Reflections in Blue 2015

Nancy Wright Landing Page Photo (CD Cover)

Bill Wilson
Reflections in Blue
April, 2015

Nancy Wright
Putting Down Roots
Direct Hit Records DHR 107
Based in San Francisco, Nancy Wright is one of the strongest sax players in the business. The fact that she wrote all of the dozen tunes on the album is a bonus. Putting Down Roots consists of six instrumentals and six tunes with vocals, also written by Wright. Mentored by Lonnie Mack, she has also toured with John Lee Hooker, performed with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King and Albert Collins. Add to that list Katie Webster, with whom she appeared on B.B. King’s Grammy winning Blues Summit album as well as Webster’s You Know That’s Right. She spent twenty years touring the world with such artists as Lonnie Mack, Elvin Bishop, Commander Cody, Johnny Adams, Earl King, Joe Louis Walker, Maria Muldaur and the list goes on and on. Recording with many of the previously mentioned artists as well as Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Mark Hummel and more she has also worked with such blues luminaries as Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Lowell Fulsom, Son Seals, Ike Turner and more. A number of jazz greats can be added to the list as well. That said, Nancy Wright is not some “one trick pony,” but a veteran, road-tested performer who has more than paid her dues. As impressive as that list is, it pretty much just scratches the surface. Volumes could be written on her achievements but a simple, single listen to Putting Down Roots is enough to tell anyone all they need to know. From hard-driving numbers to tunes that are soft, sultry and enough to melt the soles of your shoes, this album has it all. Powerful, passionate and dripping with pure emotional power Putting Down Roots is an album destined to be included among the classics. To pass this one by would be a shame and, quite possibly, a sin…not my call to make. I have stated many times that no band can be any better than any of those who perform on it, so, in fairness to the band, Nancy is backed by Tony Lufrano on keyboards, Anthony Paule and Kid Andersen on guitars, Paul Olguin on bass, Paul Revelli in drums & percussion and Lisa Leuschner Andersen on background vocals. A band is as good as the sum of its parts, and this is one tight, kick-ass band. Over the years, critics have deemed her pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’ll let that to those “experts” in the field. One thing I know for certain is I enjoyed it and believe you would as well. – Bill Wilson

Go to Top