Music review: Elise LeGrow – 鈥楶laying Chess鈥�
I love it when I run across a new album that makes me smile because it was something I simply wasn鈥檛 expecting to hear.
With Elise LeGrow鈥檚 鈥淧laying Chess,鈥� I was prepared for bouncy pop and got a sophisticated shot of smooth R&B and jazz carefully poured over 11 classic arrangements.
On her debut release, LeGrow reimagines vintage tracks from the catalog of Chicago鈥檚 Chess Records. I鈥檝e heard many covers of these songs before, but the Canadian singer鈥檚 intoxicating vocals and willingness to go off script make for a memorable album.
LeGrow had me right from the start with her sultry and powerful version of Bo Diddley鈥檚 鈥淲ho Do You Love.鈥� I really dig earlier versions of the tune performed by Ronnie Hawkins in 1963 and the 1978 offering by George Thorogood and the Destroyers from 鈥淢ove It on Over.鈥� LeGrow鈥檚 opening cover is unrecognizable through the first few notes that slowly develop into an innocent funk groove until LeGrow eases in and lays the message down with a cool and calculating style. When she sings, 鈥淭ake it easy boy, don鈥檛 give me no lip,鈥� it is understood the 30-year-old Toronto native means business.
Things just keep getting better as LeGrow elegantly masters Chuck Berry鈥檚 鈥淵ou Never Can Tell,鈥� slowing down the tempo to a charming crawl and making young love sound so cool and effortless. I鈥檝e always held a fondness for the 1976 version by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, but LeGrow鈥檚 interpretation lifts the tune to another level.
LeGrow takes the Johnnie and Joe 1957 hit 鈥淥ver the Mountain, Across the Sea鈥� and gently turns it into a flowing and soulful tribute to the pure power of love.
鈥淩escue Me鈥� sheds its Motown stylings first infused by Fontella Bass in 1965 as LeGrow contributes a dreamy dose of R&B to the classic number that makes for an invitation that can鈥檛 be refused.
With 鈥淧laying Chess,鈥� LeGrow magically makes old things seem new once again and demonstrates she鈥檚 a rising star in the making.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.