Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps

Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2

Blue Heart

The highly decorated Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are on a roll. They return with Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2, going for three in a row.  The hot streak began with 2019’s Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon, followed by the first installment of Rose-Colored Glasses in 2021. The Texas-born James and her L.A -based band have stamped their music with a style of blues that finds that sweet spot between R&B, Southern soul, West Coast swing and those touchstones of NOLA and Memphis. When boiled down to its essence the core of this band is the husband-and-wife songwriting team of multi-instrumentalist Terry Wilson and the pianist/vocalist James. The other core members of The Rhythm Tramps are guitarist Billy Watts and drummer Brannen Temple. Regarding the latter, however, the band has even over this short period had a revolving cast of musicians. Here we have four different drummers, with Jay Bellerose, Herman Mathews, and Tony Braunagel playing on select tracks. Keyboardists Kevin McKendree and Bennett Salvay are aboard on several and the horn unit of Darrell Leonard (all brass) and Paulie Cerra (all woodwinds and saxophones) grace many tracks too. Just about every track features a slightly different lineup.

The album kicks off with James in sultry form with the horn slathered, guitar driven “I’d Do It for You.” McKendree’s unmistakable barrelhouse piano is at the heart of the swaying “Better Angels” while the steady shuffling “Lean on Love” brims with James’ joyous vocal and Wilson’s stinging guitar with McKendree and Salvay supplying robust support.  “The Idea of You” is a soulful, string infused ballad, bringing out the nuances as opposed to the blaring power of James’ vocals. “That’s What I’m Talking About” settles into a gentle, foot tapping groove, featuring a lyrical guitar solo from Watts and a gritty tenor solo from Cerra. The punchy horns set a snappy pace for the standout “I Don’t Need Another Reason to Fall in Love,” a touch of vintage soul, Memphis style.

James shows her flair for lyrics in “Flip Flop,” another infectious tune steeped in vintage R&B. Terry Wilson is practically a one-man band (bass, guitars, keyboards) with Bellerose on drums supporting James on the teeming ballad “The Heart Wants What It Wants.” The funky, gritty elements return on “Ain’t Nothing for Certain” with guest Matt Lemeo on blues harp giving it that earthy feel. The horns and Braunagel’s insistent beats power the age-old theme of heartache that underlies “Just Don’t Think About It.” James struts her stuff on the salacious “Brand New Flame” with lines such as “I don’t want no come and go man” and “If you’re looking for a brand new flame, well I’m a hot one.” The band goes out full throttle with the horns in tow for the jubilant “Second Chances.”

Teresa James continues to rack up the accolades as one of our best female contemporary blues artists as attested to by her 2023 BMA Nomination.  That could well occur again, but this album should also receive recognition in the Soul-Blues category. It just drips and oozes those vintage sounds.

• Jim Hynes

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