Lee County Courier

Louise Cappi is the real deal, an internationally acclaimed jazz/blues, aoul singer-songwriter, recording artist and bandleader. If that name rings a chord you’re on the right track — she is the child of the late great Jazz guitarist and pioneer of the seven string guitar, Mr. Al Cappi.

Her latest album, Melange, has a variety of flavors including Afro-Cuban, Bossa Nova, rock, funk, swing, ballads and , of course, the blues.

It’s primarily covers but great covers like Randy Newman’s “Guilty,” Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” and George and Ira Gershwin’s “Summertime.”

A main exception is “Bella Nola.”

“When I wrote ‘Bella Nola’ it was a very emotional experience for me. I thought about all the good times, like Mardi Gras, Jazz fest, crawfish boils and backyard bar-b-q’s with family and friend,” Louise said. “I thought about how the people of this city love to celebrate life. Then came Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She blew through the city with a (almost jealous) vengeance. She left a path of devastation in her wake. During the music solo of the song, I had AJ Hall play a Military March to signify the need for a police state. Katrina tried to drown the spirit of New Orleans. But not for long. She rose up and rebuilt herself to once again take her rightful place as the ‘Crown Jewel’ of the south.”

Melange is a keeper.