New Orleans often gets short shrift when it comes to recognition as a cradle of modern-day funk, but, in fact, the Crescent City has a long and distinguished history of producing cutting-edge funk beginning in the late 1960s and continuing to the present day.

And Veda Love’s Make Me Yours Tonight represents a major chapter in that honored New Orleans tradition, offering up a healthy portion of what one of the CD’s hottest tracks aptly describes as “Southern Fried Gumbo Funk.”

Coming up in one of the city’s most-venerated gospel choirs and paying dues with top-rank headliners like Eddie Bo, Johnny Adams, and Jean Knight, lead vocalist Veda Love stands squarely in the Crescent City soul tradition.

But most of all, this passionate songstress upholds the New Orleans custom of powerful ensemble music, blending attention-getting vocals with her super-talented back-up band in way that recalls the glory days of Chaka Khan and Rufus.

With seamless arrangements perfectly suited to her passionate style, Veda Love shines on fresh remakes of classics like “Standing on Shaky Ground” and “Rock Me Baby,” moving interpretations of three Joseph “Mr. Big Stuff” Broussard compositions, and a pair of ballads by Denise LaSalle, obviously a Southern soul sister.