Marion James – Essence (Soul Food Records).
Essence is the debut release from Soul Food Records, a new independent label from Nashville. They have picked a steady hand in the shape of Marion James
to guide their new journey and if the follow up releases show the same standard then they should be about for some time. Essence starts with Tables, a James original that is funky R&B of high measure. The Nashville born chanteuse shows all of her experience through her accomplished vocal. Add a very tight band and you have a recipe for success. Give Me Love is a slow blues with her guitarist (Jack Pearson) to the fore. He has a lot to live up to as the guitarist in Marion’s early 60s touring band was none other than Jimi Hendrix but Pearson is a star in his own rite having played in The Allman Brothers Band. He turns in a great solo and compliments Marion’s considered vocal very well. She returns to the funk for the self-penned My Mama and this is power all the way. Things are slowed down again for Let’s Straighten It Out, a straightforward, bluesy smoulderer before she goes off into the swinging blues of 24 Hours with the pianist on top form. Until The Real Thing Comes Along has her continuing to alternate between slow and up-tempo. This is jazzy, nightclub fare and her voice copes with it as well as it does on the other genres.
Please Don’t Waste My Time is a raunchy, Chicago style blues written by James and I Should Have Known is a classy, slow blues from Little Johnny Taylor – both are performed to the highest of standards. Be Anything keeps it slow and is another one for a dark, smoky nightclub. Marion tries hard to contemporise things with Feel It. It takes a while to get going and, then again, only just. This is a missed opportunity. So many will relate to You’re History Baby and I’m sure that many people will have said it in the past. This song, more than most of the others, highlights the undercurrent of power that Marion has in her songs and it builds up very well. There’s another of the slow, nightclub songs in I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You). It doesn’t really do it for me but it is sung by a performer who is comfortable in her own ability. The album finishes with an interview with Marion, interspersed with a couple of short songs played by her on piano. This gives us a wonderful insight into Marion the person and Marion the musician.
http://www.soulfoodrecords.com/
David Blue.
Essence is the debut release from Soul Food Records, a new independent label from Nashville. They have picked a steady hand in the shape of Marion James
to guide their new journey and if the follow up releases show the same standard then they should be about for some time. Essence starts with Tables, a James original that is funky R&B of high measure. The Nashville born chanteuse shows all of her experience through her accomplished vocal. Add a very tight band and you have a recipe for success. Give Me Love is a slow blues with her guitarist (Jack Pearson) to the fore. He has a lot to live up to as the guitarist in Marion’s early 60s touring band was none other than Jimi Hendrix but Pearson is a star in his own rite having played in The Allman Brothers Band. He turns in a great solo and compliments Marion’s considered vocal very well. She returns to the funk for the self-penned My Mama and this is power all the way. Things are slowed down again for Let’s Straighten It Out, a straightforward, bluesy smoulderer before she goes off into the swinging blues of 24 Hours with the pianist on top form. Until The Real Thing Comes Along has her continuing to alternate between slow and up-tempo. This is jazzy, nightclub fare and her voice copes with it as well as it does on the other genres.
Please Don’t Waste My Time is a raunchy, Chicago style blues written by James and I Should Have Known is a classy, slow blues from Little Johnny Taylor – both are performed to the highest of standards. Be Anything keeps it slow and is another one for a dark, smoky nightclub. Marion tries hard to contemporise things with Feel It. It takes a while to get going and, then again, only just. This is a missed opportunity. So many will relate to You’re History Baby and I’m sure that many people will have said it in the past. This song, more than most of the others, highlights the undercurrent of power that Marion has in her songs and it builds up very well. There’s another of the slow, nightclub songs in I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You). It doesn’t really do it for me but it is sung by a performer who is comfortable in her own ability. The album finishes with an interview with Marion, interspersed with a couple of short songs played by her on piano. This gives us a wonderful insight into Marion the person and Marion the musician.
http://www.soulfoodrecords.com/
David Blue.
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