Glitter & Grits
NTL, 2020
9/10
A Mississippi native with a stunning voice and the ability to make any song her own, Deborah Silver returns with a handful of classics that span jazz, country and Americana, among other genres, and she’s got an all star cast along for the ride, i.e. Ray Benson’s band, Asleep At The Wheel.
The aptly titled “I’ve Got Rhythm” starts the listen with dancing keys, soulful sax and shuffling percussion supporting Silver’s soaring, charming vocals, and “That Old Black Magic” follows with a smooth delivery from Silver as playful plucked bass aids much in the retro climate.
Further along, “Ballin’ The Jack”, a duet with Ray Benson, has her pretty pipes complementing Benson’s gritty approach as spirited guitars and frisky fiddle are along for the R&B fun, while the vintage quality of “Get Happy” make an impression that’s glorious and even recruits a fiddle solo. “Embraceable You”, an album highlight on the back half of the record, then resides in ballad territory as Silver’s versatile singing guides the romantic climate.
Near the end, Mickey Raphael lends his harmonica prowess to two exceptional tunes, the jazz friendly “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, and “Deep In The Heart Of Texas”, which finishes the listen with a bouncy appeal of hand clapping and rural melodies that shine in the boogie-woogie demeanor.
A survivor of a rather lengthy battle with Covid, Silver also beat a rare bone disease that left her in a wheelchair for a year. Always the philanthropist, she often donates proceeds of her record sales to charity, and she’s even directly involved with ALS research. From dealing with some of life’s most difficult moments to rising up the Billboard charts, Silver again proves that few people are ever going to belt out a tune the way this talented songstress does.
Travels well with: Sue Anne Gershenzon- You Must Believe In Spring; Sharon Isbin- Affinity