“After detours into jazz, pop and country, Etta James is back in the smoking eye of an R&B maelstrom, singing with controlled fury and vinegary bite.

 Surrounding this queen bee of the blues are two fresh princes: sons Donto and Sametto, who produced and engineered, and played drums and bass, respectively. The young bloods balance classic and contemporary approaches, leaving Mama free to breathe fire into an intriguing mix of tunes…

Matriarch of the Blues finds Etta James reclaiming her throne — and defying anyone to knock her off it.”                                                                                                           Rolling Stone

 

With Etta’s birthday last week, I’m celebrating by digging deep into her catalogue and featuring this Grammy nominated 2000 Private Music release “Matriarch Of The Blues”

Plus new releases from Tommy Castro, Frank Bey, Ian Siegal & Johnny Main and Early James

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