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Emma Wilson & Don Bryant—What Kind Of Love—Select-O-
Hits/Emma Wilson Music
I don’t usually review singles, but when a track is as good as this,
I can’t resist. In any case, this will shortly be included in an up
coming album from Emma, “Memphis Calling”.
The track (and album) was recorded in the studio of “Sam Phillips
Recording” Memphis, TN with an outstanding bunch of musi-
cians: organ, Rev. Charles Hodges: bass, Leroy Hodges: drums,
Steve Potts: electric piano: Archie “Hubbie” Turner: guitar: Joe
Restivo: tenor & baritone saxophone: Kirk Smothers and Marc
Franklin, trumpet.
The song was written by Don Bryant & Scott Bomar (of The Bo-Keys and producer of Cedric
Burnside, Cindi Lauper and many more). Don Bryant joins Emma on backup vocals (which
through the wonders of modern recording, Emma also adds).
This is about as good as you can get and it is my belief that this will propel Emma in to the blues
and soul stratosphere. The vocals are funky and sexy at the same time and the whole thing is
driven in the special way that only emanates from ‘Bluff City’.
Quite, quite wonderful. I really can’t wait for the full album.
Ian K McKenzie
Corey Ledet Zydeco—Médikamen—Corey P. Ledet
Corey Ledet Zydeco's 'Médikamen' is his first zydeco album writ-
ten and performed completely in Kouri-Vini (a Louisiana Creole
dialect) as an homage on Corey's journey to reclaim his family’s
language. This project was heavily inspired by memories of his
ancestors and their culture. Corey is reclaiming the language by
making this music and at the same time is embedding himself in
contemporary Creole culture.
Special guests include Germaine Jack, Anders Osborne, Kermit
Ruffins, and Grant Dermody.
The music is a good as you will hear from any top flight zydeco
band. Ledet is an accomplished accordion player. The band is as
hot as they come too with Allen Zeno -electric bass, background vocals, Lucien “Big Lou” Hayes
-rhythm guitar, Julian Primeaux -rhythm & lead Guitar, Cecil Green -Hammond B3 organ, Fender
Rhodes, Je’an-Paul Jolivette -drums, background and harmony vocals.
Two steps, waltzes, and a piece originally penned by Fats Domino who was a Creole (Gònn
lamézon démin) are all outstanding. But, in that last sentence there lies the sole problem with
the album. Kouri-Vini is a dialect based on French and there is no translation whatsoever.
Nowhere. Please, please M. Ledet, next time, some translation or at the very least a bit of a
Rosetta Stone.
But, dear reader, don’t let that minor gripe turn you off. This is zydeco of the highest order and
deserves the widest audience it can get. VAYAN!
Ian K McKenzie