Mills is from Mississippi, but Tempered In Fire was recorded in Kent, England, and there’s a vaguely intercontinental feel to proceedings. Most of the songs lean heavily to southern soul, including covers of the old Wet Willie tune, “Keep On Smiling,” and Otis Redding’s immortal “These Arms Of Mine.”

But the dominant instrument here is Andy Fairweather Low’s brooding guitar and, while he’s more than accomplished enough to handle the music – he has, after all, worked with a veritable who’s who of UK rock royalty (including touring and recording with Clapton and George Harrison) - there’s something somehow more complex, more cerebral, to his fretwork than typical of most southern soul.

That’s neither fault nor complaint, though – the band is uniformly excellent, with Mills herself contributing guitar as well, and there’s stellar support from bassist Ian Jennings and drummer Eric Heigle. It’s just an element in the overall sound, a sound that blends the earthy and organic with carefully consideredand exquisitely understated elegance. It’s taken a while for Mills to step up front for a collection under her own name. It’s about time – hers voice for the ages. Great stuff!

Lisa will be performing alongside Ian Jennings on double bass whose background includes Jeff Beck,Van Morrison and the Big Town Playboys