DIANE DURRETT & SOUL SUGA LIVELABEL: BLOOMING TUNES MUSIC
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 17, 2018
Delivering an evening of music and stories is the commission of a troubadour and the life chosen byAtlanta Soul Blues singer-songwriter Diane Durrett. Her eighth album and second with backing band Soul
Suga’ titled “Diane Durrett & Soul Suga LIVE” captures Durrett in her element; on stage with songs and
stories of life, love, redemption and celebration. All her skills are on display on this 25-track set captured
at two shows at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia in July of 2017.
Durrett dishes out her southern charm with sincerity and wit like a modern day Will Rogers and delivers
vocal finesse akin to Mavis Staples, Nancy Wilson and Irma Thomas. The ten original tunes and one
inspirational cover are infused with soul, blues and gospel and intermingled with interludes, expository
intros and life lessons from a master storyteller. Durrett is backed by the ultra-tight Soul Suga’ band,
featuring Melissa Junebug on drums and percussion, Yoel B’nai Yehuda on keyboards, Gregg Shapiro on
bass, with guitarist Markham White and background vocals from Adam McKnight and Deborah Reece
along with special guests Wes Funderburk, the jazz band director at Kennesaw State University, on
trombone and concertmaster of the Columbus (GA) Symphony Orchestra, violinist Kerren Berz.
A rousing introduction poses the question “are you ready for some soul and something sweet?’ setting
the tone for the show. Durrett and the crew then launch into the proof positive revival ‘Bright Side,’
followed by the furious funk of ‘Butters In The Skillet,’ a horn-drenched tune from the Soul Suga’ album
that made the top 10 on Roots Music Report. The slinky ‘It Is What It Is,’ tells the story of lost love and
features a sweet trombone solo from Funderburk.
Durrett then waxes poetic introducing the sermon on self-preservation on the glorious hymn ‘Wish It
Would Rain,’ urging us all to keep the faith in desperate times. She continues with the message for the
easy swing of ‘Love Has A Right To Be Wrong,’ co-written with William Bell, before telling a heartwarming
tale explaining her inspiration for the lovely ‘Be Somebody’s Angel.’ Her mother and grandmother were
the inspiration for another beautiful tome ‘All Is Well,’ that features a gospel-soaked organ by Yoel B’nai
Yehuda. The sultry ballad ‘In Between Times,’ showcases the power and emotional depth of her dusky
alto. Junebug steps up front and center for a hot percussion solo before the raucous second line tale of a
wild blues singer ‘Sassy Larue.’ Durrett digs deep into the Cole Porter standard ‘Summertime,’ adding her
unique flair and sizzle to the lexicon of the most recorded song of all time.
Everyone shines and heads to funky town on the rousing ‘Don’t That Bring You Back,’ and the party rolls
on for the saucy House Rocking Blues Grand Finale ‘Woohoo,’ an obvious fan favorite designed to get
everyone on their feet. The audiences at Eddie’s Attic surely enjoyed a fabulous night of entertainment
and now we all have this wonderful keepsake from those magic evenings with the pride of Atlanta; Diane
Durrett and Soul Suga LIVE!
WEBLINKS
OS: www.dianedurrett.com
FB: www.facebook.com/diane.durrett2 & www.facebook.com/dianedurrettmusic
TW: www.twitter.com/dianedurrett
IG: www.instagram.com/dianedurrettmusic
Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
