| "Beautiful" new album
Bonnie rejoins some old "Southern" colleaugues for a great new album, "Beautiful", released on Valentine's Day for digital download from Rockin' Camel Music. Bonnie was thrilled to invite daughter Bekka to join in on harmony vocals, as well as musical stalwarts like Scott Boyer (guitar and vocals), Tommy Talton (guitar), Randall Bramlett (keybouards, sax and vocals), Bill Stewart (drums), and Muscle Shoals all-stars David Hood (bass), Clayton Ivey and Spooner Oldham (Hammond B-3 organ). Further contributions come from Kelvin Holly and James Pennebaker (guitar), Kevin McKendree (keyboard) and Lynn Williams (drums). Producer Johnny Sandlin produced two of Bonnie's classic Capricorn records , "It's Time" (1975) and "Lady's Choice" (1976). On March 12, Bonnie will help launch the release of "Beautiful" at a showcase during the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, as well as appearing on the Panel as a representative of music during the five day festival.
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered" Bonnie sings "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" as a duet with Charlie Daniels on his new "Deuces" CD, which is due out on October 9, 2007. This is a special pleasure, as Charlie is a long time friend and one of Bonnie's greatest supporters.
Scott
Boyer Benefit Concerts in Alabama, April 4 & 18, 2007 This interview was broadcast once again on Friday, April 6, 2007. Mr.
Groove unite with Bonnie Bramlett on
her new CD
Mr Groove
is:
See below for a selection of reviews of Bonnie's new CD
'The Guardian' - Film Reviews & News ST. PETERSBURG TIMES "Bonnie Bramlett is phenomenal as the crusty owner of a blues bar where the guys hang out; the role gives us several chances to hear her glorious singing." (St. Petersburg Times) PITTSBURG TRIBUNE-REVIEW "There's
a particularly affecting scene involving barmaid Bonnie Bramlett that
should have had her in awards contention." by Ed Blank,
Pittsburg
Tribute-Review, January 25, 2007
THE SHREVEPORT TIMES THE GUARDIAN premier and Bonnie Bramlett photo:
TONAWANDA NEWS REVIEWS: Crowd-pleasing
'Guardian’ far from all wet The action-packed, water-drenched, crowd-pleasing film stars Kevin Costner as Ben Randall, a veteran rescuer near the end of his Coast Guard career, and Aston Kutcher as Jake, the young Coast Guardsman to whom Ben may one day pass the torch. The men meet at the Coast Guard’s rescue school, where Ben reluctantly teaches classes after being grounded by injuries and age, and where Jake is a cocky, hot-shot swimming champion who is eager to wipe Ben’s rescue records off the wall. The beginning and end of “The Guardian” feature several riveting, well-staged rescues. We’re introduced to Ben as he valiantly saves storm victims in a riveting opening sequence. By the film’s end, Ben and Jake are together in the heaving water, again in an attempt to rescue folks in trouble. Director Andrew Davis (an action drama veteran, thanks to “The Fugitive” and “The Package”) brings intensity and reality to the scenes, though we’re given at least one too many rescue sequences. The overly long “Guardian” offers more than one ending; you’ll swear the credits were about to roll at least twice before they finally do. Meanwhile, the film’s vast middle portion will remind filmgoers of “An Officer and a Gentleman” and other boot-camp sagas, telling of young recruits trying to get through the rigors of an elite military program. Both actors are well cast. Costner projects the courage and determination of a life-long rescuer, along with the frustrations of not being able to sustain a family life, and with the encroachment of age and injury. And, as the seemingly arrogant student, Kutcher lets out just enough vulnerability for filmgoers to understand he’s an emotionally wounded young man who needs to mature. They’re ably supported by Melissa Sagemiller and Sela Ward as the women in Jake’s and Ben’s lives, and Brian Geraghty and Dule Hill as fellow students at the rescue school. Special kudos to Bonnie Bramlett, a legendary blues-rock performer of the ’60s and ’70s who appears here as a mother-confessor bartender and still-rockin’ saloon singer. Three stars out of four. THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Guardian — After losing his crew in a storm at sea, a Coast Guard rescuer (Kevin Costner) becomes an instructor and takes on an arrogant recruit (Ashton Kutcher). The latest in an endless line of mentorstudent training dramas was directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive). Singer Bonnie Bramlett pops up as an entertainer in the requisite off-duty club that everyone visits in the PG-13 adventure. THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SC Natasha Derrick ORLANDO SENTINEL ST. PETERSBURG TIMES An officer and
a 'Guardian' It's basically An Officer and a Gentleman, only wet. And cold. In Kevin Costner's comeback movie, The Guardian, there's a hotshot recruit in an elite military training program. He's arrogant and doesn't want to be a team player. The tough veteran officer dislikes him and tries to drive him out of the service with grueling physical punishment, but the two end up respecting and even liking each other. Meanwhile, the hotshot starts dating an attractive but hardened local woman. She doesn't want to get serious because she knows these trainees always leave as soon as they finish school. It's a pretty blatant ripoff of a plot that was formulaic to begin with. Still, thanks to appealing performances by Costner and Ashton Kutcher - and a lot of rousing action scenes - The Guardian ends up being satisfying but disposable entertainment. Here Costner is Ben Randall, a superstar Coast Guard rescue swimmer. These are the people who drop from helicopters in cold, stormy seas (the setting is Alaska) to help people who have been thrown off boats and ships. After a tragedy he is powerless to avoid, Randall, aging but still effective, is assigned to train new recruits, including Jake Fischer (Kutcher), a champion high school swimmer. Fischer is brash and cares more about breaking Randall's records than saving lives. Randall has no patience with Fischer's ego. Meanwhile, (surprise!) Randall's marriage is on the rocks because he cares more about strangers in distress than his wife, and Fischer is driven by a dark secret. The story is punctuated with a palpable sense of the harrowing rescues. These guys drop into seas with waves so high that huge ships are tossed about. They enter burning, sinking ships to rescue trapped sailors. Those scenes are exciting, but they're all kind of the same, with churning seas and driving nighttime storms. And we never really get a sense of what drives people to take such unpleasant and dangerous work (other than the too-facile revelation of Fischer's secret). There are lots of peripheral roles, and all the actors are quite engaging. Bonnie Bramlett is phenomenal as the crusty owner of a blues bar where the guys hang out; the role gives us several chances to hear her glorious singing. (Baby boomers may remember Bramlett as the co-leader of Delaney and Bonnie and Friends, an R&B band that included Eric Clapton.) So, for the first
two hours, there's enough artistry to assuage the triteness. But then,
in the last few minutes, things crumble. The climax is clumsily telegraphed,
and the denouement is as hokey as anything you've ever seen in a major
movie. It leaves a serious scar on an otherwise solid action flick. For more information in The Guardian, see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406816/ CD Review: Gift
guide: Jazz http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/514798.html BONNIE BRAMLETT AND THE MR. GROOVE BAND, "ROOTS, BLUES & JAZZ" (ZOHO) Bramlett (of Delaney & Bonnie fame) has a magnetic presence and powerful voice that commands each of the idioms of the title. Saxophonist and flutist Tim Gordon from Charlotte is aboard as part of the Mr. Groove Band, a group that lives up to its name. Put on your dancing shoes.
November 19, 2006 CD Review: review of the Bonnie Bramlett disc is in the 11.15.06 issue of Chicago Free Press http://chicagofreepress.com/freestyle/music/index.html Like Nilsson, Bonnie Bramlett began her recording career in the late 1960s, recording with her husband Delaney as the duo Delaney and Bonnie. Also, like Nilsson, the pair had some hits in the early 1970s including “Never Ending Song of Love” and “Only You Know and I Know.” Bramlett, who can also be seen in the new Ashton Kutcher/Kevin Costner movie “The Guardian,” gained a whole new generation of fans when she played waitress Bonnie, a co-worker of Roseanne Barr’s on her hit 1990s TV series “Roseanne.” Bramlett even sang on the show. Still singing up a storm on her new album “Roots, Blues & Jazz” (Zoho), Bramlett lends her powerful voice to tunes by Stephen Stills, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and others, as well as a trio of original co-compositions.
November 19, 2006 Bonnie Bramlett
- Roots, Blues and Jazz Those under thirty might not remember how influential she and her then-husband Delaney Bramlett were back in the late '60's and early '70's. Right in the music mix with the biggest English rock stars like Clapton, Joe Cocker and Traffic, Delaney and Bonnie helped organize one of the biggest rock tours of their day and also released several great albums that ended up being FM staples for many years. Eventually, their musical and personal union broke up and the two went their separate ways. While both stayed in music for a time, eventually both faded from view, the sum of their parts apparently greater than the two of them individually. After a few acting stints, most notably as a frequent guest star on the Roseanne sitcom, and more than thirty years after her heyday, Bonnie Bramlett is back to prove she hasn't lost one teeny bit of her vocal power and also to remind everyone in this Pro-tools, auto-tuned world that there's still some vocalists who can still sing, dammit. Together with her band, a fresh crew of Southern soul upstarts who probably weren't even born when Bramlett was first on the charts, Bramlett seeks to reclaim her soul diva crown from the current crop of neo-soul (how about neo-suck?) youngsters who try to sing pure soul music but can't quite seem to get the job done like the veteran From blues to ballads to uptempo soul-funk, this album has a little bit of everything Bramlett does well. Despite her age her vocal powers are still as supple as ever and her phrasing is sublime as well. I may be going out on a limb but maybe everything she has done in the past, including her almost thirty-year hibernation out of the public eye, was all in preparation of this fine album. She sure sings as if she has had tons of emotion bottled up in her for a long time and does it with a joy that is infectious. She seems to be having as much fun singing as I am having listening to her songs. Acquiring her early records long after she had exited stage right, this set reminds me why I had loved those so much. Those who appreciate true soul music sung and performed by artists who know how to do it right will no doubt love this album. Fans of '70's rock music who have wondered what happened to one of the great vocalists of the period will welcome this album as well. Hopefully this is just the beginning of another long chapter in Bramlett's career. Either way, this album is a thrilling tour de force and one that I am sure will be staying in my CD changer for many weeks to come.
June 27, 2006 CD Review http://richardlivsey.com/stereo.html "Bonnie Bramlett didn't invent blue eyed soul, but nobody and I mean nobody does it better," says Charlie Daniels on the jacket of her new album: Bonnie Bramlett and Mr. Groove Band - Roots, Blues & Jazz. Bramlett's new
record is primarily a collection of covers songs from some classic
hits. The album opens with "Love The One You're With" and moves onto
Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place To Go" "A Change is Gonna Richard
Livsey
June 22, 2006 Bonnie Bramlett: Forty Years On Fire By C. Michael Bailey Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett were a key building block in popular music development in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between their 1969 debut album Home and D&B Together, made shortly before their divorce in 1972, the couple prepared the ground for blue-eyed soul acts like Steve Miller, Steve Winwood, Boz Scaggs, Hall & Oates and George Michael. Despite their seminal importance, Delaney & Bonnie are remembered today more for their session and touring work with other musicians--Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Duane Allman, Bobby Keyes, and the ubiquitous rhythm section of Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon--than for the string of fine albums they made under their own names. Once divorced, Bonnie Bramlett, retaining her married name, went on to make several notable solo recordings, including It’s Time, Lady’s Choice and the recent I’m Still The Same. Today, fortune smiles with the re-release of Delaney & Bonnie’s Home and the release of Bonnie Bramlett’s newly recorded Roots, Blues & Jazz. Rarely can a 40 year (and counting) career have been so magnificently book-ended. Delaney &
Bonnie Delaney Bramlett and Bonnie Lynn O’Farrell married in 1967 following a whirlwind courtship. Bramlett was an up and coming guitar player, born in Ponatoc, Mississippi, while Illinois-bred O’Farrell had gained attention as the first Caucasian Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also associated with Stephen Stills and the Allman Brothers Band. In 1968, Delaney & Bonnie joined the Stax family, whose aristocracy included Booker T. and the MGs, Isaac Hayes, William Bell, The Staples Singers, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave and John Lee Hooker. Home was recorded between February 27, 1968 and July 2, 1969 at the Stax Studios in Memphis and the Skyhill Studios in Hollywood. The album was released in late 1969 with very little fanfare, but it was, and remains, a fine recording. Part of the problem was the competition--as well as Home listeners were being invited to buy great albums like Solomon Burke’s Proud Mary, Wilson Pickett’s Hey Jude, Aretha Franklin’s Soul ‘69, Carla Thomas’s The Queen Alone and Dusty Springfield’s landmark Dusty In Memphis. Those albums took no prisoners. Home brims with vintage Stax-fueled R&B and soul music, topped with Bonnie Bramlett’s soulful voice--rivalled in potency only by Dusty Springfield's--and Delaney Bramlett’s strong guitar playing. The arrangements, for both the rhythm and horn sections, are more complex and challenging than those on many contemporary albums, and listening to Home remains a very refreshing experience. Southern soul references were used throughout the album. The “Things Get Better” introduction rings of the famous intro to Otis Redding’s “Respect,” but the song remains compelling despite that. At the heart of the set is Bonnie Bramlett’s near-gospel performance of “Piece Of My Heart.” Recorded first by Aretha Franklin’s sister Erma in May 1968, and more or less contemporaneously by Janis Joplin in a particularly torrid version, the song is here transformed into a hymn of love. After Home, Hall & Oates and their peers were simply inevitable. Bonnie Bramlett
Fast forwarding to 2006, and the release of Roots, Blues And Jazz, it's good to find Bonnie Bramlett still cooking and soul stirring. Recording with the Mr. Groove Band, a funky, Hammond-organ flavoured sextet, she goes hard on the roots and blues, and blows a kiss in the direction of jazz. Bramlett opens with a hard funk interpretation of Stephen Still’s classic anthem “Love The One You’re With.” This is no lame performance, and the superb recording pulls all instruments to the front with crisp separation. Bramlett’s voice is not the same youthful instrument found on Home--it's now deepened and distinguished by experience, much as Nina Simone’s voice changed as she aged. Bramlett makes Chuck Berry’s “No Particular Place To Go” playful, and “I’m Confessin’ That I Love You” vulnerable. A major highlight of the album is the performance of Joe Zawinul’s funk-gospel masterpiece “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” Bramlett cuts loose and mows down everything in her path. Pianist Steve Willets and guitarist Roddy Smith light a fire fanned into an inferno by saxophonist Tim Gordon. It's an inspired vocal interpretation of an instrumental classic, and 3:45 minutes of pure listening heaven. Bramlett follows with committed versions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Nate Adderley’s “Work Song.” Roots, Blues and Jazz is a breathtakingly fine recording, and bound for my end-of-the-year list for sure. Tracks and Personnel Home Tracks: A Long Road Ahead; My Baby Specializes; Things Get Better; We Can Love; All We Really Want To Do; It's Been A Long Time Coming; Just Plain Beautiful; Everybody Loves A Winner; Look What We Have Found; Piece Of My Heart; A Right Now Love; I've Just Been Feeling Bad; Dirty Old Man; Get Ourselves Together; Pour Your Love On Me; Hard To Say Goodbye. Personnel: William Bell: vocals; Bonnie Bramlett: vocals; Delaney Bramlett: guitar, vocals; Steve Cropper: guitar; Donald “Duck” Dunn: bass; Eddie Floyd: vocals; Isaac Hayes: vocals; Al Jackson, Jr.: drums; Booker T. Jones: keyboards; Bobby Whitlock: keyboards, vocals. Roots, Blues and Jazz Tracks: Love The
One You're With; I Can Laugh About It Now; No Particular Place To Go;
I'm Confessin'; Gotcha; That Lucky Old Sun; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; A Change
Is Gonna Come; Carefee; Work Song; Love Hurts; Harlem Nocturne. June 19, 2006 Rockin’ Camel Productions and 2nd Street Music Hall announces a “Southern Rock and Soul Extravaganza” June 23 and June 24 at Gadsden’s Historic Amphitheatre. Friday June
23 Saturday
June 24 Members of the Capricorn Rhythm Section are truly the nucleus of Southern Rock. They have produced, written or played on music that has generated 20 gold and 9 platinum selling albums. Throw in guest vocalist Bonnie Bramlett and you have an audio overload. Bass player and legendary producer Johnny Sandlin has produced albums for the Allman Brothers, Wet Willie and Widespread Panic among others. B-3 organ and keyboard player Paul Hornsby, former bandmate of Sandlin in the pre-Allman Brother's band, Hour Glass, has produced records for The Marshall Tucker Band , The Charlie Daniels Band and Wet Willie. Acoustic and rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist Scott Boyer has written songs recorded by Gregg Allman, Bonnie Bramlett and “Please Be with Me,” recorded by Eric Clapton . He co-founded the band Cowboy with fellow band-mate slide-guitarist Tommy Talton who has recorded with Gregg Allman, Martin Mull, Clarence Carter and Bonnie Bramlett. Bill Stewart, Capricorn Records session drummer played on Gregg Allman's 'Laid Back' featuring the southern rock anthem "Midnight Rider." Stewart has recorded with and/ or toured extensively with Gregg Allman, Cher, Dr. John, Delbert McClinton, Randy Newman, Jimmy Hall, Roy Buchannan, Chuck Leavell, and the Allman Brothers Band. The original Capricorn Rhythm Section comes together again to play some of the classic music they helped create and some new music of their own. The sheer musicianship assembled is enough to cause any music enthusiast to drool. Don’t miss this musical extravaganza featuring unbelievable acts at an unbelievable price; just $15 per night or $25 for both, less than it costs to put a cat to sleep. Get your tickets early at 2nd Street Music Hall 208 South 2nd Street or at the Messenger ????Broad St. May 18, 2006 The American Cancer Society's Third Annual Pasco County Cattle Barons’ Ball, June 3rd at Lange Farm What Why Where When Cost Who May 10, 2006 Media Alert:
Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 CD Review O's Place Jazz Newsletter Performance: 4 O's Notes: Bonnie is a Rock & Blues singer. Her delivery includes shouts, pleas and screams from her smoky, sometimes-raspy tones. The intensity is high with lots of drive. She had good training as one of the first Ikettes with Ike & Tina Turner. Her band, Mr. Groove, is razor sharp and the twelve well-selected songs make for an entertaining session. D. Oscar Groomes
May 9, 2006
Bonnie is featured in the new release How Do You Know He’s Real: Celebrity Reflections on True Life Experiences with God by Amy Hammond Hagberg (Destiny Image, 2006). The book contains 34 real-life stories about celebrities who know God is real because of their personal relationship with Him. For more information go to http://www.hesreal.com/. May 7, 2006 Bonnie Bramlett
and Mr. Groove Band   Our close friend Phil Walden founder of Capricorn Records passed away on April 24, 2006 Our deepest sympathy to all his family and friends.
April 21, 2006 Media Alert:
Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 CD Review: Chicago Sun-Times April 16, 2006 Bonnie Bramlett
and Mr. Groove Band, "Roots, Blues & Jazz" (Zoho Roots) *** April 17, 2006
April 10, 2006
March 27, 2006 http://www.nybluesandjazz.org/reviews/bbramlet.htm ROOM WITH A
VIEW Bonnie Bramlett
And Mr. Groove Band On February 14, 2004 I caught Bonnie Bramlett at BB Kings's with her band Mr. Groove, they were touring in support of her then new album "I'm Still The Same". The long awaited follow up album went on sale today "Bonnie Bramlett and Mr Groove Band: Roots, Blues & Jazz". Bonnie always considered a formidable roots rock singer has blossomed into one of the strongest blues voices around and her interpretations of Jazz standards have elevated her even further. She is a now a triple threat and needs to be seen live as she was getting standing ovations at the end of every song during that performance. Few singers can bring one to tears as easily as Bonnie for she has really triumphed in a career that has seen its ups and downs. As one half of Delanie and Bonnie, Eric Clapton joined her and they recorded "Delaney & Bonnie & Friends". Here she is reunited with two other former Ikettes (yes she was One of Ike and Tina's girls) who provide background vocals to Bonnie's lead, Robbie Montgomery and Jesse Lucas. Once again her band Mr. Groove is lead by brothers Tim Smith, bass; and Roddy Smith, guitar; also Steve Willets, piano; Mark Stallings, Hammond organ; Tim Gordon, saxes and flute; and Donnie Marshall, drums and percussion. The album opens with a groovier version of the Steven Stills tune "Love The One You're With" and immediately the stage is set for something old and something new. The new version is just the start to this exciting album. Other reworked classic rock tunes include Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place to Go", Sam Cooke's "A Change is Going to Come", "Mercy, Mercy" and "Love Hurts". Bonnie and Mr Groove explore Jazz standards "I'm Confessin", "That Lucky Old Sun", "Work Song", and "Harlem Nocturne". Bonnie contributes three of her own songs and shows us that her songwriting skills ("Let It Rain"; "Superstar"), haven't diminished. "I Can Laugh About It Now" hits the nail on the head as also does "Gotcha" and Carefree". This is the comeback album that we have been waiting for and it will finally put Bonnie Bramlett back on top where she belongs. Richard
Ludmerer March 17, 2006 Media Alert:
March 12, 2006 Greenwhich Village Gazzette Review March 12, 2006 Media Alert: Bonnie
Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 View the CD Review here: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20980 Roots, Blues &
Jazz Bonnie Bramlett is back. She is best remembered for the music she made during the sixties and the early seventies with her husband Delaney. Their brand of the blues was good enough for them to open for Blind Faith and draw the likes of Dave Mason, Leon Russell and Eric Clapton to play with them. Times changed, the marriage ended, Clapton moved on and Bramlett went on to a solo career and later into acting. Bramlett can still
sing the blues with passion, adding an occasional growl for effect. She
comes off the strongest when she shapes a song to her own image. She makes
a particularly compelling statement on Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna
Come,” even though there is a rasp when she hits the high notes. Yes, her
voice has changed, but that is to be expected with the passage of time.
But there can be no denying she still has passion, which she shows much of
the time. She misses out on the core of the jazz song “I’m Confessin’,”
but she does turn the country tune “That Lucky Old Sun” into a
jazz-inflected song with phrasing reminiscent of Louis Armstrong. There’s
no harm in that, is there? And she certainly knows what to do when she has
“No Particular Place to Go,” slowing the piece down and giving it an
earthy sensuality. Track Listing: Love the One You’re With; I Can Laugh About it Now; No Particular Place to Go; I’m Confessin’; Gotcha; That Lucky Old Sun; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; A Change is Gonna Come; Carefree; Work Song; Love Hurts; Harlem Nocturne. Personnel: Bonnie Bramlett; lead and background vocals; Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Lucas, Bekka Bramlett, Chip Davis, Margie Cates, Calaway: background vocals; Mr Groove Band: Tim Smith: bass; Roddy Smith: bass; Steve Willets: piano & background vocals; Mark Stallings: Hammond organ; Tim Gordon: saxes & flute; Donnie Marshall: drums & percussion;Special guests: Bobby Ogdin: keyboards; Dann Sherrill: percussion. March 10, 2006 CAPRICORN RHYTHM SECTION Never heard of them? How about Capricorn Records? You remember Duane Allman, The Allman Brothers Band, Dickie (Richard) Betts, The Marshall Tucker Band, Bonnie Bramlett, Wet Willie, Cowboy? CAPRICORN RHYTHM
SECTION AND BONNIE BRAMLETT Bonnie Bramlett
began her career as an "Ikette," making history as the first Caucasian
female to sing with Ike and Tina Turner. In the late sixties she formed
Bonnie and Delaney with her husband Delaney Bramlett. The group was
the first white act signed to Stax records and scored hits with "Never-ending
Song of Love" and "Only You Know and I Know." Bonnie and Delaney toured
with Eric Clapton and often collaborated with other Bonnie continued her musical career as a solo act after splitting from Delaney in the early 1970's, recording for both Columbia and Capricorn Records. She was backed by the Average White Band on her debut solo album Sweet Bonnie Bramlett. Bonnie is also an actress and had roles in films such as The Doors and the television series Roseanne. The Capricorn
Rhythm Section originally began as a group of in-house studio musicians
for Capricorn Records in the 1970's. Reformed and revamped, today's
Capricorn Rhythm Section is a group of close friends who are bringing
their personal jam sessions to select venues. The group includes performer
and producer Paul Hornsby, Bill Stewart, Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton
of the 1970's group Cowboy, and producer Johnny Nashville Station
will act as the concert venue. Doors open an hour before the 9:00 p.m.
concert. Nashville Station is a country and southern rock entertainment
facility for ages 18 and up and is located at 1015 Riverside Drive in
Macon. For more information on Nashville Station, contact (478) 743-4000
or visit Tickets can be
purchased at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Advanced tickets
are $25 each. Tickets will also be available the night of the performance
for $30. It is recommended to visit the museum's All tickets sold are general admission. To ensure premier seating, it is advised to have your ticket prior to the event night and arrive when doors open at 8 p.m. Ticket proceeds benefit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum, supporting educational programs and exhibit updates. Ticket sales are non-refundable. The Georgia Music
Hall of Fame and Museum is the state's official music museum. It proudly
preserves and celebrates the stories of Georgia musicians, songwriters,
and producers through innovative museum exhibits, educational programs,
and special events. For information on upcoming events, exhibits, and
other programming at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum please
contact Katie Roberts, Public Relations March 8, 2006 Media Alert: Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 (Street Date: March 14, 2006) CD Review: Review Courtesy AllAboutJazz.com http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20843 Roots, Blues &
Jazz Everything old is new again! Bonnie Bramlett, a soulful rock star from the late 1960s (Delaney & Bonnie & Friends) and the first white Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, never really went away. After contributing to some of the biggest rock/R&B/soul tunes, she turned to Christian music and in 2002 began a return to her soul roots via a series of new albums. Her latest work is on the Zoho label, most often associated with the downtown New York jazz scene. Bramlett seems to have all of the musical pieces in place to mount yet another comeback--and that includes her band, Mr. Groove, as well as background singers like her daughter, Bekka Bramlett, and a number of Ikettes who performed with her long ago. It seems to me that the title of this album ought to be shortened to Blues & Roots to more accurately reflect its contents. Although Bramlett still has a strong voice that is prone to raspiness when pushed on certain songs here, she seems to know how to craftily show a variety of vocal styles to keep her audience happy, and she seems at her best on the soulful Sam Cooke classic “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Songs like Chuck Berry's “No Particular Place To Go” and Stephen Stills' “Love the One You're With” present softer versions of the original that work in her favor. She treats the Joe Zawinul jazz classic “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” to the Johnny Watson-Larry Williams lyric, yielding another highlight. Bramlett's treatment of the tandard ”I'm Confessin',” done sotto voce, and also works, but on “That Lucky Old Sun” she strains to inject soulfulness into the song. I suppose that I would like to go back to this album once in a while to decide where it is going and how my reaction changes. The jazz references are minimal, and I'm more reminded on occasion of Etta James, when her voice was deteriorating. In the meantime, the album remains a well-packaged product that should find an audience. Track Listing: Love The One You're With; I Can Laugh About It Now; No Particular Place To Go; I'm Confessin'; Gotcha; That Lucky Old Sun; Mercy; Mercy; Mercy; A Change is Gonna Come; Carefree; Work Song; Love Hurts; Harlem Nocturne. Personnel: Bonnie Bramlett: vocals, background vocals; Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Lucas, Bekka Bramlett, Chip Davis, Margie Cates, Steve Willets Calloway: background vocal; Tim Smith: bass; Roddy Smith: guitar; Steve Willets: piano; Mark Stallings: Hammond organ; Tim Gordon: saxes, flute; Donnie Marshall: drums, percussion; Bobby Ogdin: keyboards; Dan Sherrill: percussion. All material copyright © 2006 All About Jazz and contributing writers. All rights reserved. February 25, 2006 Media Alert: Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 (Street Date: March 14, 2006) CD Review: Bonnie Bramlett review posted to "girlsingers.org."
Bonnie Bramlett
and Mr. Groove Band - Roots, Blues & Jazz (Zoho) First radio station I ever worked at was a clichéd 500-watt AM day-timer, outside of Detroit. In the summer of 1970, we played the hell out of "Soul Shake," by Delaney (Bramlett) and Bonnie, a husband-wife act. Every time I'd hear that - or the slightly bigger hit, "Never Ending Song of Love," I'd always wonder what happened to them. The real name was "Delaney and Bonnie and Friends." The "friends" included people like Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Dave Mason and that guitar fellow - what was his name? Oh, yeah. Clapton. The marriage and the group broke up in 1972. "Never Ending Song of Love" was the high point. My dog-eared Whitburn "Top Pop" guide says it peaked at number 13. The marriage produced one daughter, Bekka. I missed the "comeback" albums from the 70s. Never liked "Roseanne" in the 80s and 90s, so I never knew that Ms. Bramlett had a part in that. Frankly, I expected to be disappointed. I figured I'd listen to the disc, dig out "Never Ending Song of Love," play that, get nostalgic for a minute, jot off a "pass" note to the publicist, and be done with it. Things didn't turn out that way. First, the band. This is a top-notch Nashville group that has been together for some 20-odd years. There's a little bit of everything on this outing - jazz, blues, ballads, and some good old rock and roll. This band is more than up to the task. Ms. Bramlett lights this disc up right from the start, with a soaring, high-energy gospel cover of Steven Stills' "Love The One You're With." Tim Gordon's sax is the icing on the cake. "I'm confessin'" is my favorite from the standards bunch, although there's a sweetness to "That Lucky Old Sun" that had me playing it several times before going to the next track. "I Can Laugh About It Now" is original - penned by Ms. Bramlett and her daughter. "Gotcha" is another original that'll have you looking to rattle the windows. The third original (keep in mind that Ms. Bramlett co-wrote "Superstar" with Leon Russell) is "Carefree," with lyrics deeper than the breezy execution. "Harlem Nocturne" is the climax to Ms. Bramlett's voice and Mr. Gordon's sax. Push the "eject" button, and I swear - smoke will come out of the slot. This is Ms. Bramlett's comeback. Highly recommended, it's clear that this is a well-planned, well-executed, well-produced recording. This band (and Mr. Gordon's saxophone) might have been able to carry it with just about anyone. But this isn't just anyone. This is Bonnie Bramlett - alternately sweet, sassy, loud. First white Ikette, and oh, no - you cannot take the Ikette out of this woman. The record label fellow is quoted in the propaganda as saying, "...the tastes of many of Bonnie's fans from the 1970s have migrated from Rock to Jazz and Blues, as have Bonnie's." It seems nobody leaves this place without singing the blues. Thank goodness. Three and one-half microphones (out of four) February 16, 2006 Media Alert:
Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues, and Jazz Zoho Roots ZM 20060 CD Review will appear in an upcoming issue of All About Jazz LA Bonnie
Bramlett Some artists change with the times. Others simply refuse to grow. Praise God for the queen of "hazel eyed soul", Ms. Bonnie Bramlett, for sticking to her guns for all of these years. Making her name in the 70s with the bluesy/rock band Delaney and Bonnie, Ms. Bramlett has undeservedly dropped out of the public eye for ages until releasing this rousing disc that puts to shame every wanna be female rocker. There is nothing like a lady who roars like a female lion, and means it!!! Backed by a burning "Mr. Groove Band", Ms. Bramlett growls, shouts and wails with abandon only dreamed of by the present crop of youthful darlings. In complete contrast to todays whiney and whispering groaners, Bramlett lays down the law with authority on the soul jazz classic "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy". She takes Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" and breathes fire into this anthem. Even Chuck Berry's ironic 50's teenage anthem of angst, "No Particular Place To Go" is given a hilarious rendition, with a completely modernized and rearranged groove. With her world weary voice, Bramletts ode to enduring the turmoil of the 60s "I Can Laugh about it Now", leaves the listener wondering whether to applaude or console the winner of the attrition that betook her peers. This is the sound of a lady that has lived through it all, and sti has a smile on her face. Defiant, brash and brazen, Ms. Bramlett still has a few lessons to teach the innocents abroad and at home. This cd will clean out the clogs in your ears caused by synthetic sounds like a musical Drano. Bonnie Bramlett - Roots, Blues & Jazz - Zoho Roots ZM 20060 CD Review: Go to page top |
Bonnie
shares her gospel roots - see 
