I've known about her for a LONG time, but have never bothered to actually check out her music. Caught an episode of Austin City Limits last week that she was on, and DAMN!!!! DOing music mostly from her new CD "Scene of the Crime".She doesn't write much of any music she sings. Mainly reworks other's songs, but according to her she refuses to rework a song if she can't make it better. I'd have to say she succeeds at it.
She has a similar sound at times to Tina Turner, only singing soul music, not pop. To see her on TV you could see she invests herself emotionally in each and every song. She had people crying in the audience on a couple.