Jan Cronin, Tell Him I Said Hello Review
Connect with Jan Cronin: Facebook |
Jan Cronin cut her teeth in the Washington, DC scene. In 1994, Nashville was clearly calling her name, when on a visit from DC, Cronin won Best Female Vocalist honors in a singing contest at the Nashville Palace. The win earned her an invitation to perform at the Palace for a week. After moving to Nashville, Cronin met the love of her life, the late songwriter/guitarist Lefty Ken Howell. They eventually married and Howell recruited Cronin to sing his band, Lefty Ken and The Blues Rats. Cronin’s credits include
Performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She was nominated for a Washington Area Music Award (WAMMIE) as Best Female Vocalist. Her latest album Tell Him I Said Hello is a personal collection of tunes that feature songs written by Cronin, with a few gems co-written with her late husband Lefty Ken Howell, including jewels by Marcia Ball, Better Carter, Junior Wells, Stevie Wonder, Ike and Tina Turner and more, trussing Cronin’s innate versatility as a vocalist.
Positives:
Cronin has a soulful voice that is weathered with years of experience and savvy. Her delivery of originals and well-placed covers is backed by a cavalcade of blues stalwarts that mean every note they play. Solid throughout!
Bottom Line:
Jan mixes things up with blues-roots rock approach on the Stevie Wonder tune, “I Don’t Know Why,” with a mix of soul-blues on “Fool in Love,” that serves up tight woven backing vocals. Most surprisingly is the dapple of jazz on “Tell Him I Said Hello,” written by Betty Carter. The cohesion of this fun filled listen is Jan’s soulful energy. She is all organic with performances filled with heart and soul. From the recording process to the performances, each tune offers an honesty of lyrics and performances. Cronin has put together a fun listen that is anchored in the spirit of the blues. The album closes with a Doo-wop approach on “My Baby Just Cares for Me,” a tune written by Nina Simone and normally associated with jazz, Cronin re-imagines the tune with a 50s flair. Tell Him I said Hello is an amalgamation of great tunes. Worth the price of admission. That's the short of it!