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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Posthumous release from South London blues super-singer. “In my time with Jo Ann as a musician and partner, and for many years following her death, I felt that the very best of her voice, which I had heard so many times in live performances, was rarely captured on record.” – Peter Emery, October 2008. It’s now 18 years since her untimely death aged 46. The sister of The Blues Band guitarist Dave Kelly, they often performed on projects together. Here she gets her wonderful repertoire a dust-down, with dazzling results, showing she could handle blues, country and gospel. This re-issue of her 1976 album Do It (unavailable for 30years and never as a CD) finally surfaces as the result of several mixed-bag compilations not doing full justice to her work. Extra tracks * are from Open in 1988. Recorded as one album with musicians she worked with during the period – Pete Emery, John Pilgrim, Mike Piggot, Geraint Watkins and Steve Donnelly, it captures her pristine unique voice. Above all, she has the haunting quality and timbre of early American black Blues masters like Blind Lemon Jefferson, wishing not to be too disrespectful. Her upper registers are a thing of wonder. Its tonal value is comparable with legends like Dinah Washington and Rosetta Tharpe. She turned out to be everything Memphis Minnie aimed to be. Canned Heat once tried to recruit her. It was no thanks, I’m staying in England.
The mood is that of the 30s: not even established greats like Clapton, Rea, BBKing et al , have managed that. On first listen you think there’s a peculiar youthful male thing going on here, which is quite remarkable. It soon emerges it’s a gal. Whether it’s the stunning a capella Boll Weevil, or the jaunty Nothing And Rambling it matches the compositions and lo-fi approach to absolute perfection. Her a capella take on trad Death Have Mercy would slip neatly into the Oh, Brother Where Art Though? soundtrack. Originals are Little More Time, River Jordan, with Kelly doing traditional arrangements of Sugar Babe, Moon Going Down, Boll Weevil, and Death Have Mercy. Moby would have a field-day with the latter. The quality of musicianship is predictably outstanding. Kelly plays both 12 and 6 string guitars in maestro mode, though one of the many highlights is Emery’s masterful slide guitar on Can’t Be Satisfied. She also tackles a jaunty country shuffle Black Rat Swing (featured on 2003’s 2 CD set) with equal measure. Choosing a best song is really tough. So I will. The spiritually stirring and rustic River Jordan wins, again with Emery on top form using bottle-neck. Moon Going Down is a close second. Third comes Boll Weevil, bringing back memories of Come On In My Kitchen (1936) by King Of The Blues …Robert Johnson. The Verdict: Best ever British blues-woman. Get it now.
Radio: Hear tracks soon on wrexhamfm.com
Weblink: manhatonrecords.com
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
