May 1998

Irene Reid
Million Dollar Secret
Savant

By Nancy Ann Lee

Seasoned down-home singer Irene Reid makes her label debut with a swinging organ group featuring B-3 master (and session producer) Charles Earland, drummer Greg Rockingham, and guitarist Bob De Vos. Eight blue-ribbon arrangements, from gritty groovers such as "What A Difference A Day Makes;" to the samba-ized ballad, "Here's To Life;" to Reid's witty-kicker, "Big Fat Daddy," mingle her jazz-blues vocals with boss solos and section work from tenor saxman Eric Alexander and trumpeter James Rotundi.