On her own feet.
How long will Michelle White have to ‘yes’ when introducing herself in answer to the question if she is the daughter of…..? After “Butterscotch”(a.ka. ‘Memphis’) this is Tony Joe’s daughter’s second, which is only successful in France for the time being. Not such strange guys, these Gauls, because Belgian blues divas Beverly Jo Scott and Axelle Red have also been popular there for a longer period already.
White’s twelve new songs will certainly increase her popularity there, because she combines lazily swinging rhythm ’n blues with intimate ballads. Her band of local musicians creates a rootsy sound for this White too, starting with a creaking needle in a record groove, thus winking to analog days.
The CD reflects that, because it was recorded in three days in the parental home with father Tony as guitarist/creator of atmosphere and brother Jody behind the controls. There White and her band played those typically Southern, lazy rhythms that pair seeming simplicity with effectivity. According to digital standards Jack Bruno drums very loosely indeed, but that way he leaves room for acoustic bass player Joey Zimmerman, who fills up those holes grunting eagerly. Ollie Marland’s keys, poppa White’s guitar and Gary Myrick’s slide soar over them, while a percussionist and two horns men appear regularly.
On those wall-to-wall grooves Michelle White pulls and bends her words towards herself both in the uptempo songs and in the ballads, from the funky Take Me Down to the encore: the moving love song Josephine, dedicated to her daughter. Now all she needs is applause.
***1/2
Published on www.popmagazineheaven.nl together with Heaven no. 42 , May-June 2006, no. 3