Recorded or live, great musicians bring their all
19th November 2018 · 0 Comments
By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer
PJ Morton
Christmas with PJ Morton
(Morton Records)
Christmas with PJ Morton means tradition tweaked by a bounce beat, holiday soul classics and naturally a measure of gospel. The instrumentation and use of background vocalists also vary from tune to tune while Morton’s voice and often his piano strongly and soulfully stand center stage. He begins the album by taking a visit to holiday favorites including “Winter Wonderland” and “The Christmas Song” on which, for the most part, he presents fairly straight-ahead except for a variation of the rhythms. For instance, “Winter Wonderland” heads toward the Caribbean with its reggae-ish sway that the presence of a horns section illuminates.
Morton is at his most expressive when he steers his soulful sleigh home to his gospel roots as he does on “Do You Believe.” He is joined on this inspirational tune by Yolanda Adams, who has been known as the “Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music,” and, like Morton, the son of the noted Bishop Paul S. Morton, grew up in the church. PJ’s approach to gospel music is very much in sync with Adams’ – soul drenched, exuberant, modern and sincere. The two magnificent vocalists go back and forth in a call and response style and come together in jubilation on this album highlight.
Stokley, best known as Stokley Williams of the renowned group Mint Condition, is featured with Morton on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” His and Morton’s contrasting voices make for a very satisfying interchange on yet another soulful, yet this time secular, number that’s complete with horns.
Perhaps no soul-based holiday album is truly complete without a rendition of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas.” It’s such a joyful tune that it’s almost impossible to hear and not jump up, hands in the air in celebration. Morton’s version has a lot of different aspects going on – a bounce beat, orchestration, horns, an occasional whistle and rappin’ happenin’ in the background.
“Give Love,” warmly rounds out the album with it message of generosity and a humanitarian outlook. Its theme, as Morton whole-heartedly sings, is rather than presents under the tree, love is the greater gift. “The world needs your love…”
Christmas with PJ Morton makes the season bright with Yuletide music for generations of family and friends to enjoy together.
PJ Morton, who is also noted as the keyboardist with the multiple Grammy-winning group Maroon 5, will be celebrating the release of the new album on Friday, November 23, 2018 at the House of Blues. He’ll be joined with The Amours on back-up vocals, bassist Brian Cockerham, guitarist Shemaiah “Porkchop” Turner and drummer Ed Clark performing music from the CD as well as previous albums including his excellent, Grammy nominated album Gumbo. He was given recognition of the 2017 release in the category of Best R&B Album as well as for the tune, “First Began,” in the songwriting division.
Henry Gray and the
Creole Cats 92
(MusicMatters Records)
Henry Gray was a smash hit at this year’s Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival and this album, 92, fully represents the great music heard at the show. The title of the release represents the age of the veteran pianist, vocalist and composer when he recorded the disc. On January 19, 2019, the very dynamic Gray will celebrate his 94th birthday.
He begins the session with one of his many original tunes, the toe-tapping “Come On In.” It’s done boogie-woogie style by this strong two-handed piano man and supplies those essential triplets. The lyrics are filled with humor as is his personable vocal delivery.
The Creole Cats, who are essentially zydeco accordionist/vocalist Terence Simien’s band, are well-matched with Gray in soulfulness, talent and authenticity in this blues setting. Of course, artists like guitarist Lil Buck Senegal as well as the musicians, have played their share of the genre. Senegal remains a constant standout accompanying Gray throughout the album and offers a typically strong solo on Big Maceo Merriweather’s classic “Worried Life Blues.” The pairing of Gray’s piano and Danny Williams’ organ really works with the organist supplying a soft layer on which Gray’s piano dances as heard on the self-penned original, “Henry’s House Rocker.” Gray’s grandson, DeAndre Tate, takes over the organ on Gray’s slow blues, “Cold Chills.”
It’s fun to hear Gray attack “Staggerlee,” the huge hit from fellow Louisiana native Lloyd Price. They speak the same musical language. Drummer Oreun Joubert drives the rhythm with cymbals splashin’. Harmonica man Bob Corritore logically moves closer to the front on, “Everybody’s Fishing” a tune made famous by harmonica master Big Walter Horton and written by Amos “Bumble Bee Slim” Easton. It’s a good catch.
Terrence Simien, who produced the album, smiled throughout Gray’s set at the Blues & BBQ Fest as he rhythmically strummed the washboard as he does on the disc.
Folks get, as New Orleans own James Andrews often sings, their “money’s worth” on this real deal release. Henry Gray just keeps on boogieing.
This article originally published in the November 19, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
