Rickie Lee Jones is unlike any other musician. It is not uncommon for us to describe a musician as unique, unrivaled, and even head and shoulders above the competition, yet Rickie Lee Jones is on her own planet when it comes to originality, artistry, and command of her vocal instrument gift.
The acclaim surrounding Gillian Welch and David Rawlings is both extensive and well-deserved, reflecting their extraordinary musical partnership. A few live performances of their work, particularly “Revelator,” reveal the profound depth of their artistry.
I have admired Mary J Blige for awhile and for good reasons. There is no denying her vocal chops. She may not have the most flashy uber octave range but for my money she has the most honest and pure vocal performance of any artist working today.