Tang
The HuMp
Tang The Hump [a popular term credited to godfather of soul, James Brown used to instruct the drummer to ride the bell of the cymbal]
Why Tang The Hump? “It’s all about the groove,” exudes Jill. “The groove of life. Staying in the groove of songwriting, performing and growing as person and an artist. Sometimes you’re just shuffling. Some times you’ve got to rock. Every once in awhile you have to get quiet and slow things down. Then of course you have to swing. That’s what Tangin’ The Hump is all about.”
On Tang The Hump, Jill Block’s sophomore effort, she emerges with a rocking collection of originals and covers that will firmly position her between Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams in the world of Women who Rock.
As a songwriter Jill Block rises to new heights. Her song sense and writing skills have attracted the highest caliber of collaborators on Tang The Hump. Noteworthy tunesmiths Angelo, Phil Lee, Carter Wood, Walt Wilkins and Kent Agee contribute to six new Jill Block originals. Dig the Beatlesque vibe of Jill and Angelo’s “When The Devil Won’t Let Go” or the horn drenched Memphis soul of Phil Lee and Jill’s “If It Doesn’t Hurt.” Texas songwriting cult hero Walt Wilkins duets with Jill on “Easy To Love” a bluesy shuffle reminiscent of Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac. Jill and Carter Wood carve out two outstanding tracks on Tang The Hump; the loopy and infectious groove of “Don’t Pity Me” and the somber heartbreak of “Alone In A Crowd.”
Jill reaches back to her earliest influences growing up in Northern California as she covers Grace Slick’s Great Society version of “Somebody To Love” while Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” gets a whole new spin with a female vocal. Jill reveals, “I wanted to capture the influence of my San Francisco Bay upbringing. Grace and Neil were in my own backyard. They were very accessible and had a huge impact on me. I could feel their inspiration and influence as I grew as an artist.”
Jill also has an innate sense for song selection. Upon hearing the Joy Lynn White/Duane Jarvis penned “Love Sometimes” she new instantly that the Stonesy- love song was a must for the record. “Do You Think About Me” written by good friend and her one-time bass player, Lonesome Bob, is the kind of rock and roll song few women could handle but becomes an anthem for Block.
None of this would be worth jack if Jill weren’t a dynamic, energetic, performer with all the swagger and attitude of her male counterparts. When Jill takes the stage she is totally in command. As she wields her bright red Danelectro guitar and bangs out the intro of her opening number all eyes are on this gorgeous blonde with the powerful voice singing, “Love sometimes is like a diamond!”
Jill Block Rocks Y’all.
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