Betty Bryant opens the album with a delicious rendition of “Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea.” There is something to be said for opening an album in these divisive times with the line, “I don’t hate you.” I love the way she stretches out here on certain lines. She is so comfortable, so at ease and so happy, and that makes us feel pretty damn good too. Plus, this track features a good bass line and some nice work on saxophone, as well as a sweet lead on piano. In the second half, Richard Simon delivers a totally enjoyable bass lead, with a cool and unusual drum solo sandwiched in the middle of it, which is wonderful. This track is a delightful way to begin the album. It is followed by the first of the album’s original numbers, “Put A Lid On It,” which quickly announces itself as a cool number, with those finger snaps, the bass line and that work on sax. And when Betty Bryant comes in on vocals, somehow things get even cooler. The track’s first lines are “All you do is fuss and moan day and night/Tired of your opinions, wrong or right.” I love those lines. I mean, sure, we are all tired of hearing from people who are wrong all the time, but sometimes even when people are right, they are exhausting. And I don’t think anyone can be offended by Betty Bryant when she says to put a lid on it. She is just too cool to offend. And check out the way even her piano lead struts about the place. No hurry, no worry, just tons of cool. It’s like she is shedding cool with each step. The saxophone is ready to match her attitude and her disposition. And you can bet on a track this cool that there is going to be a good bass lead. But it is her playful, humorous vocal delivery that is the main draw here. This track is for me one of the disc’s highlights.
Betty Bryant delivers a sexy, mellow rendition of “Baby Baby All The Time.” I’m digging that drum work. Robert Kyle is on flute for this one, delivering some wonderful work. Betty Bryant is looking back on this track, but we don’t get the feeling that what she’s recounting is too far in the past. Her piano work holds those memories, brings them to life, has them walking around in front of us, so that we feel she could almost be talking about just last week. The instrumental section in the middle is fantastic. “Lord, I pray that you will listen to my plea/And keep him close to you so he’ll come back to me.” Ah, any god that would refuse her prayer is one that doesn’t deserve worship or respect. Things then get hopping with “Blues To Get Started,” an original composition, an instrumental tune that gently swings and grooves, and might get your fingers snapping again. Oh yes, everything seems right with the world, doesn’t it? The band is grooving and letting all troubles drift away. And again, I love that work on drums. Plus, we’re treated to another good lead on bass. And then, wow, a surprise, some bluesy harmonica begins “Chicken Wings,” an original number. This track is a surprise through and through. The lyrics are delivered as spoken word, and the first several lines are given a cappella. Then it is just the harmonica backing her. The chorus is sung, with a bit of percussion. And yes, this song is all about chicken. There is certainly something playful about it. Whatever your personal feelings about chicken may be, this track will likely have you smiling before the end.
Then it’s back to the land of the cool with Betty Bryant’s rendition of “Stormy Monday,” a song written by T-Bone Walker. This is delicious blues that will have you feeling good and relaxed. Music like this is like a wonderful drug, easing your mind and your body, pushing away all cares. You can almost float on this music, can’t you? And the band gets into a groove and is given the space to let it play out, to enjoy it, as this track is nearly eight minutes long. The piano lead is a delight, and this track contains a seriously cool saxophone lead. At one moment, the sax even sounds like it’s purring. I love it. That’s followed by the final of the album’s original songs, “Katydid,” another swinging bluesy tune with a playful element to the vocal line, which I dig. “Katy’s gone from now on/And that’s the reason for this song/A lesson free to you from me/Don’t you ever do what Katy did.” This track also features some excellent work on guitar by guest Yu “Big Poppa” Ooka. And guest Tony Guerrero delivers some really nice stuff on trumpet, particularly during that lead in the track’s second half. Plus, this track has a great rhythm. Toward the end, there is a surprising piano section, taking the track in a different direction. It all works incredibly well.
Betty Bryant puts her own spin on “The Very Thought Of You,” a song I love. I usually think of that last segment of the movie Home For The Holidays when I hear this song, but not this time. The Latin rhythm gives it a different feel, and I find myself listening to it with fresh ears and thoughts. Kevin Winard joins her on percussion for this one, Hussain Jiffry plays electric bass, and Kleber Jorge delivers some nice work on guitar. Betty Bryant gives a sweet vocal performance, and that is a big part of what makes this rendition something special. She then concludes the album with “A Lot Of Livin’ To Do,” a perfect choice. “There are men just right for some kissing/And I mean to kiss me a few/Ah, those men don’t know what they’re missing/There’s such a lot of living to do.” And I love the way she delivers the next line, “And there’s wine ready for tasting.” We can hear the excitement in her voice, that zest for life. Tony Guerrero joins her again on trumpet. “Life’s a ball,” she tells us, and she means it, and we should believe her. Her rendition also includes a nice spoken word section near the end, which has a playful aspect. Let’s do our best to adopt her attitude here. Who knows what we’ll be capable of? And when we’re 94, we can look around and say, “Okay, great, now let’s do some more.” I’m looking forward to Betty Bryant’s next album.
CD Track List
- Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
- Put A Lid On It
- Baby Baby All The Time
- Blues To Get Started
- Chicken Wings
- Stormy Monday
- Katydid
- The Very Thought Of You
- A Lot Of Livin’ To Do
Lotta Livin’ is scheduled to be released on January 26, 2024.
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