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''Matriarch of the Blues'' is an album by Etta James, released in December 2000 through the record label Private Music. The album's title reflects James' nickname as "matriarch of the blues". Marking James' return to blues following attempts at country music and jazz and pop standards, the album consisted primarily of rhythm and blues covers. James' sons, Donto and Sametto, are credited as engineers, mixers and producers, among other contributions; the album features Mike Finnigan on the Hammond organ, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, and performances on multiple instruments by Jimmy Zavala. ''Matriarch of the Blues'' received mixed critical reception. Following its release, the album reached a peak position of number two on ''Billboard'' Top Blues Albums chart. ''Billboard''s final issue for 2001 included ''Matriarch'' as number ten on its list of Top Blues Albums for the year. The album was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 44th Grammy Awards. ==Background and composition== ''Entertainment Weekly'' considered ''Matriarch of the Blues'' to be James' reclamation as the "mother of the blues" following recent attempts at country music and jazz and pop standards.〔 ''Rolling Stone'' grouped ''Matriarch'' in a "trifecta" with James' previous two studio albums, ''Life, Love & the Blues'' (1998) and ''Heart of a Woman'' (1999). Prior to the album's release, James performed at the eighteenth annual San Francisco Jazz Festival at the Masonic Auditorium. The concert lasted over three house and featured an eight-piece band, members of which included her sons Donto and Sametto. ''Matriarch'' is composed of rock, soul and blues standards between five and seven minutes in length.〔 ''People'' magazine contributors described James' vocals as "deeply funky".〔 Mike Finnigan performed the Hammond B3 organ, Leo Nocentelli featured on guitar, and Jimmy Zavala contributed performances on multiple instruments.〔 James' two sons—Donto and Sametto—produced and engineered, and played drums and bass, respectively.〔 The album begins with the sound of a motorcycle engine. Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" is delivered, according to Parke Puterbaugh of ''Rolling Stone'', with "the air of Old Testament-style authority it demands".〔 James does not modify the lyrics, singing "You can call me Bobby, you can call me Zimmy". "Don't Let My Baby Ride", originally by Deadric Malone and O. V. Wright, adds a bit of sensuality to the album with the line "If his jeans are too tight... you might see what you like." Other covers include Al Green's "Rhymes", "Try a Little Tenderness" (Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly, Harry M. Woods), and Otis Redding "Hawg for Ya". The tempo of The Rolling Stones' "Miss You" is slowed down to a "sensual simmer".〔 James modified the gender mentioned in the lyrics, singing "Puerto Rican boys just dying to meet you".〔 Following "Hawg" are Malone's "You're Gonna Make Me Cry", which features vocals by Finnigan, Sandy Jones' "Walking the Back Streets", and Benny Latimore's "Let's Straighten It Out". Closing the album are John Fogerty's "Born on the Bayou", "Come Back Baby" (Ray Charles, Lightnin' Hopkins), and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's "Hound Dog".〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Matriarch of the Blues」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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