Simply Grand (2008)

De titel slaat op het feit dat de veteraan-soulzangeres hier eerst en vooral op vleugel (ofwel grand piano) begeleid wordt. Soms blijft het daarbij, in andere gevallen zijn de arrangementen afgemaakt met ander akoestisch instrumentarium. "Piano greats, old and young Ellis Marsalis, Dr. John, Henry Butler, Randy Newman, John Medeski, Norah Jones accompany Thomas on these all-acoustic tracks, accentuating the forceful gospel of John Fogerty's "River Is Waiting" and Thomas' sublime take on the Dinah Washington staple "This Bitter Earth." The practice of presenting legends in the raw has become predictable ever since Rick Rubin revived the late Johnny Cash's career, but aside from a few slight missteps here a bland Burt Bacharach number ("What Can I Do") and a tune that comes off like quiet storm unplugged ("Overrated") Thomas' versions of these stark, powerful tunes help Simply Grand live up to its title." (Mark Kemp, Rolling Stone)