NANCY WRIGHT
ALIVE AND BLUE
VIZZTONE RECORDS/DIRECT HIT VTDH-112
BUGALU–BEEN WAITING THAT LONG–I DON’T WANT NO MAN–IN BETWEEN TEARS–JO-JO–SUGAR COATED LOVE–WARRANTY–BERNIE’S BLUES–KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HIM–SOUL SERENADE–WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GIRL TO DO–RUTABAGAS
Nancy Wright is one of the most respected and called-upon sax players in any genre’–blues, Americana, R & B, you name it, she can play it! Her backing outfit, The Rhythm And Roots Band, consists of Paul Revelli on drums, Jeff Tamelier on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keys, and Karl Sevareid on bass. With Nancy on sax and vocals, she always knew the band meshed well behind her, and always wanted to do a live recording. She reached out to Robby Yamilov at Greaseland Studios, and the good folks at San Francisco’s oldest bar, The Saloon, to create “Alive And Blue.” It’s five of Nancy’s originals and seven covers that encompass all the varied style she is so well-versed in.
Leading off, and setting the tone for the rest of the evening, is one of Nancy’s originals, the nearly-seven-minute funkfest that is “Bugalu,” which also gives the fellows ample opportunity to show off. She gives fun-filled, soulful reads of “I Don’t Want No Man,” “Sugar Coated Love,” and hits home again with the powerful story of a woman who promises “the customer’s always right,” “my love’s got a Warranty.” She closes the vocal portion of the evening’s festivities with one of our favorites, a lovelorn take on Allen Toussaint’s “What Do You Want The Girl To Do,” Our other favorite was a cool, stretched-out-for-comfort, eight-minutes-of-smooth, “Soul Serenade,” originally done by King Curtis.
Nancy Wright picked a great venue for “Alive And Blue” with The Saloon in Frisco. The crowd was energetic and into it, and Nancy and the fellows gave ’em their money’s worth. It’s a fine set, and a perfect mix of vocals and instrumentals, from one of the premier players on the planet! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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