Kathy and the Kilowatts Premonition of Love

Kathy and the Kilowatts
Premonition of Love
Nola Blue Records

This This is the fourth album by the Texas singer, and the first in a new partnership with Nola Blue Records. Kathy Murray has written ten songs and there are three interpretations of previously recorded material. The Kilowatts include her husband, Billy "Monster" Jones, on guitars (and accordion on one track); either Dylan Cavaliere or Jeff Botta on bass; and Nina Singh on drums or percussion. Benny Turner plays bass on four tracks while Floyd Domino and Matt Farrell are heard on keyboards while Dan Torosian and Eric Johnson add horns.

Murray has been part of his he Austin Texas scene since the 1980s and apparently her singing has been described as "the love child of Jimmy Reed and Wanda Jackson." She shares with Reed a laconic attack, and while her vocals have a slight nasal quality, her diction and articulation of the lyrics are removed from Reed's sometimes mush-mouth singing. She sings in a straightforward manner, and if she may not invest her version of "Black Nights," with the authority of Lowell Fulson, her heartfelt vocals certainly have more than a little appeal.

The backing her enhances her vocals greatly whether the West Side Chicago blues setting for 'Beggars Can't Be Choosers," with a horn arrangement that will evoke Otis Rush's "Right Place, Wrong Time," or the boogaloo shuffle groove of "Always Fooling Me," which she invests with a wry humor singing about her "hocus focus baby." There is her atmospheric title track with Murray's strong guitar support, and the rollicking reworking of Cleveland Crochet's cajun rocker "Sugar Bee," with Murray's idiomatic accordion solo. There is an able cover of Magic Sam's "What Have I Done Wrong," and the moody, Muddy Waters' styled "Final Verdict" with Kim Field's harmonica as well as Murray's deep down guitar.

Add the rollicking rock and roll of "All These Questions," with Floyd Domino's boogie inflected piano and the relaxed shuffle groove of "I Got This," and one has a varied and entertaining, well-produced set of blues with a couple of roots rocker added for spice.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 378). Here is a video clip of Kathy and the Kilowatts performing "Grow Some.".