label mate Slim Harpo.

 Mountain Top specializes in West Coast blues with an emphasis on harmonica blowers and have issued some first rate records over the past few years by folks like Gary Smith, Johnny Dyer and Mark Hummel. Their Blues Harp Meltdown has been a highlight and really seems to bring out the best in the performers. All three volumes come highly recommended and it's especially nice to see the veterans get their due on this latest collection.

(Jeff Harris)