Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - You Know You Love It (2010)

Teresa James is a very talented singer and pianist whose choices in blues-based music and especially sidemen for this recording are immaculate. Blessed with a powerful and flexible voice, James rips through this upbeat set of original tunes primarily written by her bassist Terry Wilson. Recorded in California, James and her crew take Southern-style blues to heart, reflecting the steamy, cooking values of New Orleans-to-Memphis music with an occasional horn complement, a little good old rock & roll, and soul. James is not so much a temptress as a good-time gal, belting out funk like "She Don't Mess with His Buzz," rocking out the title track, or digging into pure, slow swamp blues as on "You Got Me Where It Hurts." No two tunes are alike, and James and her Rhythm Tramps explore old time pop/rock, accordion-driven boogaloo, voodoo-distorted underground sounds, a gospel ballad, and even honky tonk. It's hard to say what she's best at, because she does it all with the ease and clarity of a seasoned pro. Her working band, led by Wilson, is solid, but she adds on all-stars like pianists Jon Cleary or Steve Moos, legendary organists Mike Finnegan or John "Rabbit" Bundrick, and drummer Tony Braunagel to the fray. Teresa James also plays a very competent piano, the Wurlitzer, or spinet upright on just about every track. This recording is something of a sleeper for those nationwide who don't know about Teresa James but who should get hip to her right quick.