Simply Grand (CD - 2008)

New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas tackles the duet-album concept with a difference on SIMPLY GRAND. The shockingly vibrant voice of the 67-year-old R&B belter is blissfully uncrowded by the presence of guest vocalists; instead, these duets find Thomas paired with a succession of famed pianists, including Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis, Norah Jones, and others. The novel concept works well throughout, but the most affecting moments are probably the sparse piano-and-vocal-only tracks Thomas recorded with Dr. John, where the subtleties of the veteran soul singer's rich sound can be most fully experienced. And if you think you've heard the definitive version of Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" before, you may reconsider upon catching Thomas and Newman's take on the melancholy marvel. minimize