Doin’ What I’m Supposed To Do
Delmark, 2022
8/10
Listen to Doin’ What I’m Supposed To Do
An exceptional blues talent who also injects plenty of R&B into her timeless formula, Demetria Taylor brings us a couple of tunes she penned, as well as tracks by her family, Mike Wheeler, Larry Williams, and Magic Sam on this 2nd release on the Delmark label.
“83 Highway” starts the listen with Brian Flynn’s exceptional guitar skills alongside Brian James’ agile keys and Taylor’s soaring pipes, and “Baby Be Good” follows with Melvin Carlisle’s frisky drums and Wheeler’s spirited guitar making for a groove friendly climate.
Further along, “Welfare Blues” benefits much from Williams’ precise bass, as Taylor’s soulful voice is quite striking, while “I’m Gonna Tell It” emits both power and melody in the timeless blues flavor.
Close to the end, the energetic and rock’n’roll influenced “You Belong To Me” showcases Carlos Showers’ swift guitar and Taylor’s diverse singing, and “Young Gun Taylor” exits with firm keys, crisp drums and, of course, Taylor’s inestimable singing.
There’s no doubt that Taylor is in excellent company, and she even takes help from the legendary Deitra Farr on one track. You might say that she was born to plays the blues, since both her parents and brothers were musicians, and she’s keeping that tradition alive with both traditional and modern sounds on this excellent body of work.
Travels well with: Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames- Nightwalk; Todd Sharpville- Medication Time