Music review: Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa – 鈥楤lack Coffee鈥�
Reunited, and it feels so good as California soul collides with New York cool.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Beth Hart and blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa team up once more for yet another engaging offering of soul music with a rock punch. 鈥淏lack Coffee鈥� finds Hart and Bonamassa adding their own signature style to stirring arrangements previously performed by a number of notable artists. The latest release is the dynamic duo鈥檚 third studio album following 2011鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 Explain鈥� and 2013鈥檚 鈥淪eesaw.鈥�
Edgar Winter鈥檚 鈥淕ive It Everything You Got鈥� opens the festivities and captures the fiery mood of the material to come as Hart declares, 鈥淣o use holdin鈥� back/Go ahead and get in the act/You ain鈥檛 in till you tried it/Put your whole body inside it.鈥� A vibrant horn section knocks out a surging power groove as Bonamassa鈥檚 scorching guitar licks encourage and fuel Hart鈥檚 Janis Joplinesque vocals.
Hart commands your complete attention once again on a smoldering cover of 鈥淒amn Your Eyes,鈥� earlier recorded by Etta James in 1988. Confidence, defiance and surrender are tightly wrapped and delivered with a charismatic fervor that strategically leaves its mark.
鈥淟ullaby of the Leaves,鈥� recorded by Ella Fitzgerald the year I was born, is masterfully handled through Hart鈥檚 absorbing performance as Bonamassa鈥檚 inspired guitar solo is a slow burn that transforms the sophisticated ballad into a simmering rock drama.
The sweet sound of a gospel revival is witnessed on a rousing cover of 鈥淪aved.鈥� Recorded by iconic singers like LaVern Baker, Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, Hart is more than convincing as a sinner-turned-saint with a vigorous testimony that commands a hearty hallelujah!
For me, the highlight of the set comes on the title track. 鈥淏lack Coffee鈥� possesses the raw emotion delivered by Ike and Tina Turner on their 1972鈥檚 鈥淔eel Good鈥� blended with the in-your-face rock appeal offered by Steve Marriott and Humble Pie back in 1973. It鈥檚 an electrifying combination of rock and soul that provides a jolt stronger than any amount of coffee could ever deliver at one sitting.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.