Vaneese Thomas – Stories in Blue
Overton Music
7 songs – 24 minutes
One of the most treasured voices in Memphis, Vaneese Thomas has made a name for herself by turning her innermost thoughts and feelings into emotion-packed songs. And the honey-toned mezzo-soprano is at the top of her game in this set, which marks the debut of the Overton Music, a label founded by Betsie Brown, who operates one of the most respected music support and promotion operations in the city.
The youngest daughter of Rufus Thomas and the sister of Carla, Vaneese is truly a star in her own right whose background includes work with producer Phil Ramone. She’s held her own when sharing the stage with a galaxy of giants, including Luciano Pavarotti, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and classical orchestras. She’s also a sought-after talent as a songwriter, producer and actor, too.
This is only Thomas’ seventh album since debuting with an eponymous CD on Geffen Records in 1987 and producing the Top Ten hit, “Let’s Talk It Over.” A popular voiceover talent, she’s appeared in the PBS series, Shining Time Station and Disney’s Hercules and her songs fill the soundtracks of big-screen blockbusters Anastasia, Mighty Aphrodite and The First Wives Club.
Fear not, however. This disc is Memphis music at its best. Vaneese is backed by guitarist Al Orlo, keyboard player Dave Keyes, drummer Ross Peterson and bassist Paul Adamy with a horn section composed of Tim Ouimette (trumpet), Andy Drelles (clarinet/sax) and Walter Barrett (tuba). Emily Bendiger, Berneta Miles, Jason L. Terry and Darryl Tookes provide backing vocals.
An uptempo shuffle, “Do Y’All” kicks of the action in style as Thomas questions listeners about the original of the blues, emoting powerful emotions as she details its origins in slavery and its journey from West Africa to the Delta and where it exists today. It gives way to “When You Were My Man,” a funky number delivered from the point-of-view of a woman who realizes all the mistakes she made in ignoring the abuse she endured in the relationship for so long. Orlo’s six-string fills and mid-tune solo amplify her pain.
The original, “Wandering,” bears lyrical similarities with The Chi-Lites’ “Have You Seen Here” as it describes a lady feeling abandoned and hopeless as she walks the street in search of relief from her unrelenting pain. But the mood changes dramatically from the first measures of “1917,” a jazzy number that mentions World War I was raging while Vaneese honors the birth year of her father. Then it’s back to heartbreak with “The Last Thing on My Mind,” which finds the singer bemoaning the fact that she’s suffering from the loss of faith as well as a broken heart.
Based on a poem penned by Miles, who grew up in the outskirts of Humboldt, Tenn., “7 Miles from Home” celebrates both the journey to celebrate searching elsewhere for happiness and also the joyous welcome she receives when returning to the hamlet. Thomas takes listeners to church to close with the gospel-themed “End of the Road,” which welcomes the end of life and the trip to paradise.
Vaneese Thomas delivers the gold standard of soul-blues here. It’s a winner on all counts.
