The first thing that hits you is that this Woman can Sing, and she can also belt it out, and she knows right when to pull it back a bit. Do you want Blues? Soul? Gospel? R & B? She has it all and a powerful voice that can rival just about anyone else around. She didn’t have an easy road to this, her second disc, and so when she sings of hard times ‘the truth’ is completely evident in her voice. She has been on stages all over the world as a backing vocalist for artists such as Bobbly Blue Bland, Peggy Scott-Adams, Denise Lasalle to Fishbone, and Slightly Stoopid. She has been there and done that, and has the vocal chops to back it all up, and better yet stand on the stage and sing, shout, hollar, moan, plead with anybody.
There is a quality to her voice that just pulls you in to what she is singing about, involves you in the story line, makes you pay attention. She also wrote all the songs on this album with Eddie Cotton, except the opening cut; Oh Lord. Since he is in the conversation, Mr. Cotton is the Executive Producer and the Producer of the disc with JJ as the co-producer, and he plays lead and rhythm guitar. The songs show the many sides of Ms Thames from the beautiful and heart-felt gospel of Oh Lord, to the raucous Hattie Pearl, through all the moods and twists the disc takes in showing off the many sides of JJ Thames, and the musical styles she is more than well-versed in.
A disc that shows off the versatility of this singer who has strong connections to Mississippi, via Memphis and Detroit. If you are looking for that ‘surprising new singer’ you discovered that has ‘the voice to back it all up’’ shock yourself and pick this up. She is not well known now, but I doubt that will last long. She leaves you wanting to hear her more!
by bob gottlieb
