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We had American music icon Leon Russell for half a century. Playing piano, producing, singing, writing some fantastic songs. When Russell died last year that was the end of his output…or so it seemed.
On a Distant Shore, falls into that posthumous category like Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave, and David Bowie’s Blackstar. Here we get a perfect dozen tunes, heavy horn and string infused, Russell revisiting some of his classics as well as offering some new tunes.
The horn-led title track opens with a shunk-sway, “Black and Blue,” is a “evil hearted woman” blues, featuring some wailing guitar, while the remake of “Masquerade,” stretches the man’s signature scratchy vocals to the limit in string-horn layering (although there are times when Russell sings about the best he ever has here.)
We will surely miss Leon Russell, but On a Distant Shore is a great send off.
Review written by MuzicNotez writer Ralph Greco
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