JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR – The Blues Album (2021)

Standing among the greatest female performers of modern day, British blues rock phenom JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR releases today ”The Blues Album”. Another exquisite production of blues masters Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, this album is being released through Bonamassa’s record label KTBA Records.
”The Blues Album” is a cover album that focuses on non-obvious picked songs as well as on shining a light on Joanne’s vocals. And what we like is the modern, vital arrangements made, at places, sounding ‘rockin’ if you will.
Bonamassa appears as guest as well on one track for a cool vocal / guitar duet.

Little Village was an ephemerous band formed in early 1990 that included the legends John Hiatt and Ry Cooder. From them, Joanne picked the song “Don’t Go Away Mad”, sharing the vocals with Joe Bonamassa. At first glance, this song couldn’t be an actual blues, until you hear the guitar solos, probably also performed by both.
The Albert King tune, “Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me” has a complete horn section that fills the harmony, but the compassed bass still stands out in the background, laying down the rhythm for Joanne’s vocals and guitar.

“I Don’t Know What You’ve Got” originally is a B-side ballad recorded by Little Richard. But in Joanne’s hands and vocals, alongside Mike Farris, it becomes a new version.
Joanne revealed that “If That Ain’t A Reason” was a Bonamassa suggestion that she decided to go through. An early funky blues success released by the bluesman Little Milton, Joanne performed it with impressive vocals and a powerful guitar solo.
Previously recorded by names like Ronnie Wood and Aretha Franklin, “If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody” is another good choice for the album. “Keep On Lovin’ Me” is a song by Otis Rush and Magic Sam that Joanne leverages the groove through her extremely emotive vocals and powerful guitar.

Slowing a little bit, “Let Me Down Easy” has its mood set by the fingered guitar chords and flawless horn lines. Then “Scraps Vignette” is an instrumental interlude where Joanne performs one of her unmistakable solos.
“Stop Messin’ Round” and “Three Time Loser” feature amazing piano solos and probably the most powerful vocal performances by Joanne on the album.

”The Blues Album” checks a number of boxes that qualify it to be one of the top blues rock albums of 2021. Not only is it another exquisite Bonamassa & Smith production, but the album also showcases clean guitar tones, pianos, and horns performed by aces like themselves along with Reese Wynans (keyboards), Greg Morrow (drums), Steve Mackey (bass), Steve Patrick (trumpet), Mark Douthit (sax), Barry Green (trombone).
For all this, there’s no doubt that Joanne picked not only the right time to do this album but all these incredible songs as well.

01 – Stop Messin’ Round
02 – If That Ain’t A Reason
03 – Keep On Lovin’ Me
04 – If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody
05 – Don’t Go Away Mad (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
06 – Scraps Vignette
07 – Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me
08 – Let Me Down Easy
09 – Two Time My Lovin’
10 – I Don’t Know What You’ve Got (feat. Mike Farris)
11 – Three Time Loser

Joanne Shaw Taylor (vocals, guitar)
Reese Wynans (keyboards)
Greg Morrow (drums)
Steve Mackey (bass)
Steve Patrick, Mark Douthit, Barry Green (horns)
guests:
Joe Bonamassa, Mike Farris

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https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/joanne-shaw-taylor/the-blues-album