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Music News Irma Thomas's Simply Grand Due August 12 Tuesday, May 13, 2008 GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDE DR. JOHN, NORAH JONES, ELLIS MARSALIS, RANDY NEWMAN AND OTHERS
On August 12, Rounder Records will proudly release Simply Grand, the label’s 10th album from the Grammy Award winning R&B legend Irma Thomas.
The concept for the album was simple: bring Thomas together with a group of soul mate pianists and perform songs that find common ground in each pairing.
Recorded earlier this year in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New York with longtime producer and Rounder VP of A&R Scott Billington, Simply Grand matches Thomas with renowned pianists Marcia Ball, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, Davell Crawford, Dr. John, David Egan, Norah Jones, Ellis Marsalis, Tom McDermott, John Medeski, Randy Newman, and David Torkanowsky.
Billington calls the album, “… the most ambitious project that Irma and I have yet undertaken, but we had a ball at every stop along with way. At each of the twelve recording sessions, the musicians were clearly thrilled to be recording with this legendary and ever reaching artist, who is singing today at the peak of her expressive and vocal powers.”
The album opens with a version of the recent John Fogerty song, 'River Is Waiting' with New Orleans virtuoso Henry Butler on the piano bench.
Versatile pianist David Torkanowsky, who has participated in many of Thomas’ sessions, collaborates with her on two new songs, including 'What Can I Do,' written by Burt Bacharach and Steve Krikorian.
In 1959, New Orleans icon Dr. John played guitar on Thomas’ very first recording, 'You Can Have My Husband (But Please Don’t Mess With My Man).' He reunites with her here for two vocal and piano duets including 'Be You,' a previously unrecorded song he co-wrote with the legendary American tunesmith Doc Pomus.
Ellis Marsalis joins Thomas on the jazz standard 'This Bitter Earth,' while she and Randy Newman create a new version of Newman’s classic song 'I Think It’s Going to Rain Today.' Norah Jones accompanies Thomas on Jones’ hit song 'Thinking About You.'
Simply Grand Track Listing:
1. River Is Waiting (with Henry Butler)
2. If I Had Any Sense I’d Go Back Home (with Dr. John)
3. Too Much Thinking (with Jon Cleary)
4. Early in the Morning (with Tom McDermott)
5. What Can I Do (with David Torkanowsky)
6. Underground Stream (with David Egan)
7. Thinking About You (with Norah Jones)
8. Be You (with Dr. John)
9. This Bitter Earth (with Ellis Marsalis)
10. Cold Rain (with David Torkanowsky)
11. Somebody Told You (with John Medeski)
12. Overrated (with Davell Crawford)
13. Same Old Blues (with Marcia Ball)
14. I Think It’s Going to Rain Today (with Randy Newman)
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