2016 – Sweet Mama Music
By Phillip Smith;
Feb 11, 2017
Honest Woman,
the latest album from Detroit’s Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis, glimmers with fiery soul. This red-hot delight features a dozen original
songs brought to glorious life under Davis’
commanding vocal presence. Davis’ backing
musicians performing on the brunt of the album is guitarist Brett Lucas, drummer Todd Glass (The Muggs), Phillip J. Hale
on keys, and James Simonson on bass.
Kim Wilson of
The Fabulous Thunderbirds steps in
as guest vocalist/harp player on the lively duet, “I Gotta Sang the Blues”. The
contrasting voices pair together quite nicely, and Wilson’s harmonica performance is smokin’ as usual. Davis
enlists The Larry McCray Band to
back her up on the groovy gospel-soaked “Set Me Free”. This is one superb jam filled with stellar
vocals and hot funky guitar licks. It
makes me want to shout, Amen!
I love how the brass mingles
with the walking bassline and soulful keys on the fabulous “I’d Rather Be Alone”. Davis
sings this ode to a boomerang ex-lover, strong and proud. Lucas
delivers a searing guitar performance propelled by Glass’ driving beat on the magnificent “I Believe (Everything Gonna
Be Alright)”.
Thornetta Davis
instills a fabric of enchanting soulful blues into each and every song on Honest Woman. Reflected in her powerful vocals is heart-felt
emotion, which, along with the superb musicianship she commands, is the key to an
album full of outstanding performances.
