CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM FROM iTUNES
Quotes from the critics:
"Her vocals are full and expressive, rich as a cup of dark coffee, and smooth as new asphalt road." - Vintage Guitar Magazine
"With an amiable retro sound, Cari Lee plays it cool and sassy - a curious sense of fun just lurking beneath her sophistication." - Miles Of Music
Cari Lee's voice is mesmerizing. The Contenders kick some serious traditional R&B booty. This is an award-worthy disc at every turn." - My Texas Music
"Cari Lee Merritt has made a big stylistic leap to early '50's r&b. The 11-song set reveals a smolderingly sexy side to the California-based songstress.
Reveling in postwar jump blues, Merritt channels the brassy styles of such classic chanters as Ella Mae Morse ("Fine Fine Man"), Koko Taylor ("I'm a Little Mixed Up") and Varetta Dillard ("Scorched"). Further, by combining the jazzy coolness of Anita O'Day ("Don't Be a Fool") with Eartha Kitt's purring sensuality ("How Come"), she creates a palpable aura of late-night liberation.
It's Ms. Merritt's ability to run the gamut from Marcia Ball-type r&b ("The Lover's Curse") and sassy cha-cha-flavored despair ("Burnt Toast and Black Coffee") to growling, insatiable rockabilly ("You Shock Me") that makes this disc so exciting. Drenched in atmosphere and daringly executed, this is her most inspired work to date." - Ken Burke, CST Magazine
About The Album:
"Cari Lee and The Contenders are living proof of the fact that the rug cuttin', bar-creepin', house-wailing, solid-sending music we know as R&B is indeed alive and well. Just listen to the sparks burstin' on the sax break to "Scorched," the collection's title opus. Groove on the easy jumpin' cool-jazz edged feel to "How come". Bend your ears to the killer hot-wired guitar strikes in the tortured "I'm a little mixed up" or the torchy speak-easy treatment given "Don't be a fool" and you'll most definitely get caught up in this R&B solid sender.
This first time solo album by Cari Lee is enriched by some of Austin's top rhythm cats, including Damien Llane, drummer for the W.C. Handy Award winner Nick Curran and sax blowin,' Dan Torosian, player from another W.C. Handy Award winner, Marcia Ball. Let's not forget bass trad-master Ryan Gould, piano masseur T Jarrod Bonta from Dave Biller's outfit and Steve Merritt, San Francisco's hot-jazz guitar master. With Scorched, Cari Lee delivers like never before."
-Opal Louis Nations (Rhythm & Blues Historian)
|
Online Now!
..
