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CARRIE SMITH Confessin' The Blues (Evidence) This impressive blues compilation from 1993 contains some Carrie's best output from her albums that were released on the 'Black And Blue' label. The jazz musicians that were on these sessions were World class i.e. Doc Cheatham, George Kelly, Budd Johnson, Vic Dickenson, Billy Butler, Hank Jones, Sir Charles Thompson, Panama Francis et al. The album opens with the title track that is Jay McShann's classic 'Confessin The Blues' and this has to be the best rendition I've ever heard. 'Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean) is almost a tribute to Ruth Brown. Apart from Nina Simone, Carrie is the only other singer I like singing 'Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out'. On Revival Day' is Southern Gospel complete with clapping. McFarland's 'Wont be Long' really jumps along. Carrie takes 'I Want A Little Girl' and turns this into her own 'I Want A Little Boy'. My favourite version of 'Trouble In Mind' is performed by King Curtis, whereas Carrie sings it with so much conviction. Carrie sings in the swinging style that is reminiscent of Louis Jordan and Johnny Adams during 'Saint Louis Blues'. Lil' Green's 'In The Dark' is pure blues. 'Ill Wind' brings to mind Billie Holiday, and is a more gentle arrangement. Big Bill Broonzy's 'When I've Been Drinkin' brings to mind the great Bessie Smith. 'Deed I Do' and Do Your Duty' are both delightfully jazzy. 'Careless Love' is blues-jazz and is so Mahalia Jackson. The album finishes with a jazz-blues swinger 'Everybody Loves My Baby'. I don't think you can find any of Carrie's other albums around these days, and so if you want a great selection of standards then this is the one. Carrie is a jazz singer, singing the blues with jazz backing, in blues time. Hope you understood that.Gazz Click on album image to see larger album cover 
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