Search - Michelle Willson :: Evil Gal Blues

On her debut album, "Evil Gal Blues," Willson takes on the early-'50s R&B repertoire of Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, and LaVern Baker and makes it her own with a voice as expressive as it is overpowering. On an uptempo number like Baker's "Voodoo Voodoo," Willson manages to maintain a laughing, purring tone even as she spits out syllables like machine gun fire. On the ballad standard, "At Last," Willson stretches out notes in long resonant trills which reflect her joy at finding love at long last. She joins Sugar Ray Norcia in a duet on "You Got What It Takes," which updates the flirty give-and-take of the 1960 hit by Washington and Brook Benton. The Evil Gal band backs her up throughout the album with horn harmonies and crisp swing worthy of their mentors in Roomful of Blues. Guests include producer Ron Levy on organ and legendary Atlantic Records pianist Harry Van Walls. --Geoffrey Himes