It has been 4 years since 2013s critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated, and number 1 Billboard Blues albumSeesawwas released by singer-songwriter and blues-rock powerhouseBeth Hartand guitar heroJoe Bonamassa. Since then, they have both been on fire, riding creative tidal waves both in the studio and live. So, the time was primed perfectly to reunite for another collection of scorching interpretations of ten soul gems that twins Harts breath-taking vocals, that sweep and delve deep into the belly of the song and Joes masterfully expressive playing makeBlack Coffee, released onJanuary 26th, 2018, a captivating listen. With producer extraordinaireKevin The Caveman Shirley(Joe Bonamassa, Led Zeppelin, Black Crowes, Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Rush) back at the helm, the result is the stunning rollercoaster that digs deep into the soul catalogue where they honour but re-imagine songs fromEdgar Winter, Etta, James, Ike & Tina Turner/Steve Marriot, Ella Fitzgerald, Lil Green, LaVern Baker, Howlin Wolf, Lucinda WilliamsandWaldeck. Each one having the majestic heart and soul that Beth and Joe bleed on each record. Recorded in 5 days atStudio at the Palms, Las Vegasin August 2016 with some of the finest musicians around, they have once again recalled some familiar names inAnton Fig(Drums/Percussion),Ron Dziubla(Saxophone), andLee Thornburg(Horn Arrangements/Trumpet/Trombone) and welcomed inReese Wynans(Keyboards),Michael Rhodes(Bass),Rob McNelley(Rhythm Guitar),Paulie Cerra(Saxophone),Mahalia Barnes(Backing Vocals),Jade Macrae (Backing Vocals) andJuanita Tippins(Backing vocals). Talking about the sessions behindBlack Coffee, Seesaw, 2011sDont Explainand 2014sLive in Amsterdam,Shirley gives some insight of what they are looking to achieve; Were trying not to dig into a playbook thats been done many times which is the old soul classics. We try and find a different spin on it, originally it was about trying to find some songs that people didnt know at all and bring them back to peoples attention. One such song, was a Joe suggestion, the album openerGive It Everything You Gottaken from 1971sEdgar Winters White Trashalbum, with its hard rock meets Stax infused sound, the band deliver a formidable performance. I dont think thats a song a lot of people know, its an old soul classic but its not really amongst the pantheon of the ones you expect, says Shirley One of the things Jeff Beck had said to me once that I thought was so wonderful was explains Hart. He said, as soon as you get comfortable, and if you stay there, youre just gonna start dying as an artist. And I feel that, one of the gifts that Ive got with working with Joe is that Im always uncomfortable- in a good way. Shirley adds about the band, those guys just played live, they just came in and played, it was mind numbingly incredible to be in the studio when that happens, the band were so great. Lullaby of the Leaves,originally recorded byElla Fitzgerald, was one of the lesser known songs on 1964sHello Dollyand like with how they approachedStrange FruitonSeesaw,they transformed the song into a delicate but brooding and cinematic offering. For me Im able to explore the kind of music I have always admired from afar, reveals Bonamassa. But you dont want to hear me singing Ella Fitzgerald he explained as Beth joins in. I would never do Ella Fitzgerald without being with Joe, the things I get to do with you are things I think I grew up always wanting to do, but never believed I could. The gospel flavoured R&B workoutSavedoriginally performed byLaVern Baker– only the second female solo artist to be inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 – has been covered by; Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Billy Fury, Elkie Brooks and The Band amongst others and is a full throttle, raucous, tongue-in-cheek moment, written from the perspective of someone who had lived a fast, loose life but is then \”saved\” and is now standing on a corner preaching to the passers-by. They also take an altogether different mood on the lusciousSoul on Fire, where they pay homage to Bakers first ever solo release. Sitting On Top of The Worldis a stone cold classic and has been recorded by some of the worlds most iconic artists;Ray Charles,Howlin Wolf, B.B. King,Creamand theGrateful Deadhave all stamped their mark on it. Here it has a swirling duel from Bonamassas searing guitar and Wynans keys whilst Harts voice helps propel the song through the stratosphere. The sultry punch ofLucinda WilliamsJoyhas an irresistible guttural groove.We have tracks like that in which, it was such a noisy jam in the studio, and I love that track, the energy in it. Shirley enthuses.Addicted, is taken from the 2007 trip-hop leaning album by Austrian Electronic trioWaldeckwhich Shirley came across whilst on holiday and shazamed it. The smoulderingDamn Your Eyesis taken fromEtta James1988 comeback recordSeven Year Itch,Kansas Joe McCoysjazz-bluesWhy Dont You Do It Right?made its first impact onLil Greens1941 version beforePeggy Leecovered it a year later which went on to sell over 1 million copes after appearing in the movieStage Door Canteenin 1943, both see the after dark bar room Jazz shine through. They harness primeSteve Marrioton his take of Ike & Tina TurnersBlack Coffee,inspiration coming from his version live on the BBCsOld Grey Whistle Testin 1973, which sees Beth sing with fire, fury and soul. Its really predicated on the vocals, Bonamassa explains. We cant cut these tunes without Beth singing and once she starts singing, its the glue that inspires us to get the extra 10% out of the playing. If we just cut them and sang later, the magic wouldnt be there. Thats something the two of us stopped doing many, many years ago agrees Hart. There was all this layering and layering and then its time for you to sing and its like youre not even making music any more. Theres nothing like being able to sit there live and see Joe, seeing the drums, seeing the bass, being able to see Kevin. I can feel the vibrations, it changes the whole thing. Kevin really gets that that, she continues. Its like he wrote that idea. It just works the best, in the old old days, thats how they did it, bad ass singers and bad ass musicians would have a couple of hours to get a whole record done or whatever it was they were doing and that was it, it was time to go. One of the key aspects of the sessions is to push everyone as much as possible. They are always out of their comfort zone in the studio, this session especially wasnt a comfortable session, Shirley reveals. Everyone left feeling challenged. Its intriguing. We go into the studio for 5 days and all of the musicians are challenged, they are all very good musicians, very experienced musicians, top of their field, nothing is easy, this isnt a summer in the grass session, just a couple of chords, this is people digging in deep. Track Listing: Give It Everything You Got Damn Your Eyes Black Coffee Lullaby Of The Leaves Why Don\’t You Do Right Saved Sitting On Top Of The World Joy Soul On Fire Addicted
