VANEESE THOMAS - DOWN YONDER
ABEL: SEGUE RECORDSRELEASE DATE: AUGUST 23, 2019
DISTRIBUTION: ORCHARD, AMAZON & ARTIST’S WEBSITE
Born in Memphis Tennessee, Vaneese is the daughter of Rufus Thomas, whose legendary career as a
musician and entertainer began in Vaudeville and spanned more than half a century in R&B recording and
radio. Her older siblings are the hit recording artist “Memphis Queen” Carla Thomas and the highly
respected keyboardist Marvell Thomas
Soulsville scion Vaneese Thomas returns to her southern roots for an album of impeccably produced
songs of tender mercy, tragic heartache, and joyous celebration. She once again gathered together a
group of good friends and collaborators to record the basic tracks of “Down Yonder” at Peaceful Waters
Studios in New York with her longtime partner Wayne Warnecke. Thomas recruited the late show rhythm
section of “Saturday Night Live” drummer Shawn Pelton and former “Dave Letterman Show” bassist Will
Lee to deliver the steady grooves, along with guitarist Al Orlo and Robbie Kondor on keys. She then
returned to her hometown and called upon the talents of Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell and Reverend Charles
Hodges, to put some Memphis grease on the tracks along with trumpeter Marc Franklin, co-founder of
The Bo-Keys, arranging and recording the horn section that included band mate Kirk Smothers on
baritone saxophone at the world-famous Royal Studios. Thomas’ big sister the “Memphis Queen” Carla
Thomas lent her acclaimed voice to several tracks and special guest Kevin Bacon joined her for an
inspiring duet.
The swampy opening track ‘Ebony Man,’ co-written by Thomas along with Lisa Fischer (former BKG
vocalist with The Rolling Stones & Luther Vandross) and Carolyn Mitchell, is the biography of a
sharecropper highlighted by tasty Dobro from Tash Neal. The horn section makes their entrance on the
sultry torch song ‘I Tried,’ with Thomas stepping into the role of a troubled woman akin to a character in
a Tennessee Williams’ drama. The smooth R&B groove of ‘Highway Of Regret’ hides the deep blues in the
introspective lyrics accented by doleful violin from Katie Jacoby. Thomas then plays the woman scorned
on the driving horn infused grinder ‘Wake Me.’ Hammond B3 master Reverend Charles Hodges joins her
on the sermon of redemption, optimism and hope ‘Second Chance,’ while her sister and Berneta Miles,
sing in the choir. She pleads for advice on the desperate blues ‘Mama He Loves Me,’ then ramps up her
power on the funky rebuke ‘Lies.’ The depth of her sensitivity and breadth of her emotions are
showcased on the tender yet brooding ballad ‘Handle Me Gently.’
Kevin Bacon sings “if we bring it into the light, time for justice, truth and right,” with Thomas on ‘Legacy
Of Pain,’ a song written about murders that took place in Mississippi that yet remain unprosecuted. The
sentimental slow burning ‘Last Kiss’ is a piece of pure Memphis Soul and the foot stomping ‘Gone’ is a
tent revival altar call. Thomas closes the set with the autobiographical title track, a gospel fueled
confessional of a vagabond, who is drawn back to the power of her town home “Down Yonder.”
The song writing and vocal skills of Vaneese Thomas remain at the center and focus of these 12 original
tracks on her eighth album, “Down Yonder,” a masterwork that demonstrates a rare talent that is at ease
on both Broadway and Beale Street.
Tracklist:
01 EBONY MAN 4:36
02 I TRIED 5:00
03 HIGHWAY OF REGRET 5:02
04 WAKE ME 3:S8
05 SECOND CHANCE 3:41
06 MAMA HE LOVES ME 4:10
07 LIES 4:56
08 HANDLE ME GENTLY 6:06
09 LEGACY OF PAIN IFEAï KEVIN BACON) 4:45
10 LAST KISS 5:07
11 GONE 3:01
12 DOWN YONDER 5:35
WEBLINKSOS: www.vaneesethomas.com
Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
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