Irma Thomas/James Hunter

The official Soul Queen of
New Orleans, Irma Thomas has gracefully matured from the belter who
literally 50 years ago (1958) told her romantic rivals, "You Can Have
My Husband (But Please Don’t Mess With My Man)," to a caresser who
engages the violins and doesn’t shed a shred of dignity on the bittersweet
"Another Lonely Heart." A survivor of not one but two hurricanes
(Camille and Katrina, the first one arguably tougher, as it temporarily
short-circuited her career), Thomas is equally comfortable with soaring
blues and gospel gravitas, wry, sexy mama send-ups, and, her stock-in-trade,
testimony about the day-to-day triumphs earned and tears dropped. At
the Dakota last time through she was engaging and self-assured, took
requests, and played a generous set that left everyone wanting more.
According to the various label and ticket sites, this Zoo gig is the
only spot on her concert calendar this summer—don’t be surprised
if she pulls something out from her upcoming Simply Grand CD,
due in August. The stellar and simpatico opener is James Hunter, who
plays retro blue-eyed soul with a passion and panache that seems steeped
in the mid-60s but conveys its immediacy the moment it hits your ears.