Brown Gal

camille Howard, as Scott Yanow put it, should have been born 20 years earlier, for she would have made a great classic blues shouter like Bessie Smith, in the 1920's. However Howard's time was the early 50's, and she sparkes singing in the barrelhouse r&b tradition of Ruth Brown on tehse exciting jump blues sides, backed by great horn players and tight rhythm sections. She prooves herself to be a great r&b singer, with loads of energy. However it is Lil Hardin's sides that really shine, for here in her 3rd career(1st as composer/pianist with Louis Armstrong, 2nd as swing band leader) as a r&b jump blues singer. She really shines in this genere, as Helen Humes did, she even squeels like Ruth Brown in an earthy gritty tone, sounding sweet and salty at the same time! Hardin armstrong really digs into her boogie driven pounding piano playing, and this band is really driven hard, and swings like mad. A great party cd, essential for fans of Ruth Brown type 50's r&b.