The McKee Brothers A Time Like This

The McKee Brothers
A Time Like This
Self-Produced

"A Time Like This" is The McKee Brothers' third album. Only one of the brothers, Denis, is heard on "A Time Like This." This release has McKee on vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion. He is joined by musicians from Los Angeles and Detroit. These include Bobby West on keyboards; Bobby Watson on bass; Steve Stevens or Vincent Fossett Jr. on drums; Chris Stevens on congas, vibes, and percussion; Lee Thornburg on brass; and Doug Webb on reeds. Others heard include Larry McCray, Joey Delgado, and Stan Budzynski on guitar, and Tim Douthit on harmonica. At the same time, Maxayn Lewis adds backing vocals. Bobby West contributed the bulk of the songs here (several in collaboration with Denis McKee), and Denis and Ralph McKee contribute one each song.

Denis McKee is a most appealing vocalist with a slight touch of sandpaper in his voice, while the backing is terrific. Blues may be the foundation of most performances here, but there are definite jazz, funk, soul, and rock touches. Think about elements of Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power combining for The McKee Brothers musical stew. Things start with the soul-tinged "How Can I Miss You Baby?" with its clever use of familiar stock phrases such as "You never miss your water till your cup runs dry." With a relaxed groove, Duothit's mournful harmonica, it kicks off a varied set of performances. Then there are roaring horns and Larry McCray's searing guitar to support McKee's vocal on "Whistleblower Blues."

The title track is a well-crafted soul ballad, while "The Legend of Luther Stringfellow," about a guitar picker who started going crazy. Musically, this song evokes "Ode to Billy Joe." Doug Webb's clarinet and Thornburg's trumpet lend a New Orleans jazz tinge to "Don't Cha Let It Go To Your Head," and it is followed by the swamp-pop flavored "Bluer Than You," with West's piano evoking of some of Fats Domino and Huey Smith recordings from the sixties. McKee's solo on this latter track displays his facility and taste. After the pop-flavored 'Think It Over," the blues return with the unusual "Putt Putt Hustler" about miniature golf. Perhaps not a deep blues lyric but fun nonetheless. Joey Delgado is heard with strong guitar fills and solo, and Duothit's harmonica is also strongly featured. Larry McCray's fiery guitar returns on the rollicking "Dawg" that also features Stan Budzynski's Southern-rock styled slide guitar.

In summary, "A Time Like This" is an eclectic grouping of songs with an engaging pop-blues cast to it. It is marvelously played with brassy horns over a tight rhythm section. Denis McKee is a pleasant and appealing performer who ably fronts a delightful recording. As an aside to this review, while preparing his review, I also listened to the McKee Brothers first album, "Enjoy It While You Can," which featured the strong blues-eyed soul singing of Bob Seger keyboardist Bob Schultz and highly recommend that album as well.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the January-February 2021 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 394). I have made a couple minor edits.

Thornetta Davis Honest Woman

Thornetta Davis
Honest Woman
Sweet Mama Music

The opening track to Thornetta Davis' "Honest Woman" is a recitation from her sister on how her sister makes her feel "When My Sister Sings the Blues." Listening to "I Gotta Sing the Blues," one easily appreciates why this powerhouse vocalist is Detroit's Queen of the Blues. It certainly does not hurt that she has a fine band that includes on many tracks guitarist Brett Lucas, bassist James Simonson, keyboardist Philip J. Hale and drummer Todd Glass or that Kim Wilson adds harmonica who also shares the vocal.

Then she rocks things a bit as she tells her man that the things he does to make up for his cheating ways, as she tells him "That Don't Appease Me," as she sings that his sorry does not work and get on out of here. The music on this incorporates a riff from "You Don't Love Me," that complements her sassy, take no nonsense vocal.

Guitarist Larry McCray, brother Steve on drums and Kerry Clark along with the keyboards of Chris Codfish back her soulful singing on the gospel blues "Set Me Free," which is followed by a strong soulful ballad "Am I Just A Shadow." After the rollicking New Orleans groove of "I Need A Whole Lotta Lovin' (To Satisfy Me)," she takes her down in the alley with a superb slow blues "I'd Rather Be Alone," with a vocal that builds in intensity until it explodes.

Other tracks include uptempo rocker about recovering after her lying ex, "I Believe (Everything Gonna Be Alright)," while on "Get Up And Dance Away Your Blues" she shouts with joy for the listener to get up on this jump blues swinger. Then there is another terrific slow blues "Can We Do It Again," with the backing (including the marvelous horn arrangement) evokes some of the classic blues-funk of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson from the seventies. Like "I'd Rather Be Alone," this track stands out among a very impressive recording with a choice Lucas guitar solo in addition to Davis' compelling vocal.

The title track is a wonderful soul number followed by another rocking gospel blues "Feels Like Religion," that closes this recording. It is an impressive recording with Thornetta Davis' impressive singing and  fine backing and production.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the March-April 2017 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 371). Here is Thornetta in performance.

Can't Keep Sista Monica Down

One of the most impressive blues performers of the past decade has been Sista Monica Parker. She certainly can belt out a vocal, but also can powerfully deliver a lyric without raising her voice, and she has always led terrific bands. Word that she had overcome serious health issues was certainly welcomed by knowing blues fans and she has another superb new recording on the Mo Muscle label, Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down.

In addition to her regular band, anchored by Danny B. Ceconcini on keyboards, there are guest appearances by Larry McCray and Chris Cain on guitar. She presents us with a program of 11 originals (well one is a James Brown adaptation) and two covers to show that the “lioness of the blues” is back and as strong as ever.

Sista Monica at 1997 DC Blues Festival. Photo © Ron Weinstock

The title track and the closing, It’s Good to Be Alive, obviously relate to her overcoming her recent health problems. Cookin’ With Grease is a rocking, funky number that has her recall her musical roots and lets folks know that when the groove is right, you really are “cooking with grease,” while Put It in the Crock Pot is a funky tribute to James Brown and the JB’s that the Godfather would likely appreciate. Both Willie Nelson’s Funny How Time Slips Away and Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come, have been recorded extensively. Her performance of the Cooke classic is solid but she really puts more of her stamp on Funny, with her delivery of the lyric.

Songs like Show Me What You’re Working With, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth, The Truth and The Bigger They Are the Harder They Fall, certainly represent what Solomon Burke once described as “the woman of today” who doesn’t take nonsense from her partner. This is not to say that Sista Monica cannot be romantic as she caresses the lyric of Leave the Door Open and Surrender to Love.

Sista Monica is as compelling a vocalist as anyone in the blues and with this disc has added to her substantial body of recordings. This will be among my favorites of the year and is highly recommended.

This review appeared in slightly different form in the September-October 2005 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 276) and the August 2005 DC Blues Calendar, and my review copy was provided by Sista Monica. Sista Monica is still putting out some great music. Her most recent album is Living In The Danger Zone band information on her music can be found at http://www.sistamonica.com/. My review copy was provided by Sista Monica.  Below is Sista Monica performing.