Music
Press
“Blue Merlot’s first CD is a really fine roots/blues recording. High quality sound, beautifully written and arranged songs combined with great playing from all involved make their initial effort leaving me wanting more. Plus the excellent vocals from Brenda Lowry are wonderfully rendered, especially when paired with Terrance Simien on the subject of the Katrina aftermath in the painfully poignant Floatin’ Round New Orleans, my favorite track out of many I like on this disc. I have yet to hear them live but reports I have heard say they are just as good or better than the CD. I, for one, am looking forward to their next record.”
–Brett Fleming, WEVL-FM, Memphis, TN
“...such a wide variety of blues styles, all very well done... really fine work....great Louisiana blues.”
–Raoul Breaux, Blues Box, KRVS-FM, Lafayette, LA
“Blue Merlot kicks serious butt!”
–Mike Ross, WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA
“An inspired live show. You never know what to expect.... A fun CD....love that Blue Tarp City. Blue Merlot really pops my cork!”
–Lee K, the Breakfast Club, KANE-AM, New Iberia, LA
“It’s great and you’re great!...It’s an honor to play your music!”
–Bill & Pat Hudson, Good Morning Blues, WRFG-FM, Atlanta, GA
“Wow! What great tracks, such variety and Brenda you have a cool "unbluesy" voice that really works!”
–www.DigitalBlues.uk
“Great job on the CD! Big Ovaries is gonna be a big hit! It’s so inspiring, I’m gonna start misbehaving!”
–Stephanie LeBlanc
“Blue Merlot is the epitome of South Louisiana soulful blues...”
–Sydney Landry
“Highly sublimating blues experience....gumbo good instrumentation, clear, razzamatazz vocalist...”
–Deacon Diane Moore
- various
Discography
Blue Merlot -- recorded at Dockside Studios. Engineer: Steve Reynolds, Joshua Murrell. Mastering: Roger Nichols. Producer: Joshua Murrell.
Photos
Bio
The hurricanes of the summer of 2005 made the members of Blue Merlot, all of whom live in south Louisiana, more determined than ever to complete their first CD as a band. The pre-production on the project was almost completed when coastal Louisiana (and the rest of the Gulf Coast) got hit with a one-two punch from Katrina and Rita. Ask any musician from the area....it's been... interesting.
A positive outcome of this was that the healing process of songwriting resulted in several storm-related songs on their CD. One is included in this EPK, "Floatin' Round New Orleans." Written from the point of view of a possible future (what happens if the Gulf Coast isn't protected?), it's becoming a crowd pleaser, along with their originals like "Delete Me" (a funny and biting love-gone-wrong-in-the-21st century song), "Blue Tarp City" (a somewhat sarcastic look at the sudden surge in home remodelling along the Gulf Coast), and "Big Ovaries."
The experienced musicians of Blue Merlot blend professionalism with the love of the art to include listeners in their fun. Solid rhythms, harmonic vocals, and keyboard virtuosity are just some of the hallmarks of this group. You’ll hear unique interpretations of blues classics - from Delta Blues to numbers from the legacies of the early tent show blues queens - mixed into a jazzy style that rocks and swings. Add to that repertoire some Louisiana R & B, New Orleans piano styles, a funky rhythm attitude and a touch of Gospel, and you have a mixture that’s heady, intoxicating, and highly entertaining.
The band fits smoothly into venues as varied as festivals with family attendance, dancehalls, restaurants, and nightclubs. Crowds stick around to hear this band. And why not? The music is accessible, and just plain fun.
Links
