Another Storm Has Come

This cd was recorded in rural Louisiana shortly after the devastation of hurricane Katrina. By Irma Thomas, the title of the cd is After The Rain, the closing track is a ballad, Shelter In The Rain. So, is it all about Katrina ? Well, not really. The album was planned and the material decided upon prior to the storm. One track was subsequently added, the old country blues song Another Man with amended storm related lyrics. Irma Thomas is a soulful singer of immense experience and the songs were specially selected to highlight her mature interpretative skills and to reflect her time in life. The impact of the storm must have had an effect ( Irma's home was destroyed, although she was working out of town at the time Katrina hit ) but she says that she had already put it behind her by the time of this recording. Part of putting it behind her though has become inextricably linked with the fight to restore the city to what it should be, especially musically. With Dr John, Allen Toussaint and in a slightly different context Wynton Marsalis, Irma is the public face of New Orleans music as is strives to continue while many of the musicians are scattered. Listening to this album would convince anyone why that is important.