The week begins full force with John Coltrane from 1963 in Stuttgart, we follow up with new music from Betty Wright backed by The Roots, and conclude with 14 versions of "Felcidade" featuring Tom Jobim with Astrud Gilberto, Tania Maria, Juju Duarte, Gal Costa, Antonio Serrano and Jose Reinoso, Cris Deanno, Martinho da Villa, Maria Creuza, Baden Powell, César Camargo Mariano, Miucha, Nara Leao, Group Som Brasil, and Maria Bethania.
I have a lot to say about new music from Betty Wright but only need a little space to say it. Bessie Regina Norris was born December 21, 1953 in Miami, Florida. She was popular R&B artist of the seventies who continues to be a force on the modern music scene in this new millennium. Not only are many of her songs sampled in modern music, she is often employed for behind the scenes vocal work, vocal coaching, and vocal arranging. Appearances on her new album by rappers Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg are based in part on her previous work with these and other popular rappers.
Ms. Wright had not released any commercial albums in ten years and then she, or someone, comes up with the brilliant idea of a new record with The Roots. Well, Ms. Betty acts like she been waiting on this for years.
Due to a number of factors, even as this album revels in a classic soul sound, there is nary a whiff of forced nostalgia. First of all there is the studio production that is fully contemporary even though style-wise it’s based on an earlier era. Second, there are the guest appearances, which except for Lenny Williams, are by youngsters in comparison to Betty Wright. Third, Betty Wright has taken care of herself physically; she’s almost sixty and still hitting the high notes and rocking your libido with her low growls. But fourth, and most importantly of all, Betty Wright is still writing real songs, offering real talk about real situations.
Addressing the mundane situations and enduring aspirations of working class black women has always been her strong suit and for this album she has a hand full of aces. This is Mama Betty Wright laying down experience-based advice and observations with all the wit and candor characteristic of a veteran of life. Moreover, she never over-sings, never tries to show us vocal tricks and acrobatics to prove that she still has her youthful range. No, instead, Betty just sincerely sings from the heart and in so doing, Betty captures both our attention and our love.
—kalamu ya salaam