LaVette!

The legendary Bettye LaVette just shared she’ll release her next offering, "LaVette!", on June 16th, 2023, via Jay-Vee Records. In celebration of the announcement of the collection of songs written by Randall Bramblett, LaVette released a new song titled “Plan B”.

“I ain’t got no f***ing other plan”, said LaVette in regard to her latest collection since her 61-year storied career began. "LaVette!" sees the artist partner once again with producer Steve Jordan, who founded Jay-Vee Records with Meegan Voss.

“Bettye LaVette is like a combination of Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis”, says Jordan. “When I prepare a band for her, I make sure we have it together. When she joins us, we’re only gonna get one or two takes, because she puts her heart and soul into each performance”.

The band which Jordan, who also drums on the album, arranged includes the stylings of Pino Palladino on bass, Larry Campbell and Chris Bruce on guitars, and Leon Pendarvis on keyboards, with guests John Mayer, Jon Batiste, Anthony Hamilton, Steve Winwood, Ray Parker Jr, Rev Charles Hodges, James Carter and Pedrito Martinez.

“I’m very happy with what we’ve done”, LaVette added. “It is very, very difficult to please an old woman, but I’m nearly excited”.

The artist also sang the praises of the aforementioned Bramblett in saying, “I think he’s the best songwriter I’ve heard in the past 30 years, and I just discovered him 8 years ago”.

“When Bettye gets a hold of a song, it becomes her song”, Jordan explained. “It’s like she wrote it. She’s a great messenger, a communicator, an interpreter”.