Matriarch of the Blues
| Matriarch of the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Etta James | ||||
| Released | December 12, 2000 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 64:19 | |||
| Label | Private Music | |||
| Producer | Donto Metto James Sametto James Lupe DeLeon (executive) |
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| Etta James chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 69/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Associated Press | (positive) |
| Robert Christgau | B+ |
| Entertainment Weekly | B |
| The Morning Call | (negative) |
| Rolling Stone |  |
Matriarch of the Blues is an album by Etta James, released in December 2000 through the record label Private Music. The album's title reflects James' nickname as "matriarch of the blues". Marking James' return to blues following attempts at country music and jazz and pop standards, the album consists primarily of rhythm and blues covers. James' sons, Donto and Sametto, are credited as engineers, mixers, and producers, among other contributions; the album features Mike Finnigan on the Hammond organ, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, and performances on multiple instruments by Jimmy Zavala.
Matriarch of the Blues received mixed critical reception. Following its release, the album reached a peak position of number two on Billboard's Top Blues Albums chart. Billboard's final issue for 2001 included Matriarch as number ten on its list of Top Blues Albums for the year. The album was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 44th Grammy Awards.
Entertainment Weekly considered Matriarch of the Blues reflected James' desire to reclaim her title of the "mother of the blues" following earlier attempts at country music and jazz and pop standards.Rolling Stone grouped Matriarch in a "trifecta" with James' previous two studio albums, Life, Love & the Blues (1998) and Heart of a Woman (1999). Prior to the album's release, James performed at the eighteenth annual San Francisco Jazz Festival at the Masonic Auditorium. The concert lasted over three house and featured an eight-piece band which included her sons Donto and Sametto.
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