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Quotes from the critics:
With an amiable retro sound, Cari Lee plays it cool and sassy - a curious sense of fun just lurking beneath her sophistication. Vintage Guitar Magazine says of Cari Lee`s singin` (with her rural jazz group The Saddle-ites), "Her vocals are full and expressive, rich as a cup of dark coffee, and smooth as new asphalt road." The same can be said of this project, wherein she proves that torch comes to her as naturally as twang. Produced by Billy Horton, Scorched has all the sonic charm of the era in which it tributes, capturing the live feel of what sounds like a hot club act. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music
Cari Lee's voice is mesmerizing. The Contenders kick some serious traditional R&B booty. The swing rhythms and the orchestration are perfect on their 2005 release "SCORCHED" (Star Tone Records). This is an award-worthy disc at every turn. The original songwriting is fabulous and the covers are done in a refreshing manner. The feel of the album is going to make you tap your feet. Every song is a testament to the fact that traditional swing, rockabilly and R&B are not forgotten. The piano work is stellar, and the saxophone work is truly screamin'. The disc even contains a video of the song "Fine Fine Man," written by Cari Lee. Without a doubt, this is one of the best projects of 2005. " Lucky Boyd, My Texas Music
Cari Lee Merritt has made a big stylistic leap from the hillbilly swing of her first two albums with the Saddle-ites to early '50's r&b. Produced by in Austin by Billy Horton with a crack ensemble featuring saxman Dan Torosian, drummer Damian Llanes, jazz bassist Ray Gould, pianist T Jarrod Bonta, and husband/guitarist Steve Merritt, the 11-song set reveals a smolderingly sexy side to the California-based songstress.
Reveling in postwar jump blues, Merritt channels the brassy styles of such classic chanters as Ella Mae Morse ("Fine Fine Man"), Koko Taylor ("I'm a Little Mixed Up") and Varetta Dillard ("Scorched"). Further, by combining the jazzy coolness of Anita O'Day ("Don't Be a Fool") with Eartha Kitt's purring sensuality ("How Come"), she creates a palpable aura of late-night liberation.
Instrumentally, Torosian's tenor sax swings the proceedings with authority and Mr. Merritt's guitar smartly apes Charlie Christian's mellow drive. However, it's Ms. Merritt's ability to run the gamut from Marcia Ball-type r&b ("The Lover's Curse") and sassy cha-cha-flavored despair ("Burnt Toast and Black Coffee") to growling, insatiable rockabilly ("You Shock Me") that makes this disc so exciting. Drenched in atmosphere and daringly executed, this is her most inspired work to date.
- Ken Burke, CST Magazine
About The Album:"Cari Lee and The Contenders are living proof of the fact that the rug cuttin', bar-creepin', house-wailing, solid-sending music we know as R&B is indeed alive and well. Just listen to the sparks burstin' on the sax break to "Scorched," the collection's title opus. Groove on the easy jumpin' cool-jazz edged feel to "How come". Bend your ears to the killer hot-wired guitar strikes in the tortured "I'm a little mixed up" or the torchy speak-easy treatment given "Don't be a fool" and you'll most definitely get caught up in this R&B solid sender.This first time solo album by Cari Lee is enriched by some of Austin's top rhythm cats, including Damien Llane, drummer for the W.C. Handy Award winner Nick Curran and sax blowin,' Dan Torosian, player from another W.C. Handy Award winner, Marcia Ball. Let's not forget bass trad-master Ryan Gould, piano masseur T Jarrod Bonta from Dave Biller's outfit and Steve Merritt, San Francisco's hot-jazz guitar master. With Scorched, Cari Lee delivers like never before."
-Opal Louis Nations (Rhythm & Blues Historian)
