With Live at the BMC, Lil’ Red (Nancy Gros) overcomes any of the usual problems with recording a live CD, and the sound is remarkably clear.

The repertoire is familiar to fans around town, including three originals penned by the musical director and lead guitarist, Jeff Ruello, in tandem with Gros, both born and raised in New Orleans. “Just One More Tear,” a dramatic and wistful lament of love lost, recalls the very best of the blues while “Shoes For My Blues” is a rocking revelry with obvious southern rock roots. Another original, “Ace Up My Sleeve,” provides ample opportunity for another trademark Nancy Gros sassy and sexy vocal.

The distinctive tones of Ruello’s Gibson guitar punctuate a thoughtfully-chosen historical reprise of virtually unknown standards transformed into something special—few devotees of R&B claim familiarity with an obscure song from the south side of Chicago “Crying for My Baby.” While closely adhering to King Floyd’s arrangement of “Feel Like Dynamite,” the band reinterprets the 1961 regional hit, “Got Your Voodoo Working” with a hauntingly fresh vibrancy while Ruth Brown’s “As Long As I’m Movin’,” played at high volume, is irresistibly energetic.

Rarely does a band ever pay so much attention to enhance yet faithfully preserve the legacy of the past while composing soon-to-be classics with such a captivating sound.