I Ain't Doing Too Bad

Album review

At age 65, Irene Reid sounds quite good on I Ain't Doing Too Bad, her second comeback CD. Organist Charles Earland joins in with his group, trumpeter James Rotundi and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander solo with their usual marvelous aplomb, and guitarist Bob DeVos and drummer Greg Rockingham fill in the rhythmic cracks nicely. Reid's voice is an even mix of the cute sassiness of Helen Humes and the soulful fullness of Etta Jones. Her predilection, or even forte, leans toward groove-oriented versions of pop tunes, which Earland is also known for interpreting; the hard charging "What Now My Love?" and the eight-plus minute "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday" are perfect examples, Earland stretching the latter's bridge with his always burning or staggered phrase B-3 solo. Better choices include the Mose Allison warhorse "Your Mind Is on Vacation" and a clever blues waltz treatment of the Stevie Ray Vaughan-Doyle Bramhall tune that Johnny Adams did to death: "Walkin' on a Tightrope." Where Adams was smouldering, Reid is simply cool. "Sweet Lotus Blossom" features Alexander's ripe tenor, while Rotundi's shades background silhouettes during the ballad "All My Tomorrows." DeVos varies from steely lines for his solo on the title track, or goes Wes Montgomery for the regret filled, seemingly autobiographical "Once There Lived a Fool." Able to turn on a dime from hopeful to sorrowful, Reid is as convincing a singer as she is talented. Hopefully a few more chestnuts like this one will spring forth before she's done. Biggest regret: the CD is just short of 46-minutes in length.

© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo