One of the great joys of the Minnesota Zoo concert series thus far was James Hunter, opening for New Orleans soul queen Irma Thomas. Like her, Hunter is a throwback -- but he's young enough to be her son. Musically, his retro R&B sound suggests the Blasters, though this pompadoured Brit adds lots of humor. One of the highlights of his set and his new "The Hard Way" CD is "Jacqueline," a sassy stroll through Boardwalk doo-wop with lots of sexy sax and emotional vocals that evoke Jackie Wilson. By the by, Hunter is returning to the zoo this summer to open for Chris Isaak on Aug. 13.
JON BREAM
