Showing posts with label JJ Thames. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JJ Thames. Show all posts

Friday, August 26, 2016

JJ Thames - Raw Sugar

Size: 127,7 MB
Time: 54:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Soul, R&B
Art: Front

01. Oh Lord (Feat. Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons) (3:21)
02. Hattie Pearl (3:09)
03. I'm Leavin' (3:06)
04. Leftovers (4:26)
05. Woman Scorned (3:59)
06. Only Fool Was Me (4:28)
07. Bad Man (5:06)
08. Hold Me (4:38)
09. Don't Stop My Shine (3:50)
10. I Don't Feel Nothing (4:43)
11. Plan B (Abortion Blues) (4:50)
12. Raw Sugar (4:38)
13. I Wanna Fall In Love (4:14)

Raw Sugar is the name of J.J.'s original song and the title of her upcoming CD for Rolling Fork Records.. It is also an on the spot description of the blues singer and songwriter from the music mecca of Detroit, MI "MOTOWN" whom has earned this moniker the hard way. Thames is one sexy chanteuse. She has performed all over the world with artists as a backing vocalists, but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy.

Raised in a General Motors fueled, blue-collar family, J.J. became blues- shouting banshee by the time she was just 21 years old. she cut her teeth after moving down to Jackson, MS. Where she began to perform with the celebrated "Chitlin' Circuit superstars like; Marvin Sease. Miss Thames has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a soon to be world renowned reputation that is just taking off into the atmosphere.

A colorful mixture of the traditional blues and soul, Thames cut her musical teeth in the early 90’s onstage with musicians and friends, Bobby Blue Bland, Peggy Scott Adams, Willie Clayton and Denise Lasalle to name just a few. Her fans are a mixture of true genre bending , traditional blues fans, ska rockers, chitlin' circuit blues lovers. rockabilly and swing dancers, grey haired hippies, and everyday folk of all ages, flock to see J.J. and hear her musical messages of love, hope and empowerment.

Thames’ live shows are the stuff of legend. She honors the bold blues women of the past with both feet firmly planted in the now. She belts - growls - shouts - croons and moans from a place deep within her soul that hark ens back to the days of Chess, Bluebird and Stax Records. She uses music as therapy and often writes and chooses material with positive affirmations that leave the audience feeling healed and exhilarated. A show that is part revival meeting and sexual celebration, she'll deliver a Mississippi juke joint-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a soul ballad like Etta James , encouraging audiences to leave behind their dancing reservations. She’ll slay the crowd with her balls out rendition of Wang, Dang, Doodle or testify with a sweat drenched passion like no other. She often says she is a "woman of the 1950's thru 1960's trapped in a young woman's body" and she dresses the part. Bedecked in dresses and outfits from that era, Thame's performance is Mississippi by way of Memphis with a quick stopover in Detroit.

J.J. is what was beautiful about music from those days gone by but her excellence, authenticity, determination and optimism are what keep her shows passionate, honest and irresistible. One evening with J.J. will keep the crowds happy, hopeful and coming back for more.

Raw Sugar

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

JJ Thames - Tell You What I Know

Size: 95,6 MB
Time: 40:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Blues Soul, R&B
Art: Front

01. Souled Out (2:37)
02. Hey You (3:17)
03. I Got What You Need (3:56)
04. My Kinda Man (4:06)
05. No Turning Back (4:15)
06. Can You Let Somebody Else Be Strong (3:28)
07. I'ma Make It (3:53)
08. I Believe (3:49)
09. Just Enough (3:36)
10. Rhinestones (3:44)
11. Tell You What I Know (4:12)

“Mississippi Blues Diva” J.J. Thames possesses stunning looks and a gorgeous voice as a magnificent instrument to extol spiritual and earthly desires. Schooled in classical music, jazz and the blues, she delivers music life affirming as a heartbeat.

One cover and10 heart-stirring originals by Thames and others are rocked by David Hyde (bass), Vince Barranco (drums), Sam Brady (producer, keyboards) and Celeb Armstrong (guitar) with guests Grady Champion (executive producer, harmonica), guitarists Eddie Cotton, Doug Frank and Danny Scallions, Richard Beverly (trumpet), Todd Bobo (tenor sax) and Mike Weidick (trombone). “Souled Out” is staggering creation, referencing gospel music and chants back to Africa. Over a solitary tolling drum Thames beseeches “Oh, Lord, hear my cry, gonna tell this story before I die,” lamenting “I said I’m souled out, souled out...” The sensual country blues “Hey You” finds Thames spinning raw poetry like “Standin’ there, mouth hangin’, aw sugar, are you amazed. You see my daddy, pimp turned preacher, I was born to play this game. There’s no need for pick up lines, I know ‘em all anyway. I’m a lady, respect me baby, you’re well on your way.” The funk of “I Got What You Want” has her negotiating her needs with “I need a strong man that can rock me all night long (2x). If you’re that man, honey, I might be willing to take you home... I got what you want, if you got what I need.”

The silky, bluesy ballad “My Kinda Man” features Thames appreciating her plain man: “May not be the finest thing alive, but he’s everything I’ve ever dreamed. A good country boy, loves his mama, takes good care of me…He may not smoke what you smoke, but when we make love, my baby ain’t no joke, cuz he’s my man.” On the dark “No Turning Back,” she pleads “…What’s a girl like me gotta do to be free and get on the right track. I’m a’get over you, I’m a’get past blue. Lord know it’s true, yeah it’s a fact. There’s no turning back.” The Memphis soul ballad “Can You Let Somebody Else Be Strong” spotlights her emotionally soothing chops with “You’ve always been the hard one that comes through in the long run…But, everybody now and then needs a little help…Ain’t a sign of weakness.”

Defiant on the funky “I’Ma Make It,” Thames sasses with “The man I got now, treat me so good, love me, oh, like a real man should. He kiss me better than you, his mojo better, too...” Fearlessly, she grabs the dramatic heavy blues of Ray Charles’ “I Believe to My Soul” and makes it her own, alternately purring and growling “Last night, you were sleeping, overheard you say, ‘Oh sweetheart,’ when you know my name is J.J.” The pulsing Memphis R&B of “Just Enough” has Thames regretful: “Found me somebody else, started gettin’ it on. Thought I was over you, baby, oh I was so wrong, so wrong. Cuz last night you laid your love on me so strong. You gave me just enough to keep me holdin’ on (3x)” inflamed by a searing Danny Scallions solo.

In “Rhinestones” Thames convincingly uses metaphors like “How am I gonna look good when I feel this cheap. If I’m only second best, who’s gonna want me. How am I supposed to smile when all I feel is tears. Am I foolin’ anybody or am I the fool in here…those are questions for rhinestones, they always know how to shine like diamonds and glitter like gold.” The wistful autobiographical title track closes with Thames’ unshakable conviction: “Moved down to Mississippi, took a’hold of my roots. Hopped a bus to Motown, got me some of those factory worker, blue collar blues, yes I did. Over to New York City, in the subways singin’ my song. Y’all might think I’m only worth quarters now, but I know, I know it won’t be long.”

A blazing talent like J.J. Thames comes around as rarely as a comet. Combined with her passion, street smarts and lust for life, the result is a rising star of the first magnitude.

Tell You What I Know