A Tribute To Ray Charles
by Thom Jurek – Allmusic.Com
This tribute to Ray Charles is performed by a host of regional artists from the northwestern United States. It’s well-meaning, and in some cases very well done. It’s also a benefit recording for the Oregon Food Bank, by Patrick Lamb Productions.
The best moments here are by Lamb himself on “Let the Good Times Roll,” with a solid horn chart; “Hallelujah I Love Her So,” by Olivia Warfield and Paul deLay; Norman Sylvester’s rollicking read of “What’d I Say” (not an easy tune to pull off convincingly, but he does it like he wrote it); Linda Hornbuckle’s “Unchain My Heart”; and Duffy Bishop’s beautiful read of “You Don’t Know Me.”
There is plenty, plenty soul on this tribute, and it’s a fitting one — far better in execution, passion, and intent than many recorded by the “big stars.”