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Tigerlily, 2024
8/10
The Grammy nominees Wendy and DB return with a blues album for families, where Billy Branch, Libby Rae Watson, Ruthie Foster, and Doug MacLeod, plus others, join for the groove filled affair.
“Back Home” starts the listen with Ruthie Foster’s powerful pipes and Anne Harris’ stirring violin for the warm climate, and “Put Down The Phone!” follows with Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band’s creative drumming for a tune with a very important message.
Further along, “Moving Mountains” welcomes Billy Branch and HHW Youth Choir to the jazz fueled landscape that’s frisky and infectious, while “Hemingway The Wonderdog” allows Wendy and DB’s inimitable talents to shine via the hand clapping, upbeat album highlight.
Close to the end, the dreamy and rhythmic “Be You/Walk To Your Own Beat” is a rich and positive tune that’s winds and string friendly, and even further the piano fueled “Peace In The Valley” is a powerful moment that carries some gospel spirit, too.
A multicultural, Chicago duo, Wendy and DB bring two guitars, a ukulele, and their voices to these community minded and empowering tracks that benefit much from the many guests for this fun, inspirational and wise body of work.
Travels well with: Star Forest- Let Me Be Real; Jessie Baylin- Strawberry Wind