Michelle Willson

Michelle Willson - So Emotional - 1996 - Bullseye Blues

Down Beat (11/96, p.60) - 4 Stars - Very Good - "...Willson is a throwback to the days when blues belters ruled the roost. She can surely shout, but she can coo, too. Willson also loves to tease her listeners with double-entendre songs that can heat up a room in minutes..." JazzTimes (10/96, p.83) - "...Michelle Willson...belts with raw, gutsy passion....[SO EMOTIONAL] showcases the sassy, Janis Joplin-voiced blues diva in a collection of jump blues, hot swing and R&B numbers and torchy ballads....This is one red hot mama."

Michelle "Evil Gal" Willson was born and raised in the Boston area. She has been singing since age 10, began vocal training in jr. high and studied at Boston Conservatory. She won the Boston Blues Battle in 1993, and the Blues Foundation's blues competition in Memphis. Her first album, in 1994 "Evil Gal Blues" on Rounder was nominated for a Handy Award. Her"Wake Up Call" album won the Boston Music Award for Best Blues Album . She has toured North America and Europe extensively and performed in over 20 countries, including visiting the Middle East and touring Israel w/ Ronnie Peterson Blues Band. Michelle currently has two groups, "Evil Gal Festival Orchestra" and "Mary Jane and the Vipers". As a result of all this training, experience and awards and accolades, she took on a third job to enable her to continue being such a successful artist. "So Emotional" continues the trend. A great album of swing, jump, jazz, and blues tunes sung powerfully by this underrated lady. Sugar Ray Norcia and Michelle duet on "Real Lovin' Mama", and The great Ronnie Earl plays on two tracks, "You're So Mean To Me" and "Long John Blues". Buy her great "Tryin' to Make a Little Love" album, and promote this talented lady. It's also worth hearing Sugar Ray Norcia and The Bluetones "Don't Stand in My Way" album

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Better Left Unsaid - Scott Shetler, Michelle Willson
So Emotional - Michelle Willson
Don't Worry Me Baby - Ron Levy
You're So Mean to Me - Oliver Sain, M. Campbell
The Girl Can't Help It - Bobby Troup
Long John Blues - Leonard Feather
Real Lovin' Mama, Real Lovin' Papa - Floyd Dixon, M. Jones
Girlfriend Says - Michelle Willson
What Can I Do? - Roy Milton
My Heart Is Mended - Ray Williams
Lonely Teardrops - Tyran Carlo, Gwen Fuqua, Berry Gordy, Jr.
Sexological Solution - Ron Levy
Strange Things Are Happening Every Day - Elmore James

MUSICIANS

Michelle "Evil Gal" Willson (Vocals)
Ronnie Earl (Guitar)
Randy Bramwell (Bass), (Guitar (Bass)), (Fender Jazz Bass)
Ron Levy (Piano), (Guitar (Rhythm)), (Horn (Alto)), (Organ (Hammond)), (Vocals (Background)), (Whistle (Instrument)), (Vibraphone), (Vocal Arrangement), (Horn Arrangements), (Rhythm Arrangements)
Mike Williams (Guitar), (Horn (Alto)), (Horn Arrangements), (Soloist)
Chuck Chaplin (Piano), (Soloist), Piccolo (Sax (Tenor)
Jesse Williams (Brass), (Bass (Acoustic)
Stephen "Downtown" Brown (Drums), (Percussion)
Ed Scheer (Percussion)
Gordon Beadle (Horn (Alto)), (Sax (Alto)), (Sax (Tenor)), (Horn Arrangements), (Soloist)
Scott Shetler (Horn (Alto)), (Sax (Baritone)), (Sax (Tenor)), (Horn Arrangements)
Barry Fleisher (Sax (Baritone)), (Soloist)
Greg Piccolo (Sax (Tenor))
Russell Jewell (Trombone)
Scott Aruda (Trumpet)
Sugar Ray Norcia (Vocals)
Buck Taylor, Bird Taylor (Vocals (Background)

REVIEW

Michelle Willson is a shouting blues singer with plenty of sass who is quite assertive and not shy about talking about her desires and feelings, some of which are fairly obvious. This CD is full of extroverted singing with fine backup from a '50s style jump-blues group that plays in the vein of Roomful of Blues. There are a liberal amount of tenor and guitar solos and some of the music really cooks. Highlights include "Better Left Unsaid" (whose lyrics change direction in a surprising way), the double entendre "Long John Blues" (the usual tale about visiting a dentist), a rare remake of Bobby Troup's "The Girl Can't Help It" (from the Jayne Mansfield movie of the same name) and the jubilant "Strange Things Are Happening Everyday." There is plenty of fun goodtime music on this often-rollicking and easily recommended set from the thus far underrated Michelle Willson. © Scott Yanow, All Music Guide



SHORT BIO

A gifted swing and jump blues vocalist, Michelle Willson -- a native of the Boston area -- began singing as a teenager, often fronting bands quixotically named after nonexistent members (for example, Mimi Jones and Alex Clayton). As a solo performer, she organized a well-received tribute to her singing idols Dinah Washington and Ruth Brown, then joined the band Evil Gal; again working solo in 1994, Willson issued her debut LP, Evil Gal Blues, followed in 1996 by So Emotional. Wake Up Call marked her first release in the new millennium. © Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide