JJ Thames

Raw Sugar

DeChamp/Malaco Records

JJ Thames (pronounced “Timms”) was born in Detroit into a blue collar General Motors family. She began performing at the age of nine and is trained in piano and both classical and jazz vocal technique. At the age of 18 she began performing on the “Chitlin Circuit” with Marvin Sease. She has been onstage with Bobby Blue Bland, Denise LaSalle, and many others. In 2004 Thames returned to Detroit where she began an 18 month residency at Lola’s, a local niteclub. She has also sung backup for ska and reggae bands.

Thames debut recording “Tell You What I Know” was produced by Grady Champion and released on DeChamp Records in 2014. The title track stayed in the top 10 of Billboards Hot Singles Chart for 21 weeks.

“Leftovers” a song appearing on this new album was released as a single on April 1^st. Finally completed “Raw Sugar” was released on August 26^th, 2016. The Executive Producer is Champion while the album is co-produced by guitarist Eddie Cotton Jr. and Thames. The band includes Thames, lead and background vocals; Cotton, lead and rhythm guitars; Daryl Sanford, keyboards, strings and flute; John “Lanky” Blackmon, drums; Anthony Daniels, bass; and the horn section of Kimble Funchess, trumpet; Jessie Primer III, tenor and baritone sax; and Robert Lamkin, trombone. The horn arrangements are by Harrison Callaway.

“Except Oh Lord” was written by Thames while all of the other songs were written by her and Cotton. The prayer type opener features Joe Seamons, guitar; and Ben Hunter, mandolin winners of the 2016 International Blues Challenge in the solo/duo category; and they share the backing vocal with Thames.

On, “Hattie Pearl”, Thames sounds like Tina Turner. The song reminds me of “Nutbush City Limits”.  It rocks from start to finish and features the horns. “I’m Leavin’” features Cotton on lead guitar.

“Leftovers” was selected to be the album’s first single. Sanford is featured on the “strings” and on the flute. The overall production reminds me of something that might have come from Irma Thomas. “Woman Scorned” is an absolutely fabulous vocal. On the “Only Fool Was Me” Thames handles the drama like Etta James.

“Bad Man” features Cotton’s lead guitar; Sanford’s organ and the horns. “Hold Me” is a beautiful vocal demonstrative of Thames range. “Don’t Stop My Shine” once again features the horns and the rhythm and lead guitar of Cotton.

“I Don’t Feel Nothin’”, “at all for you”; features some more great guitar from Cotton and the rhythm section of Blackmon and Daniels. This track is receiving a fair amount of airplay. “Plan B (Abortion Blues)” opens with a voicemail message from Thames son Israel Angel; “inside there’s a baby, soon they’ll be no more…lord you gave him to me…who am I…to give him back early”. This is a powerful and emotional performance.

The title track “Raw Sugar” follows. The closer “Want to Fall in Love” features a trombone solo from Lamkin and completes this great album.

Dorothy Moore, the legendary R n B singer, states “JJ Thames is the future of the blues”. Give it a listen. You’ll want more of Thames in your future too.

Richard Ludmerer