Bettye LaVette is back with her new album for Jay-Vee Records, LaVette! Produced by Steve Jordan, the records features 11 songs written by Georgia-born musician Randall Bramblett, who has been releasing solo albums since 1975. “Randall is the best writer that I have heard in the last 30 years,” says LaVette. “He writes songs that are little soliloquies, they’re like little stories about a moment, or a thing.”

On the album LaVette is backed by Jordan on drums, Pino Palladino on bass, Larry Campbell on guitar, Leon Pendarvis on keyboards, and Chris Bruce on guitar. Guest artists include John Mayer, Jon Batiste, Anthony Hamilton, Steve Winwood, Ray Parker Jr., Rev. Charles Hodges, James Carter and Pedrito Martinez, to name a few.

Even if you didn’t know the sharp twists and turns of Bettye LaVette’s story, or for that matter, her wide-ranging influences—you can hear the traces of all of it in her voice.

“Bettye LaVette is like a combination of Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis,” says producer Steve 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.”

Released in June of 2023, LaVette! is available here on CD and double vinyl LP.