Female soul stars of the future

With so many blues and soul artists from the classic era passing away - the latest being Dennis Edwards, lead singer of the Temptations on such monster hits as Cloud Nine, I Can't Get Next To You, Ball Of Confusion and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone - maybe it's time to look to a new generation to carry the flag. The Porretta Soul Festival has showcased several younger soul singers in recent years, including, last year, Oakland-based Terrie Odabi (pictured above), whose loss of community song Gentrification Blues was a highlight of her short set. I'm delighted that she's on the bill again this year, with more time I hope. Another young soul man who's impressed on a couple of occasions is Theo Huff, from Chicago, who has all the swagger of a Johnnie Taylor or Wilson Pickett and a voice to match. I would love to see him do more original material though.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YzeOyf6Io0
I'm not a fan of TV talent shows, with their fake excitement, artificiality and overall blandness. To really shine, new artists need to go on the road, put in the miles and the hours and develop their acts on tour in clubs and theatres. Here are three female singers who have come to my attention, although in all but one case I have yet to see them live.

Bette Smith was born in Brooklyn but recorded her first album Jetlagger in Water Valley, Mississippi. It was produced by blues man Jimbo Mathus, with backing from Memphis musicians such as Marc Franklin and Kirk Smothers, and came out on Big Legal Mess, a subsidiary of Fat Possum, last September. Videos show that she has a powerful and very soulful voice and looks great as well. There's a rough, tough edge to her voice on tracks like the funky Shackles And Chains and her new track the moody Durty Hustlin' which suggests she has loads of potential. She's due to play the Borderline in London on April 30 so UK soul fans will have the chance to check Bette out. Unfortunately I will be away on my next US road trip then (all being well), but I look forward to receiving feedback (thanks Dave!).    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8XA9ArpsZk

Another young female soul singer who I like the sound of is Liz Brasher, who began in gospel and whose idol is Mahalia Jackson. Another Fat Possum artist, she's recorded with Scott Bomar and wrote all her own songs on her first album which is due out soon. Tracks of hers worth a listen include Body Of Mine and Cold Baby. Her publicist says she's a 'Memphian of Dominican descent who grew up singing Spanish in the church,, and synthesises the sounds of 60s garage, girl groups sounds, dirty blues, holy roller church music and Bob Dylan into something completely her own.'  Worth checking out I think.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JziNKsGyup4

The third female singer, with a wonderfully bluesy voice, is J J Thames, who I first came across at Hal and Mal's Blue Monday jam session in Jackson, Mississippi in 2013. Originally from Detroit, she made her name on the chitlin circuit appearing with the likes of Willie Clayton, Denise LaSalle and Peggy Scott-Adams, but it wasn't until 2014 that she made her first album Tell You What I Know for Dechamp Records. I bought a copy when I saw her again at Hal and Mal's in 2015 and it's a cracker. Since then she has been touring with her group, the Violet Revolt, and has by all accounts been going down a storm. Her latest album is entitled Raw Sugar. She has toured Europe but has yet to visit the UK. Hopefully she will do so soon.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tG88U1Yjgc