Bradley/ McGillivray Blues Band

"There's a nice balance between Ruth McGillivray and Sheldon Bradley. Her vocals are imposing while his guitar licks are smooth with a jazz influence, slightly reminiscent of the little-known but great Jerry Miller of Moby Grape. Augmented by organ and a tight rhythm section, Livin' This Way has a funky groove that has been thickened by producer Bill Buckingham. It's probably not fair to focus on bonus track, "Piece of My Heart," as the originals stand up, but McGillivray has found a midway point between the Erma Franklin original and the Janis Joplin showpiece. She makes the song her own."

-- Tom Harrison

- Vancouver Province

"Clear vocals, effective lyrics and some good production make up this easy listening R&B album. If Ruth is playing in your town you really must check her out. The music on the CD is pleasurable and soulful. If her live gig is similar you’ll no doubt have a good time. I look forward to hearing more of her material. I have a feeling this artist is here for the long haul. This CD is an excellent beginning."

- L.C. Di Marco

- Indie-Music-Toronto

"Never judge a book, or a CD, by its cover. River of Soul, recorded in a Surrey studio, pictures vocalist Ruth McGillivray and guitarist Sheldon Bradley on the banks of a rural stream, and one expects a folk album. Who'da thunk we're in for an hour of full bodied R&B in the spirit of early Bonnie Raitt? Things get off to a great start with the get-down I See Purple, Bradley's (McGillivray's songwriting partner) guitar and Steve Soucy laying down a good groove. Jewelry Box makes a shuffle beat sound funky, while Starin' Down the Road has great acoustic slide guitar work from Bradley and a rousing vocal from the singer. McGillivray does her most soulful singing on I'm Leavin' , a slow blues delivered with great feeling, and Ain't Gonna Miss You, which begins quietly and ends with the house rocking. Because this is self-distributed, not all stores will carry the disc. It can be ordered on McGillivray's Web site (ruthmcg.com)."

- Marke Andrews
- Vancouver Sun

"Ruth McGillivray, from Vancouver, is reputed to be one of that city's finest R&B singer/songwriters & her recently released album, "River Of Soul", showcases both those areas of talent admirably. 11 of the 12 tracks are originals composed either by Ruth or in collaboration with her regular accompanist, guitarist Sheldon Bradley. Well produced & packaged with Ruth & Sheldon joined by some of western Canada's hottest musicians, this album represents another shout to attract attention to the wealth of musical talent currently working in & around that region."

- Judge Jones - Blues Free Press

"Immediately upon hearing this CD, you can sense the power in Ruth's voice. It's like the subdued churning of a big V8 at idle. As she gently finesses through delicate passages, your anticipation builds and soon enough patience is rewarded with the power, the fury, that is Ruth McGillivray. While the CD does not produce the sonic clarity and breathy dynamic that Ruth has in live performances, it is a fine showcase for some solid songwriting and brilliant interpretation. I rate this one a 'must have'."

-- Kevin Gould
- CD Baby

"I have never run across a voice that has such an immediate and visceral impact. Rivetting. River of Soul? "I'm Leaving" is spine tingling. Literally. It stands up beside any blues performance by any singer of any era. "I Still Love You" is wonderfully intimate and gentle. "Cry" makes me. Ruth is a future blues legend."

-- RN
- CD Baby

“The combination of a fantastic blues voice and tight & tasty jazz/funk guitar begins to describe Ruth & Sheldon. I kept wondering whose songs they were covering till I realized it was their own material. They blew away the 23rd, 2004 Sunshine Music Festival in Powell River!”

- Don Bowes, Artistic Director
- Artistic Director

Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band - Livin’ This Way
"Sheldon Bradley and Ruth McGillivray (BMcG) are veteran performers, on guitars and voice respectively, and I think with this, their second CD, they’re going to make an impact. They write excellent original songs and deliver them with drive and passion. BMcG are based in Vancouver and with the help of their new rhythm section, Paul Freeman on bass and Hoto Parker on drums with Darryl Havers & producer Bill Buckingham helping out on keys, have put together one fine album. McGillivray credits Susan Tedeschi and Janis Joplin as formative influences and she certainly has the vocal power she needs to carry these songs. Bradley credits Robben Ford & Warren Haynes and has certainly learned to harness his guitar playing to the needs of the song. “Do It For Love” opens the CD in fine style, a much-needed tonic for those overwhelmed by the realities of the music business. An unusual choice was to do a blues version on “Tennessee Waltz”. I’m not entirely sure the arrangement works but it does stand out - it is most definitely the vocal highlight. “Not The Body” adds some funk to the mix. “Changes” is perhaps more rock-oriented but may be the best song here. McGillivray sings most convincingly of the changes in her life that “scare the hell out of me”. “Just Like A Woman” and “The Hardest Thing” slow the pace down a bit with ‘Hardest’ showing their jazz side. “Blues Is My Affliction (Groove is my addiction)” is a new candidate for a blues anthem and my guess is you’ll be hearing this one more frequently. A bonus track is McGillivray’s arrangement of “Piece of my Heart”, which was included by fans’ request. Their web site is www.bradmcg.com and it has samples for you to check out."

--John Valentyn

http://www.torontobluessociety.com/0809johnspicks.htm - MapleBlues Magazine

"...Of the dozens of Vancouver-based bands we’ve heard in the last 16 years the Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band is one of the strongest. Actually, they’re Top 5, based on this powerhouse CD. They’re a 4-piece band; Ruth McGillivray on vocals, Sheldon Bradley on guitars, Paul Freeman on bass and Hoto Parker on drums. They’re augmented by the presence of the great Darryl Havers on organ and Bill Buckingham on keyboards (various).

Right from the first notes of track #1 “Do It For Love” you get hit with an exceptionally tight and funky sound. It becomes very evident how/why Bradley/McGillivray survive the dog-eat-dog circuit; they’re the Best of the Blue-collar working bands (they really should be elevated above the bar circuit thanks to their unique sound and overall talent) and the original “Do It…” eloquently states their existence and philosophy. “When My Love Comes Calling” is one of the finest funky Soul numbers ever composed by Caucasians and I could easily picture this tune being covered by one of the original Stax artists (had the song existed back in 1970!).

The rhythm section is rock-solid bass and drums and Bradley exhibits taste way beyond his years playing all the right stuff on lead and rhythm. Ruth M. avoids all of the many pitfalls that usually trip-up female vocalists i.e. Joplin scream/shriek fest exercises. She has a big ‘athletic’ voice that emerges effortlessly (or so it seems!) and it’s also a voice that one can’t get tired of. “Tennessee Waltz” (yes, the “Tennessee Waltz”) gets a slow Blues treatment, which proves that if you’re really good enough you can transform just about anything into a powerful Blues. “Changes” is a very marketable number thanks to its hybrid Funk/Rock/Blues identity (virtually every track is written by Bradley/McGillivray) and dance-floor strength.

“It’s Always Rainin’” is a tune everyone in Southern B.C., Oregon and Washington can relate to and it’s an exceptional minor masterpiece with its Country Blues-meets Funky town identity. Excellent material and performance. Ditto for “Just Like A Woman”, a hip-movin’, toe tapper that’ll fill the dance-floor in seconds. “The Hardest Thing” is a slow Blues with mucho atmosphere akin to late 1960s B.B. King-meets-Jimmy Smith (thanks to smoky Hammond organ). Sheldon says so much with just a few notes picked on his guitar.

“That Ain’t What I Need” is a potential standard for ‘exotic’ dancers thanks to its strutting attitude and Funk foundation. Ruth really sings her heart out on this one. I’d put this track (and the next one) up against any other Canadian band’s creations and feel confident that Bradley/McGillivray would kick butt in any type of ‘contest’ or comparison. “Blues Is My Affliction” is a powerhouse finale that should be shopped around aggressively as I think I know a Blues ‘standard’ when I hear one. Many of the ‘Star’ Blues talents don’t have repertoire material as good as this.

“Livin’ This Way” is easily one of the Best Canadian Blues albums not just of 2008, but also of the last several years. We can hope that this excellent Band gets ‘pole-vaulted’ out of the tough grind of club gigs and get their wonderful sound in front of Festival audiences (especially in Europe where they’ll be appreciated for their talents). 5 Bottles for a surprisingly tough, tight and totally enjoyable CD that’s as fresh and unique as it gets."

…A. Grigg
http://www.realbluesmagazine.com/
- Real Blues Magazine

"The words "overnight sensation" and "blues act" seldom appear in the same sentence.

Many acts who've chosen to follow in the footsteps of the Muddy Waters, the Buddy Guys, and the Stevie Ray Vaughans of the world log a lot of miles together before they begin to experience the kind of success their talents warrant--but those years can make you strong.

A case in point is North Vancouver's Bradley/McGillivray Blues Band, a wickedly good act fronted by guitarist Sheldon Bradley and powerhouse vocalist Ruth McGillivray.

Over the space of some nine years Bradley, McGillivray, and company--namely bass player Paul Freeman and drummer Hoto Parker--have crafted elements of classic blues, jazz, gospel, and soul into a formidable, groove-driven sound with some very original twists and turns.

You can't help but be impressed by a band that takes a country classic like "The Tennessee Waltz" and transforms it into a great slow blues tune--one, I might add, that showcases McGillivray's most impressive pipes to perfection. But this is no one-man lineup. If you can shift your focus away from McGillivray's vocals you'll find Bradley to be a very fluid, very natural player, and the rhythm section of Freeman and Parker is rock solid.

Their last album, the Bill Buckingham-produced Livin' This Way, was cited by Real Blues Magazine as one of the best Canadian blues albums of 2008. Based on repeated plays of several tracks, I'm inclined to agree."

--Doug Gallant - Canadian Musician Magazine - July 2009