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Irma Thomas
Simply Grand
(Rounder)
First Appeared in The Music Box, August 2008, Volume 15, #8
Written by John Metzger
Tue August 26, 2008, 06:30 AM CDT
Not many established artists are willing to assume the risks that Irma Thomas
has taken in recent years, and the credit should be split evenly between her and
her producer Scott Billington. After all, he keeps finding new ways of framing
her glorious voice, while she has had the wisdom to trust his intuition
implicitly. Their approach to her 2006 set After the Rain resulted in a
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, and there’s no reason to think
that Simply Grand, their latest collaborative effort, won’t achieve the
same level of success.
For starters, Simply Grand is better than its predecessor. Its concept
is remarkably straightforward and completely unpretentious, too. Throughout the
set, Thomas is paired with a dizzying array of piano players that include elder
statesmen like Ellis Marsalis and Dr. John as well as relative newcomers such as
Norah Jones and John Medeski. Although Thomas and her accomplices are supported
on occasion by a sparse backing band as well as a small string section, the
emphasis revolves entirely around the intimate ways in which the pianists
underscore her dynamic, emotional vocal presentations.
Considering that Thomas is the undisputed queen of New Orleans-imbued soul,
it goes without saying that anything she touches will be baked in the musical
spirit of her hometown. Sure enough, over the course of Simply Grand, she
provides a masterful overview of the Crescent City’s rich cultural legacy by
delving into a broad range of blues-inflected styles. With Marsalis, for
example, Thomas effortlessly explores the jazzy textures of This Bitter Earth,
and joined by Jon Cleary, she revels in the joyous, funky glow of Too Much
Thinking. Elsewhere, with the help of Henry Butler, she captures the beauty
of John Fogerty’s River Is Waiting, while Marcia Ball and Randy Newman
provide Simply Grand with a majestic exit on Same Old Blues and
I Think It’s Going to Rain Today, respectively.
It’s true that a few of the tracks on Simply Grand falter because
Thomas is unable to find the emotional edge from which to deliver them — most
notably Overrated and What Can I Do. On the bulk of the album,
however, Thomas and her collaborators work wonders with the material,
transforming the set into a tribute of sorts to the Crescent City, one that is
filled with deep mourning over the past as well as unwavering optimism for the
future. Consequently, Simply Grand makes a huge and immediate impact on a
superficial level, and over time, its subtleties spring to life, ultimately
leaving a long-lasting impression.  ½
Of Further Interest...
Blind Boys of Alabama - Down in New Orleans
Dr. John - Right Place, Right Time: Live at Tipitina's Mardi Gras '89
Catherine Russell - Sentimental Streak
Simply Grand is available from
Amazon. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
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For UK orders, please
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2008 The Music Box
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