CD REVIEWS
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Tina Turner
“Tina Live”
Manhattan Records
Record companies love to flood the retail market during the holidays with albums by major artists, but among them stands out Tina Turner’s noteworthy CD/DVD, “Tina Live.” Last year saw the 70-year-old “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” return to the concert circuit with her “50th Anniversary Concert Tour” and this two-disc set captures the excitement of Turner’s six months of live performances in 10 countries and provides an overview of her illustrious career. High-octane renditions of Turner staples like “Better Be Good To Me” and “Proud Mary,” alongside provocative mid-tempo rockers and ballads “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Private Dancer,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and “The Best” prove that at age 70, Turner can still entertain fans of all ages. Though she may not dance as much onstage as she used to, the high-definition DVD portion of this set finds Turner’s trademark gams in fine form. CV
David Ducharme-Jones
“Weeds”
Blissed Out Productions
Austin, Texas, singer-guitarist David Ducharme-Jones (pronounced doo-sharm) returns to his native Des Moines with his latest smooth and sophisticated album, “Weeds,” in tow. The South Side musician’s new record is a mix of 10 originals and well-chosen covers that fit his eclectic musical style of combining jazz, blues, soul, funk and rock. Covers of J.B. Lenoir’s “Talk To Your Daughter” and Al Green’s “I’m A Ram” stand out, as does Ducharme-Jones’ version of Des Moines jazz and R&B guitarist Rod Chaffee’s “Say What You Want.” Chaffee was an influence on Ducharme-Jones before he moved to Austin and this funky version of Chaffee’s song is a memorable one. But the musical gumbo that is “Weeds” is uniquely Ducharme-Jones. CV
(David Ducharme-Jones and Rod Chaffee perform “A Night of the Blues with a Twist” on Sunday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Flying Mango, 4345 Hickman Road. $15.)
