“After one song, you’ll realize this is the real deal blues. Bruso is a vocalist who has the drama inside of her and allows it to come out in each word she sings.” — Art Tipaldi, Blues Revue Magazine
“Nora Jean Bruso is ready and poised to take the world by storm. She has what it takes to be the next “Queen of the Blues.” — Micheal Cloeren, Pocono Blues Festival
“Keeping this great music alive and vital—the blues of Howlin’ Wolf, KoKo Taylor, and all the other blues greats—is a worthy life’s work.” — Nora Jean
“Nora Jean sounds just like I did when I was her age. She is one of the new up coming singers that’s singing the real blues. I know she is going to make it.” — Koko Taylor
LINER NOTES
Thank you to My Lord and Savior for blessing me with the talent to sing; my wonderful husband for standing beside me every step of the way; the musicians who helped put the music on this record together: Rob Waters, Carl Weathersby, Jimmie Jacobs, Calvin “Skip” Gaskins, and Stanley Gil Serna; Severn Records, and especially David Earl, for believing in me; my sons Eltrono and Lawrence; my mother Ida Lee Wallace; my in-laws Bill and Maxine Bruso; our best man Ben Mitchell; my photographer James Fraher; my web designer Beverly Howell; my husband’s editor Art Tipaldi; my doctor Charlie Groves; my dentist Dave Porter; and my best friend in the blues, Michael Cloeren. I love you all. — Nora Jean Bruso
MUSICIANS
Nora Jean Bruso: Vocals
Mark Bruso: Background Vocals (track 2)
Marty Binder: Drums
Ron Graham: Saxophone (tracks 3, 5, 6, 9, 11)
Jimmie Jacobs: Guitar (tracks 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Brian Lupo: Guitar (tracks 1, 3, 6, 7, 12)
Dave Specter: Guitar (tracks 6, 9)
Harlan Terson: Bass (all tracks except 9)
Rob Waters: Hammond B-3 Organ; Piano (tracks 3, 4, 7, 11); Background Vocals (track 2)
Carl Weathersby: Guitar (tracks 1-5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
CREDITS
Executive Producer: Mark Bruso
Produced by: Rob Waters
Recorded by: Jerry Soto, Soto Sound, Palatine, IL, June 21-22, 2004
Mixed at: Soto Sound, June 23-24, 27, 2004
Mixdown Engineer: Jerry Soto, Soto Sound
Mastered by: David Earl, Severn Sound Studio, Severn, MD
Cd Design by: Al Brandtner, Brandtner Design, Chicago, IL
Photography by: James Fraher
Additional Photography From: American Memories From The Library Of Congress