Zora Young

b. January 21th, 1948 in West Point (Mississippi)

BLUES WITH THE GIRLS

Paris Album

EPM

February 1982

Habituée des clubs de Chicago depuis le début des années 70, elle semble avoir enregistrée en studio pour Jump Jackson et Willie Dixon (Zora est choriste sur "Mighty earthquake and hurricane" en 1980). Mais ces prétendues faces de verront jamais le jour. Embauchée pour la tournée européenne Blues with the Girls (janvier - février 1982), elle partage l'affiche avec "Big Time" Sarah et Bonnie Lee. Sur ce disque studio, Zora délivre une prestation parfaitement convaincante. Sa voix peu puissante se révèlant suffisamment expressive. Il y aura une deuxième tournée en mars 1983 avec Jeanne Carroll et Lavelle White.

Accustomed to Chicago clubs since the early 70's, she seems to have recorded in studio for Jump Jackson and Willie Dixon (Zora is a backing vocalist on "Mighty earthquake and hurricane" in 1980). But these alleged sides will never see the light of the day. Hired for the european tour Blues with the Girls (january - february 1982), she shared the bill with "Big Time" Sarah and Bonnie Lee. On this studio album, immortalizing this tour, Zora delivers a perfectly convincing performance. Her not very powerful voice revealing expressive enough. There will be a second tour in march 1983 with Jeanne Carroll and Lavelle White.

SHE GOT A THING GOIN' ON

Earwig

January 1983

Le pianiste chicagoan Sunnyland Slim soutint beaucoup Zora Young au début de sa carrière en la faisant enregistrer pour son label Airway. Le premier simple de Zora sera repris par Slim dans ce disque. Des deux titres, on remarque surtout le fantastique "Bus station blues" dont elle donne une superbe interprétation.

Chicagoan pianist Sunnyland Slim supported much Zora Young early in her career by making record her for his label Airway. Her first single will be taken by Slim in his own album. Of both titles, we point out especially the fantastic "Bus station blues" in which she gives a superb performance.

BLUESMEETING IN CHICAGO

Strawberry

July 1983

Zora place un bon titre - "How long" - dans cette excellente anthologie scandinave enregistrée aux fameux studios Chess/Gerim à Chicago.

Zora places a good track - "How long" - in this excellent scandinavian anthology recorded at the famous Chess / Gerim studios in Chicago.

STUMBLING BLOCKS AND STEPPING STONES

Blue Sting

1987

Pour son premier album, Zora est entouré d'un groupe de sidemen expérimentés avec Maurice John Vaughn, Carey Bell, A.C. Reed, Danny "Boney" Fields parmi d'autres. Elle pose sa voix sensuelle sur quelques compositions personnelles bien ficelées comme "Bad track record", "Johnny B" et "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones". Mais sa reprise du "Fed up with music" d'A.C. Reed lance parfaitement l'album. Un début convaincant et prometteur.

For her first album, Zora is surrounded by a band of experienced sidemen with Maurice John Vaughn, Carey Bell, A.C. Reed, Danny "Boney" Fields among others. She puts her sensual voice on some well-crafted personal compositions like "Bad track record", "Johnny B" and "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones". But her cover of A.C. Reed's "Fed up with music" launches the album perfectly. A convincing and promising start.

TRAVELIN' LIGHT

Deluge

Sky Ranch

September 1991

Production délicate signée Steve Bloch et Randy Labbe, des musiciens attentifs et inspirés (Colin Linden, Mudcat Ward, Willie Smith), une voix passionnée et bien posée. Les propres compositions de Zora figurent parmi les titres les plus notables : "Travelin' light", "Girlfriend", "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones". Mais, certaines reprises sont également bien choisies et interprétées avec goût ("Key to the highway").

Neat production signed by Steve Bloch and Randy Labbe, attentive and inspired musicians (Colin Linden, Mudcat Ward, Willie Smith), a passionate and well-controlled voice. Zora's own compositions are among the most notable titles : "Travelin' light", "Girlfriend", "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones". But some covers are also well chosen and interpreted with taste ("Key to the highway").

CHICAGO BLUES LADIES

Wolf

October 1992

Dans cette anthologie consacrée aux blueswomen de Chicago, Zora Young chante deux titres (notamment l'excellent "Bus station blues") accompagnée notamment de Billy Branch et John Primer.

In this anthology devoted to Chicago blueswomen, Zora Young sings two songs (including the excellent "Bus station blues") accompanied by Billy Branch, John Primer and others.

I GOT THE RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES

Blues & Rock Connection

December 1995

Enregistré en l'espace de quelques heures, ce projet a été réalisé à l'initiative du guitariste Spike Ravenswood. Il rassemble autour de Zora, un groupe souple et appliqué composé de Vince Willis (claviers), Christopher Lopes (basse) et James Bell (batterie). Des moments vraiment excellents ("Strokin'", "Bus station blues", "Baby want you ride with me tonight"), d'autres plus faibles ("Tired of travelling") ou plus convenus ("Hoochie coochie woman"). Un ensemble, néanmoins, très plaisant qui s'écoute avec interêt.

Recorded within few hours, this project was carried out at the initiative of guitarist Spike Ravenswood. He gathers around Zora, a flexible and painstaking band composed of Vince Willis (keyboards), Christopher Lopes (bass) and James Bell (drums). Really great moments ("Strokin'", "Bus station blues", "Baby want you ride with me tonight"), others are lower ("Tired of traveling") or conventional ("Hoochie coochie woman"). A very pleasant album which can be listened with interest.

MOJO MAMAS

Blue Chicago

December 1999

LEARNED MY LESSON

Delmark

May 2000

TORE UP FROM THE FLOOR UP

Delmark

September 2004

Bien arrangé et bien produit, cet album se révèle, au gré de l'écoute, assez inégal. Peu original, il présente Zora Young, chanteuse à la voix souple, dans un registre soul-blues classique. Elle bénéficie de l'accompagnement compétent de Pete Allen (guitare), Bobby Dirninger (claviers), Lee "Mookie" Cain (basse) et Kerman Frazier (batterie). On trouve, tout de même, quelques pistes valant vraiment l'écoute : "Love of mine", "Til the fat lady sings", "Ace of spades", "Tore up from the floor up" figurant parmi les meilleurs moments. Courte interview de Zora en fin de disque.

Well arranged and well produced, this album seems rather uneven. Not really original, it presents Zora Young, singer with a supple voice, in a classic soul-blues register. She takes advantage of the competent support of Pete Allen (guitar), Bobby Dirninger (keyboards), Lee "Mookie" Cain (bass) and Kerman Frazier (drums). However, we find some tracks really worth listening : "Love of mine", "Til the fat lady sings", "Ace of spades", "Tore up from the floor up" are among the best moments. Short interview with Zora at the end of the album.

BLUES BRUNCH AT THE MART

Delmark

June 2005

Lors de ce concert consacré aux artistes Delmark, on peut entendre Zora Young chanter "Toxic" (un morceau issu de "Tore up from the floor up").

In this concert devoted to Delmark artists, we can hear Zora Young singing "Toxic" (a song from the "Tore up from the floor up").

SUNNYLAND

Airway

June 2007

Dédié à son mentor Sunnyland Slim, ce disque est produit par Sam Burckhardt (producteur et particulièrement en verve au saxophone). Celui-ci a rassemblé quelques fameux sidemen aux côtés de Zora : Hubert Sumlin (qui chante assez mal sur deux titres), Steve Freund, "Barrelhouse" Chuck, Bob Stroger, Kenny Smith. En hommage au célèbre pianiste, elle reprend deux de ses morceaux : "Going back to Memphis" et "Johnson machine gun". Zora propose également de nouvelles versions plutôt abouties de ses morceaux habituels ("Football widow", "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones", "Til the fat lady sings"). Un album relativement consistant, bien réalisé mais manquant parfois d'originalité.

Dedicated to his mentor Sunnyland Slim, this album is produced by Sam Burckhardt (producer and particularly forceful on saxophone). He brought together some famous sidemen alongside Zora : Hubert Sumlin (who sings badly on two tracks), Steve Freund, "Barrelhouse" Chuck, Bob Stroger, Kenny Smith. In tribute to the famous pianist, she covers two of his songs : "Going back to Memphis" and "Johnson machine gun". Zora also offers accomplished new versions of her usual songs ("Football widow", "Stumbling blocks and stepping stones", "Til the fat lady sings"). A relatively consistent and well-done album but sometimes lacking in originality.

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Delmark

August 2007 - November 2008

Comme son nom l'indique, ce CD a été enregistré en France et en compagnie de musiciens français. Grâce au concours de Bobby Dirninger et Chris Dussuchaud, Zora propose un disque mi-électrique, mi-acoustique, mi-studio et mi-concert. Le répertoire choisi est, encore une fois, assez classique mais le feeling des musiciens additionné à l'interprétation variée de la chanteuse font la différence. Très sympathique.

As its name suggests, this CD was recorded in France and in the company of french musicians. With the help of Bobby Dirninger and Chris Dussuchaud, Zora offers an half-electric, half-acoustic, half-studio and half-concert album. Tracks are, again, fairly standard but the feeling of the musicians added to the varied interpretation of the singer make the difference. Very nice.

IT AIN'T OVER

Delmark

March 2008

Concert organisé pour les 55 ans du label Delmark sur la scène du Buddy Guy's Legends. Zora ouvre le disque en chantant son "Til the fat lady sings" plutôt correct mais inférieur à ses versions précédentes.

Concert organized for 55 years of Delmark label on Buddy Guy's Legends' stage. Zora opens the disc by singing her "Til the fat lady sings" rather acceptable but less inspired than its previous versions.

CHICAGO BLUES : A LIVING HISTORY - THE (R)EVOLUTION CONTINUES

Raisin' Music

2011

Zora Young figure parmi les invités de cette superbe anthologie (elle ne faisait pas partie du premier volume) et chante sur un morceau : une reprise de "Be careful how you vote" de son mentor Sunnyland Slim.

Zora Young is among the guests of this superb anthology (she was not part of the first volume) and sings on one song : a cover of "Be careful how you vote" of his mentor Sunnyland Slim.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Elrob

2015

Accompagnée du groupe expérimenté Little Mike & The Tornadoes, Zora propose ici un élégant album de Chicago Blues, classique mais parfaitement exécuté. Beaucoup de reprises plutôt inspirées ("I'm good", "Country girl") parfois inégales, des compositions de ses musiciens Mike Markowitz ("I've been a fool too long", "Friday night") et de Tony O. Melio ("I love Chicago"). A noter la belle participation du pianiste-organiste Jim Mac Kaba.

Accompanied by the experienced group Little Mike & The Tornadoes, Zora offers here an elegant Chicago Blues album, classic but perfectly executed. A lot of rather inspired ("I'm good", "Country girl") sometimes uneven covers, the compositions of her musicians Mike Markowitz ("I've been a fool too long", "Friday night") and Tony O. Melio ("I love Chicago"). Note the beautiful participation of pianist-organist Jim Mac Kaba.