Angie Wells: “Truth Be Told” (2023) CD Review

Angie Wells is a talented jazz vocalist who put out her first album, Well Swung!, in 2010. Then in 2017 she released Love And Mischief, which included some original material along with cool covers like “Peel Me A Grape” and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” When she began working on her new album, Truth Be Told, it was the title track that came first. It’s an original number in reaction to the murder of George Floyd, featuring a strong and passionate performance. There are a few other original compositions included on this album, as well as some wonderful choices of covers. The album was produced by John Clayton, who also did some of the arrangements and plays bass on one track. Angie Wells has some other incredible musicians backing her on this release, including Josh Nelson on piano, Trevor Ware on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums, along with special guests on various tracks.

The album begins with a cheerful number titled “There’s Always Time For Lovin’,” an original composition by Angie Wells and John Clayton, with a drum beat that has a delicious New Orleans vibe. This is a song for those of us who always seem to be busy. And these days, isn’t that everyone? “I get out of bed in the morning/And as soon as my feet hit the floor/I start thinking about all I have to do/Before I walk out that door/But baby, there’s always, baby, there’s always time for lovin’.” Yes, it’s a good reminder. And the horns help keep the energy high. Ivan Malespin is on trombone, Kye Palmer is on trumpet, and Jacob Scesney is on tenor saxophone. In addition, there is some wonderful work on keys. But really, what else would you expect from Josh Nelson? John Clayton did the arrangement for this one. No matter how short life is, and no matter how busy you get, there is “always time for kissing and hugging.” After all, that is what life is really about. I love the joy of the playing, as well as of the message. Angie Wells follows that with a cover of Nina Simone’s “Do I Move You,” a seriously cool, bluesy number, this track featuring a sexy vocal performance. “Do I soothe you?/Tell the truth now,” Angie Wells sings. Yes, absolutely! And we could all use a bit of this kind of soothing. What a wonderful job she does with this song. And Josh Nelson provides some equally sexy work on piano. This track also features Larry Koonse on guitar, and he delivers a great lead halfway through. “When I touch you, do you quiver?” Oh man, I quiver just hearing her sing that line.

“Where The Livin’ Is Good” is another original number, this one co-written by Josh Nelson, who also did the arrangement. It begins with some good work on drums, and it features some excellent stuff by Kye Palmer on flugelhorn. There is also some wonderful work on bass. This song describes an affluent neighborhood, introducing us to one of the neighborhood’s residents. We soon know something is up with this woman, something is wrong, for “She stares ahead with a blank gaze.” And after a bit, Angie Wells reveals that she is homeless. I love the way this song progresses, the way that information is provided only after we get a sense of the place and of her character. The homeless problem here in Los Angeles has gotten out of hand, and at times it is easy to forget that each of these people is human and has a story. And, as is described in this song, the contrast is extreme, people with nothing living among the incredibly rich. There are intimate moments in this song, where Angie Wells draws us in closer. “In her lovely neighborhood/Where the living is good.”

“Truth Be Told,” the album’s title track, begins with finger snaps and some humming done with a strong gospel quality, which is effective in putting George Floyd’s story in some historical context. His murder was nothing new. What was new is that the police officer who killed him was actually tried and convicted for the murder. Angie Wells mentions several others who were murdered by police officers, including Walter Scott, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor. This is an incredibly strong track, in part because the vocals drive the song. “Truth be told, we can’t hold it no more/We got to sing our pain/Speaking the truth to remind you/Not to forget their names/Truth be told, we won’t be silent no more/We got to make a change/Get out and vote/Don’t just sit and hope/Don’t let them die in vain.” Lynne Fiddmont and Valerie Geason provide backing vocals on this track. There is an interesting use of snare drum toward the end. I love that Angie Wells follows that song with a cover of “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive,” here listed as “Accentuate The Positive,” another way of saying that she won’t be defeated, that people should not give in to despair. Joy will triumph, she seems to promise here, telling us to “Bring gloom down to the minimum,” to bring joy and light to the situation, to life. It’s certainly not always easy, particularly in the face of such horrors. This track features some absolutely delightful work by Jacob Scesney on saxophone.

Angie Wells then brings things down for “I’ve Got A Feeling,” the first of four versions of this song on the album, and so a theme that moves throughout the album. Each of the tracks is rather short. This one is a beautiful, moving instrumental rendition. That’s followed by a smooth rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s “Nick Of Time,” a song about aging, about the brevity of life, something that is on my mind more and more. And Angie Wells delivers a vocal performance that conveys love and understanding. “When did the choices get so hard/With so much more at stake/Life gets mighty precious/When there’s less of it to waste/Scared you’ll run out of time.” Well, we all will run out of time, sooner or later. The arrangement is by Josh Nelson, who delivers some nice work on keys. Keeping somewhat with that theme, Angie Wells follows “Nick Of Time” with “Here’s To Life,” which opens with these lines: “No complaints and no regrets/I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets/But I have learned that all you give is all you get/So give it all you’ve got.” This track features Larry Koonse on guitar supporting Angie’s moving vocal performance, which has me in tears each time I listen to this album. “And who knows what tomorrow brings, or takes away?”

“Talkin’ Under My Clothes” is an original composition with a very cool opening section, her voice supported by bass. “He’s got a voice like dark chocolate cocoa/Served in a black velvet cup.” Oh yes, this is so good. It then kicks in to become a rather fun number, a surprising direction at first, but her vocals retain a sexy character. Ivan Malespin adds some wonderful stuff on trombone, and toward the end there is good bass solo. That is followed by the second version of “I’ve Got A Feeling,” which has a cool vibe and features Angie Wells humming. This is an even shorter version than the first, less than a minute long. Then we get a striking and gorgeous rendition of “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” featuring John Clayton on bass. That is followed by a cover of “Moanin’” coupled with “Work Song.” “Every evening I’m moanin’/ ‘Cause of all the trouble I see/Life’s a losing gamble to me.” This track was arranged by Josh Nelson and Angie Wells, and it features some excellent work by Katisse Buckingham on flute, and by Carey Frank on organ. Angie Wells delivers another sultry and wonderful vocal performance on “I Wish I’d Met You,” gently commanding our attention. That track also features some really nice work on piano. That’s followed by the third version of “I’ve Got A Feeling,” a sweet instrumental rendition, with some soft, delicate work on piano.

I’ve said it many times, but you can never go wrong with Gershwin. And on this disc, Angie Wells gives us an unusual take on “You Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is delivered a cappella, seemingly off-the-cuff, with a child (Zion G) joining her, singing the final word of each line. It’s cute, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard the song presented quite like this before. The kid playfully changes one word, an odd surprise. You’ll know it when you hear it. The album then concludes with the fourth rendition of “I’ve Got A Feeling,” this time with the full band, and with lyrics (the chorus, anyway). At just over a minute and a half, this is the longest version included on the album. “I’ve got a feeling everything is gonna be all right.” Well, okay!  It’s a nice thought to leave us with. Lynne Fiddmont and Valerie Geason join her again on backing vocals for this one.

CD Track List

1. There’s Always Time For Lovin’
2. Do I Move You
3. Where The Livin’ Is Good
4. Truth Be Told
5. Accentuate The Positive
6. I’ve Got A Feeling (Hymn Version)
7. Nick Of Time
8. Here’s To Life
9. Talkin’ All Under My Clothes
10. I’ve Got A Feeling (Humming Version)
11. You Don’t Know What Love Is
12. Moanin’/Work Song
13. I Wish I’d Met You
14. I’ve Got A Feeling (Music Box Version)
15. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
16. I’ve Got A Feeling (Full Band/Vocal Version)

Truth Be Told was released on February 24, 2023 on Cafe Pacific Records.