Kelli Grant

Silverfalls Records SR 712228

**1/2

Dated mix of country, swing and honky-tonk

The late Carl Perkins dubbed Texas-born piano-pounder Kelli Grant ‘the Queen of Swing’. This latest album is full of her accomplishments—Grammy candidate, Western Swing Hall of Famer, and many more—there’s little doubt that she has quite a reputation for her live performances that incorporate elements of jazz, swing, r&b, rock’n’roll, country and doo-wop. But, the whole packaging is garish, the recording quality—though it includes former members of the Texas Playboys—is more in the indie budget-strapped realms.

Ms Grant co-wrote seven of the dozen songs with co-producer Johnny Patterson—who also plays lead guitar. They all sound very old-hat with lines borrowed judiciously from past songs: ‘stranger won’t be a stranger anymore’. Musically, this leans more toward country and western swing than jazz or r&b. Honky Tonk Weekend is a pleasant little two-stepper, Friday Night Slide is a danceable number and Loving You a 1960s-flavoured pop-country song. Pleasant enough, but little more than that. AC

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