Nancy Wright Alive & Blue

Nancy Wright
Alive & Blue
Direct Hit Records/VizzTone

It has been almost three years since saxophonist-vocalist Nancy Wright's prior recording "Playdate!" As I commented about that recording, "Listening to Wright's raspy sax (with plenty of vibrato) I am reminded of Junior Walker and Eddie Shaw, which certainly has an appeal." I would through also a mention of King Curtis whose "Soul Serenade" she performs on this live recording from the San Francisco venue, Saloon. The Saloon is where she first played in the mid-80s. While her prior CD had several guest appearances, this one features her and her Rhythm and Roots band: Nancy on sax and vocals, drummer Paul Revelli, Tony Lufrano on keys and background vocals, Jeff Tamelier on guitar and background vocals, and Karl Sevareid on bass. She contributed five of the twelve numbers here.

The album kicks off with a funky instrumental "Bugalu," with her chicken scratching sax ably backed by the band. Organist Lufrano and guitarist Tamelier provide riffs and licks that enhance her playing as well as take their idiomatic solos while Savareid and Revelli lock down the groove. It sets the table for this most entertaining live recording. Wright is a very capable singer with a relaxed, natural delivery. A solid example if her singing on an old Bobby Bland classic "I Don't Want No Man," with blistering solos from her, Lufrano on piano and guitarist Tamelier. Another choice performance is the soulful "In Between Tears," with a groove and guitar riff that evokes in part "Mr. Big Stuff."

Wright's original jazzy instrumental "Jo-Jo" may have her most interesting solo and Lufrano is superb on this. It is followed by a relaxed vocal on her cover of Lazy Lester's recording, "Sugar Coated Love," with Lufrano on an electric piano as well as her booting sax. After a nice original blues-ballad, "Warranty," is some belly rubbing music, "Bernie's Blues," with Temelier particularly superb on this early-morning, after-midnight instrumental. "Keep Your Hands Off of Him," set to the groove of "Got My Moho Workin'," is played with an almost frenzied, high stepping tempo with torrid tenor sax, piano, and chicken scratching guitar solos. Another notable track is the lengthy rendition of King Curtis' classic "Soul Serenade."

Recorded by Robby Yamilov at the Saloon in late 2018 and mixed by Kid Andersen, this very entertaining release certainly will please not only Nancy Wright's fans but also those into blues and classic soul.

I received my review copy from VizzTone. This review appeared in the July-August 2019 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 385). Here is Nancy performing "Keep Your Hands Off of Him," from 2015.