Dalannah Gail Bowen

Artist Information

Biography

"It's that voice! Smoky! Earthy! Powerful!
But it's not just the voice. It's what she does with it.
So much emotion. So much control!"
Doug Gallant Canadian Musician Magazine


Welcome and "thank you" for checking out my Sonicbids site.

As Dalannah Gail Bowen vocalist, I sing blues/jazz & gospel music. As Dalannah Gail Bowen, I am African-Canadian/Cherokee and I have been around a while (smiles).

This site is focused on the blues.

A reviewer described Dalannah's performances, known for their passionate & powerful delivery, with these remarks. "Dalannah's commanding stage presence is an enormous asset."


Altho' she have been singing for over forty years, Dalannah recorded my first blues cd at the age of 62.

Her previous cd "Mamma's Got The Blues" which gave a memorable performance with songs like 'Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Mamma's Got The Blues" created a huge following for this blues vocalist.

Along with her band, Straight-Up, that features multi-award winning guitarist harris Van Berkel, grammy-nominated keyboardist Michael Creber, Brian Newcombe on bass and Chris Nordquist on drums; the music created is powerful, high-energy hard-driving and infectious.

Taking the lead from blues traditionalists and incorporating a modern touch with a hint of jazz influence...but not too much... we deliver so that people leave our performances musically satisifed.
**
"The most sophisticated band blues you will ever hear."
John Valentyn Maple Blues Magazine

A critic described Dalannah's take on the Booker T. Jones' classic song "Born Under A BAd Sign" as "a near-definitive performance."

Good music is my main influence, diversity plays a role and yes there are specific people from Mahalia Jackson, Cannoball Adderly, Otis Spann, Esther Phillips, Etta James, Willie Dixon, the Staple Singers, Carmen McRae, Joni Mitchell and many more.

Personally, I have overcome many challenges in my life and am grateful to be able to share the gift of my voice & music with all of you.

Now that I have retired, for the most part, from my community work, I have begun to create as many opportunities as possible to share my music wherever it takes me...smiles

******************************************************************
The following is a more in depth description.

African-Canadian/Cherokee singer, Dalannah Gail Bowen's vocals have been described as "Billie Holiday meets Howlin' Wolf." She has been singing for forty years working with other artists and on her own. A singer, musical activist, playwright & actor, Dalannah's recent release "Mamma's Got The Blues" is her first blues recording.

Dalannah performed at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards national broadcast from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Vancouver Folk Festival with Faith Nolan, Pender Harbor Blues Festival, Gibson's Jazz Festival, In The Heart of The City Festival and more.

Dalannah opened for the great guitar player Joe Bonamassa to rave reviews and has had the opportunity to share the stage with many of the giants of blues over the years including BB King, James Cotton, Rev Gary Davis,Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters Walter "Shakey" Horton, Robert Cray, Freddie Hubbard and many, many more.


** Hot off the heels of some great press stateside, "Mamma's Got The Blues" is now receiving both AM & FM airplay in the US as well as receiving add-ons in Denmark, France, Germany, Norway and more


*****************************************

Her recently released blues CD "Mamma's Got The Blues" has been described as "timeless & contemporary", and another reviewer said, "Dalannah has known her share of the blues, you can hear it; but she's also known her share of joy, and it's to her credit that joy and triumph are the feelings that stay with you after listening to this album. The blues may be about sorrow, but they're also about redemption, and Dalannah knows how to share that with her listeners."

Want more info?
www.dalannahgailbowen.com

Instrumentation

Michael Creber - Piano
Brian Newcombe - Bass
Chris Nordquist - Drums
Harris Van Berkel - Guitar

Discography

On September 23, 2008, Quest Records released the second single "My Blues Keep Bringin' Me Home."


On November 20, 2007, Quest Records released Dalannah's first blues CD "Mamma's Got The Blues"

On Tuesday, March 25, Quest Records released "Up From The Skies", the first single from "Mamma's Got The Blues."

Her unique interpretation of the Jimi Hendrix classic is receiving positive reviews from both radio and the media alike.

We have been very pleased with the success of "Mama's Got The Blues" and the airplay it has recieved. From Paris, France to Chicago, USA selected songs have and continue to have frequent airplay including:
..Mamma's Got The Blues Canada/Europe/Japan

..My Blues Keep Bringin Me Home Canada/USA/Europe
..finalist in the International Songwriting Contest

..Still Alive & Well Canada/USA

...Early In The Mornin' Canada/US/Japan

..I Got This Bridge Europe/Canada

..Born Under A Bad Sign heavy in Chicago/ States/Japan

The cd "Mamma's Got The Blues" continues streaming and receiving airplay on CBC and fifty stations across Canada, the Western United States as well as being played in Argentina, France and Poland, Japan, Australia and is still receiving rotation


Critics views:
Excellent reviews...please see press page...lots of interviews and acknowledgements on mostly Canadian radio.

#40 Top 100 international new blues releases in North America
#2 in Top Ten blues albums for April
#14 top 20 albums of 2009 in Okanangan

Links

• website

Audio

• Early In The Morning
  Listen  
• Stone Cold & Crazy
  Listen  
• I Got This Bridge
  Listen  
• Live...Watermelon Man
  Listen  
• Live...Born Under A BAd Sign
  Listen  
• Live...You Can Have My Husband
  Listen  
• Live...Jealous Kind
  Listen  
• Live...Unchain My heart
  Listen  

Lyrics

• My Blues Keep Bringin' Me Home
• Mamma's Got The Blues
• Them Menz
• The Spirit Within

Video

1) Early in the Morning 2) My Blues Keep Bringin' Me Home

Photo Gallery

Press

• Canadian Musician's reviewMay 2009/Mamma's Got The Blues/Dalannah Gail Bowen [+ Show ]
  

  She has a truly spectacular set of pipes and a most commanding stage presence. Bowen, has one of ...She has a truly spectacular set of pipes and a most commanding stage presence.
  
  Bowen, has one of those voices that lays claim to part of your soul the first time you hear it and never lets go.
  
  It's that voice.
  Smoky. Earthy. Soulful. Powerful.
  
  But it's not just the voice. It's what she does with it. So much emotion. So much control.
  
  Catch her if you can.
  
  Doug Gallant
  Canadian Musician

• Canadian Blues Emagazine 2009 review [+ Show ]
  

  "Bowen delivers a smoldering set." "Bowen is a fine vocalist able to move effortlessly from cares..."Bowen delivers a smoldering set."
  
  "Bowen is a fine vocalist able to move effortlessly from caressing a line with subtle sensuality to testifying with gospel fervor within a single verse."
  
  "She exhibits remarkable control, pouring her soul into every note."
  
  John Taylor
  Canadian Blues

• Canada's Maple Blues magazine Review May 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  The following are excerpts from the article. "an exciting edge to her singing and songwriting" ...The following are excerpts from the article.
  
  "an exciting edge to her singing and songwriting"
  
  "accomplished singer with a stellar band"
  
  "some of the most sophisticated band blues you will ever hear"
  
  "commanding stage presence is an enormous asset..the effect on the crowd was dramatic"
  
  "this is what Nina Simone would have sounded like with an electric band"
  
  for complete review please go to www.dalannahgailbowen.com.
  
  

• Georgia Straight reviewMar/08 [+ Show ]
  

  Mamma's Got The Blues boasts some cleanly recorded originals, including the slinky title cut and a c...Mamma's Got The Blues boasts some cleanly recorded originals, including the slinky title cut and a couple of nifty covers, most notably a cool-shuffle rethink of Jimi Hendrix's"Up From The Skies", which demonstrates how well local veteran Dalannah Gail Bowen handles the jazzier side of the blues. Speaking of stalwarts, the record, which sounds both timeless and contemporary was produced and arranged by Bowen alongside Stratocaster master Harris Van Berkel, backed by his fun-loving criminals: Michael Creber on keyboards, Brian Newcombe on bass, Jim Salmon on percussion, Dave Say on saxophone and Chris Nordquist on drums.
  Jane Mortifee & Linda Kidder provide back-up vocals.
  Toward the end, everyone leaves the studio for five live cuts caught
  by the CBC. What's lost in sonic sheen (not a lot) on songs like an exultant "Unchain My Heart" and a near-definitive"Born Under A BAd Sign" is made up for in hard-to-capture energy and excitement.
  Ken Eisner

• Canada's Dalannah Gail Bowen/Feb08 [+ Show ]
  

  Starting from the very first song, "Mamma's Got The Blues" got my attention-what makes it a treat is...Starting from the very first song, "Mamma's Got The Blues" got my attention-what makes it a treat is just the right balance between raw, powerful blues and sophisticated jazz, evident in both, your vocal stylings, and music of your fine backing band. Speaking of your voice-it's sensual and memorable, not easy to forget or mistake with somebody else's.
  Together with well- chosen covers and a couple of self-penned tunes, your disc is full of good music, and enjoyable to listen to again and again.
  Prezmek Draheim
  DJ Radio Poland

• Bluewater Blues Radio May 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  I finally got the opportunity to sit down and truly spend some time listening to your new CD "Mamma'...I finally got the opportunity to sit down and truly spend some time listening to your new CD "Mamma's Got The Blues" and it is purely outstanding!
  
  In particular, I was blown away by you and the band on "I Got This Bridge I Want You To Buy" and the live cut of "Born Under A Bad Sign."

• TV Guide May 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  Vancouver blues-belter Bowen wields a commanding voice reminiscent of Etta James. Self-penned origin...Vancouver blues-belter Bowen wields a commanding voice reminiscent of Etta James. Self-penned originals segue seamlesslessly into well-chosen covers, including "Born Under A Bad Sign," "Unchain My Heart," even Jimi Hendrix's "Up From The Skies."
  white-hot backing band matches Bowen's passion for classic R&B
  
  Greg Potter
  Canada's TV Guide

• Blues Fest Brings Out The Best [+ Show ]
  

  "one woman really rocked the place, Dalannah Gail Bowen brought down the house" Peter Anderson Co..."one woman really rocked the place, Dalannah Gail Bowen
  brought down the house"
  Peter Anderson
  Coast Reporter
  Pender harbor Blues Festival review

Setlist

The following is our typical set list.
Mamma's Got The Blues original
MY Blues Keep Bringin' Me Home original
Early in The Morning adapted
U Kan have My Husband adapted
Still Alive & Well original
Born Under A Bad Sign adapted
I've Got This Bridge original
Up From The Skies adapted
I Got My Mojo Workin"
Jealous Kind adapted
Unchain My Heart adapted
I'm Saved adapted
Them Menz original

We have a wealth of standard blues songs that we do , however, more and more we are coming to a place of all original sets.

Basic Requirements

Calendar