“Love Makes a Woman” Album Release
The Knickerbocker All-Stars
Featuring Darcel Wilson and Thornetta Davis
"Love Makes A Woman"
JP Cadillac Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro ©
"Love Makes A Woman" is the fourth release of the famed Knickerbocker All-Stars series. With some of the best vocalists and musician in the business appearing on the first three projects, the term All-Stars is indeed an understatement. It's this writer's opinion that the band could very well be called The Knickerbocker Super-Stars.
This time around, things are a bit different though. Oh, the album still features a dozen world class vocalists and musicians but on "Love Makes A Woman", two of those super-stars are ladies. The musicians welcoming lead and back up vocalists Darcel Wilson and Thornetta Davis to the Knickerbocker All-Stars include: Mark Tiexeira on drums; Brad Hallen on bass; Kevin Barry on guitar; David Limina on piano; Rich Lataille on alto and tenor sax; Doug James on baritone and tenor sax; Carl Querfurth on trombone; Doc Chanonhouse on all trumpet solos; Carl Gerhard on trumpet; and Michael DeQuattro on percussion.
Now I'm not going to get into a historical and biographical lesson on Darcel and Thornetta for two very good reasons. The first is that most of you should already know of them and their accomplishments and the second is that there's entirely too much to tell. But I will say this - from the taste for these style of singers I acquired by growing up listening to my father spin Dinah, Ella, Sarah and Bessie (no last names needed) LPs, Ms Wilson and Ms Davis added a special touch to the band.
"Love Makes A Woman" contains twelve cover songs that were inspired by some of the greatest female R&B/Soul singers of our time. Musically, it's a melting pot rhythm and blues, soul, jazz and swing blues.
One of my favorite sing-a-long songs of all time was Jackie Wilson's "Higher & Higher" (Jackson/Smith/Miner/Davis). Most of the times it's a struggle deciding which part I'd prefer to sing, the lead or the backup. On this outstanding rendition, Darcel is killing it on BOTH - and on those high notes, she indeed takes them higher and higher. Equally as powerful are the tracks rhythm and horn sections. Right from the drum solo intro, to the precision rhythm of the shakers, to the ever present vibrant horns and the penetrating trumpet and sax leads.
On "Good Rockin' Daddy" (Bihari/Berry) the band backs off into quite a swingin' rhythm groove with Brad laying down some intense bass lines. And along with the horns - which are habitually profound - David and Kevin are absolutely outstanding on their piano and guitar standouts. Vocally, this one features Thornetta belting out the lead and back up vocals right up there the way her predecessor - the great Etta James did.
The oft covered "Talk To Me" (Seneca) was a big hit in the late fifties that charted high on both the pop and R&B charts. It's a sultrily soulful love ballad and the way Darcel just belted this one out she made me forget what the original version ever sounded like. WOW!
Other than opening with Darcel saying "So you want us to swing? Well here we go!" - "Go Girl" (Austin/Kazanoff) is an instrumental and it surely does swing. It's basically the full band, in serious roaring twenties, speakeasy, swing mode banging out some smokin' and swingin' jazz. If this one doesn't get you moving, what hospital should we send those get well cards to?
You could probably offer a million dollars to someone who could name a female blues singer - or for that matter, any genre at all - who's never covered a Bonnie Rait song, and never have to worry about parting with a dime. That said, I'm also sure not many would even come close to the level of Thorneta doing Bonnie's "Nick Of Time". Showcasing an amazing vocal versatility, the only thing silkier than Thorneta's vocals are her own backup vocals. Musically, the band is in the perfect accompanying groove and Doc - who I believe is the only common denominator on all four releases - shines on a standout muffled trumpet solo.
As far as this track goes, I could probably use the same opening paragraph as above and just substitute the names of Darcel Wilson and Aretha Franklin in place of Thornetta and Bonnie. If there was ever anyone who could do a rendition of "Since You've Been Gone", and sound as phenomenal as the great Aretha did, Darcel's your lady. Of course, the All-Stars are all over it as well.
Other tracks on this fabulous release include: "So Soon" (McCoy), "Love Makes A Woman" (Record/Simms/Davis/Sanders), "Don't Cry Baby" (Johnson/Bernie/Unger) and "Wild Wild Young Men" (Ertegun).
With the Blues Music Awards nominating process in full swing right now, it's this writers thinking that "Love Makes A Woman" has got to be on the minds of many of the nominators.
By now, since "Love Makes A Woman" has been out for a while I'm sure most of you have already received an airplay copy and have been giving it many deserved spins. On the other hand, should you need a copy just get a hold of John Sheerar at www.knickerbockerallstars.com - and as usual, please tell him his friend the Blewzzman sent you.