Jill Newman
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF
Music
Press
Blame the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. And, while you’re at it, the White Stripes, Black Keys, and every other act that at some point decided the only thing Robert Johnson’s old recordings were missing was a lethal injection of distortion and some serious tub-thumping on the back end. Somewhere along the line, blues rock fell out of fashion, replaced by blues rawk that sounds more indebted to Led Zeppelin than Leadbelly.
Jill Newman dials back time on Lovestruck Blues, a record that features an unfussy and economical production job that’s retro-sounding without seemingly precious or coldly calculated. The singer has a voice that’s more well-worn country twang than back-alley blues, but that works to her advantage on numbers like the strutting “Too Hard to Handle” and the last-call shuffle “Without You”.
As for the playing, if you’re looking for obnoxious showboating, better to haul that old Stevie Ray Vaughan vinyl out of the crawl space. Newman’s unflashy but solid work always comes down on the right side of tasteful, so close your eyes and cue up the title track and you’re transported to a honky-tonk somewhere deep in Tennessee—the kind of place where there’s sawdust on the floor, cigarette smoke hangs thick in the air, and no one has ever heard of those overamped phonies known as the Soledad Brothers. - Michael Usinger, Music Editor, Georgia Straight 2014
A garden of musical delights...
Of the CDs reviewed by the JWB, a local guitarist has one of the finest.
Fragile Walls blends country, blues and folk. The title track is one of the best, musically and lyrically: "Fragile walls that we see through / Thought I was hiding / but everyone knew...." Other highlights of the CD include "Dead End Road (surf song)," which could have been on the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction, and "You Can't Get There From Here." Featuring all original tunes – this recording showcases Newman's songwriting, guitar playing and singing talents. The songs have a genuine sentiment and sound.
Cynthia Ramsay, The Independent (Vancouver BC) - by Cynthia Ramsay, The Independent (Vancouver, BC)
Jill Newman is a pleasure to work with and knows how to rock a crowd with Chicago style blues
Oliver McTavish-Wisden, Recreation Leader, Leigh Square, City of Port Coquitlam - Oliver McTavish-Wisden, Recreation Leader, Leigh Square, City of Port Coquitlam
"Jill is an authentic electric blues guitarist - a treat for all audiences".
Bruce Gerrish, Producer, Vancouver City Limits - Bruce Gerrish, Producer, Vancouver City Limits
Discography
Fragile Walls, released in 2004
Lovestruck Blues (scheduled for release February 2014)
Photos
Bio
Vancouver based electric guitarist, Jill Newman plays the guitar in a way that few women do. Shes been described as a fierce guitarist, able to squeeze out a raw, emotional sound, but with the technical skills to play a smoking lead solo. It was Jill's recent work playing Jimmy Pages blues inspired riffs in an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band that led her back to her first love playing the blues. And its the Chicago blues, where Jill's unique voice and gutsy guitar playing truly shine.
Jill's love of music began at an early age. With a mom who played Chopin on the piano and a dad who listened exclusively to Hank Williams and Dolly Parton, Jill quickly learned that musical styles don't matter so long as the music is good. As a child living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jill wrapped her fingers around any stringed instrument she could find. Jill discovered her love of the electric guitar as a teen playing her Strat copy until she literally wore out the frets. By her early 20s, Jill was living in Vancouver and playing guitar full time. Jill honed her considerable chops touring throughout BC and Alberta and playing 6-7 nights a week in everything from country rock and roots groups to original indie rock bands.
It was hearing Freddie King tearing up a solo on Reconsider Baby that turned Jill's attention towards the blues. Heavily influenced by the three Kings of electric blues, but also the slide styles of Elmore James and Bonnie Raitt, Jill formed her own blues trio in 2009. She thrilled audiences at the Maple Ridge Roots and Blues Festival and brought the crowd to their feet at a show with Juno nominated guitarist, Bill Johnson. As a regular in the Vancouver music scene, Jill made frequent stops at the Railway Club and the former home of the blues in Vancouver, the Yale Hotel. Jill continues to perform her own brand of original electric blues and roots music at clubs and festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Jill's new CD, Lovestruck Blues, released in May 2014, features ten original blues and roots songs and showcases Jill's gutsy Chicago style lead and slide guitar work and solid songwriting. Lovestruck Blues was recorded at Seattle's Egg Studios (Presidents of the United States) and Heavyosonic (Linda McCrae) in Vancouver. Lovestruck Blues has recently been featured on At the Crossroads Blues Radio Network and on internet stations throughout Canada, the United States, Spain, Belgium and the Philippines. Michael Usinger, music editor for the Georgia Straight, Vancouver, BC, says that [Jill's] "....solid work always comes down on the right side of tasteful." Eric Steiner, Editor of the Bluesletter, WA Blues Society describes Jill as "...a very talented songwriter and guitar player." Jill's debut album, Fragile Walls (2004) showcases her songwriting, skillful instrumental work and passionate singing. Her songs are filled with the depth and emotion that comes from a lot of living and a lot of miles on the road.
Whether she's playing slide on her vintage telecaster or bending her Gibson strings into spaghetti, Jill's take-no-prisoners approach to the guitar is gutsy and authentic. As one of the Pacific Northwests finest female electric guitarists, Jill Newman delivers a potent cocktail of rockin' blues.
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