Laura Tate

Let’s Just Be Real

Gold Records

Laura Tate is from Dallas, Tx. where she began performing when she was nine years old. She studied acting in New York City and toured in theatrical productions. She soon found herself on the production side of the business directing music videos, documentaries and commercials. She now lives in El Paso and holds both a Bachelor degree and Masters from The University of Texas El Paso. She has performed benefit concerts for a variety of non-profit organizations and was the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award from both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Tate made her recording debut in 2013; yet this is her fourth album in as many years. Her last one was produced by Terry Wilson and he is with her again on “Let’s Just Be Real”. Wilson is the leader of Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps and so it’s his band on this new recording. Included are Tate, vocals; Wilson, bass; James, background vocals; Billy Watts, guitar; Lee Thornberg, horns; and Tony Braunagel, drums. Additional musicians include Jeff Paris, keyboards and mandolin; Paulie Cerra, sax; and Leslie Smith, percussion.

Tate opens with Stephen Bruton’s “Nobody Gets Hurt” original recorded in 1999. Paris is a great B-3 player and adds just the right touch. Tate’s an exciting and expressive vocalist. Also from Bruton is “Big Top Hat”.

Wilson has co-written three songs for this project. “If That Ain’t Love” is from him and Paris; featured is a great horn arrangement from Thornberg while Cerra wails on sax. “Can’t Say No” is a jazzy tune written with Watts and David Raven; Paris plays some smoky lounge piano, Thornberg is on trumpet and Smith adds the percussion. “I’ll Find Someone Who Will” written with James gets the full Stax treatment.

“Hitting On Nothing” is from Allen Toussaint but is credited to his mother, Naomi Neville. Featured is another great horn arrangement and sax solo from Cerra. It was originally recorded by Irma Thomas in 1978. “You know you promised me a mink coat for my birthday and I ain’t seen mink, rat or rabbit to make me want to stay”.

“The Boys Are Back in Town” written by Phil Lynott for his band Thin Lizzy is elegantly re-arranged. Included is some great guitar playing from Watts. “Still Got The Blues” is from Mel Harker and Doug MacLeod. The title track, “Let’s Just Be Real” is a jazzy ballad from Harker and Jill Black.

“I Need A Man” written by Rick Deltrick is a playful and sexy tune as sung by Tate. “He don’t have to be rich, if he can scratch my itch, I need a man”. Once again the horn arrangement is fabulous.

Tate seems to like songs about love. Her voice and delivery are so good it’s hard not to love her.

Richard Ludmerer

[amazon_link asins=’B0727RRLTV,B00H0DSNO0,B01CIQWK3S,B01CIQW1DM,B00YE99AKE,B072DYFBJ3,B072DYDP33,B072BD2V8N,B072BCXHT8′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’maasc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f7fd47fc-3ff8-11e7-9637-55652430ceb6′]