Imelda Clabby - No turning back
Imelda Clabby - UK rockin' songstress.
1.Dealing with The Devil 2.Flame of love 3.Cry for me baby 4.Till I kissed you 5.What to do 6.Once more 7.Wild about my lovin' 8.No turning back 9.End of the world 10.Hurry up 11.Don't do me no wrong 12.Forever you and me 13.Bring my Cadillac back 14.Lovey dovey lovely one 15.Let us sing
Imelda Clabby
Imelda Clabby hails from Ireland and is married to Darrel Higham. She's made a few appearances on his albums over the years. Now she's established herself as the singer with a leading 'swing' band to great effect. Imelda Clabby now sings with Blue Harlem having replaced Aisha Khan (one-time girlfriend of Sonny West). Here's a little quote from a gig:
"Saturday night was posh frocks time, with the whole ballroom area opened up and Blue Harlem on stage. They have become regulars at the venue in recent years, having appeared at the 1999 and 2001 Coventry Jazz Festivals. This time they had their new singer with them. Aisha Khan's decision to explore other avenues left the band in need of a new vocalist. The place has been filled by Imelda Clabby, who definitely looks and sounds the part. In a shimmering evening dress and a flower in her hair, she took to the BH repertoire effortlessly. Her appearances were interspersed with the fine swing that the band produces on its own during numbers like One O'clock Jump, Flying Home and 9.20 Special." www.swingtime.co.uk
"Dublin born Imelda Clabby began her career as a child performing in various musicals around Ireland. This led to TV work such as the Late, Late Show and theatre appearances at The Olympia, The Gaiety and the National Concert Hall. Imelda Clabby then began a lengthy residency at Satchmo's; Dublin's premier Jazz Restaurant, and toured extensively in Ireland with the likes of Richie Buckley, Mary Stokes, Kirsty McCall and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood." www.jazzbythestour.org.ukImelda Clabby CD review
"This is an utterly fascinating album from Mrs. Darrel Higham. We are presented with a cover picture of a very good-looking girl (three other photographs underline that truth) and we hear one of the best voices we've heard this side of the pond for decades. And then it's also a kind of latest Darrel Higham CD too, as we hear his fabulous, fabulous guitar work throughout, and his voice too, duetting on the Evs' 'Til I Kissed You'.
The song selection is from a variety of sources (Elmore James through to Pat Cupp) including three originals from Imelda Clabby's own pen, and the styles range from Mexicali jazz ('Forever You And Me'), pop done Spanish plaintive ('End Of The World'), through rockabilly-blues fusion ('Dealing With The Devil') to straight Darrelstyled hard, urgent, heavy rockabilly ('Hurry Up' and others).
I love Darrel Higham. There, I've said it. He is the consummate guitarist whose talent is spilling out everywhere, and his superb influence is stamped all over the CD. But it's an Imelda Clabby CD, and I've already said her voice is excellent. However it's a raw talent which needs more confidence. Confidence to use the dynamics she could obviously command to know when to belt it out and when to caress the mike. Confidence to follow the Billie Holliday influence she claims and emote inside that beautiful voice. Emote straight, not like the modern 'r&b divas' (spit, spit) but using the attractiveness of her voice and have the confidence to take centre stage, doing some of those feisty r&b women things of the '40s, or '30s, or even '20s.
The eclectic nature of the collection holds great promise, and when Imelda Clabby settles on the styles (plural) she likes best and is most suited to, she'll be a world beater.
This is a good collection with some great rockin' music, but I'd like to hear her with some subtle brush-stroke, late night stuff too. Buy this and wait for the absolutely great album she will make soon (with Darrel, I hope)." Pete Bowen, NDT #246
I feel that I must comment on the cover version of Till I kissed you on this album. Obviously, Darrel Higham and Imelda Clabby do not sound like The Everly Brothers, and they don't try to. The blend of their voices is something beautiful and different altogether. It's like they've taken the best of the original that they CAN reproduce, and then they've both added their own parts to it. This song alone is worth the price of the whole CD. Wonderful.... Roy Williams