Dona Oxford
Los Angeles, California, United States | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
Concert Review:
Doña Oxford Northside/Fat Fish Blue 7/17 and 7/18
What do you get when you mix Jerry Lee Lewis, with the funk and soul of James Brown, mix in the Sass of KoKo Taylor and wit of Bette Midler, with the power of Mahalia Jackson, and top it off with a contagious Cheshire Cat Grin? You get Doña Oxford.
Typically when I hear someone is extremely gifted in one area (piano in Doña's case) occasionally this means their vocals are “OK” and you sit and wait for the solo. This is NOT the case with Doña Oxford. While the samples on her web site allow you to hear her; the presence and power of her voice in a live setting made me believe that she really didn’t need a microphone. Her soul and passion saturate every note that comes from her lips.
Typically when I hear that someone is (again) extremely gifted in one area that means when you go to their concert you will hear nothing but that instrument. Doña is very wise, and knows that every good performer needs a good BAND. Guitarist Eduardo Garcia’s solos were “tasty” while the Rhythm Section of Mark Diffenderffer on Drums and BNY Dughba on bass showed FANTASTIC use of dynamics. This band has a huge amount of fun on stage as they play off each other. This then elicits an “Oh Yeah!” and a big smile from Doña and it’s very, very contagious.
About the time I was already impressed, they performed a song called “Doe’s Boogie” which explains why they call her "the boogie woogie woman." When the song was over, my body spent time looking for my head (as I believe it had exploded). Here she plays a solo with just the left hand (very impressive), and a solo with just her right hand (amazing). Then she puts them together and it was like watching David Copperfield. She’s doing it right in front of you but you have no idea how she is doing it. My hands cramp just thinking about it. On break I went up and shook her hand (and checked to make sure there were only five fingers – check). What’s the kicker on top off all of this? The band had started their day in New York, drove approximately eight hours to get to Ohio, and then put on this show. That is truly amazing. When I drove to Cleveland the next night to watch this again, it still completely blew me away.
So yes friends, Doña Oxford is currently touring the country (her schedule is on her website at www.donaoxford.com). If she’s coming to a city near you, you need to be there. If she’s not coming near you, you need to move. - David Jackson
Discography
DONA OXFORD
Step Up - Fountainbleu Records (2008)
Rowena Said... - Fountainbleu Records(1999)
Raw [live] - Fountainbleu Records (2002)
OTHER ARTISTS
Foggy Notion: Going to the Sun (1995) Piano
Popa Chubby: Brooklyn Basement Blues (1999) Organ
Shemekia Copeland: Wicked (2000) Piano
Popa Chubby Presents: NYC Blues (2000) Keyboards
Arthur Neilson: a piece of wood, some strings and a pick (2001) Piano
Better off Dead: Girl With a Job (2001) Piano
Felix Cabrera: Pressure Cooker (2001) Keyboards
Larry Thurston: School for Fools (2002) Piano
Photos
Bio
Tina! Janis! Aretha! Doña? That's right! There's a new one-name wonder in town! Also known as "The Boogie Woogie Woman" for her two fisted piano playing, Doña Oxford is fronting one of the hottest Soul, Rock and R&B bands of the 21st century! The word is out that when Doña sings, her vocal cool gets her audience all heated up!! It's all attitude, sultry good looks and a down and dirty beat that makes it happen when Doña (pronounced doan-ya) hits the stage!
Doña is the offspring of a trumpet playing Episcopal Priest father and a cabaret singer mom. Born on June 2, this Gemini is a seasoned performer. She started playing piano at age five, on a one octave toy piano. By age 6 it was apparent that Doña was serious. Her mother bought her an upright Baldwin piano - her first real piano, and by 7 she was giving concerts at school.
Along the way, Doña took center stage with another talent - singing. Doña strengthened her pipes and learned her stage savvy with years of theatrical work; both regionally and Off-Broadway. With her theatrical interest, she went to New York City to study Drama at NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. But it was her lust for Blues and Rock & Roll that inspired Doña to leave the theater business and set out for the New York Nightclub Scene!
It was there that Doña honed her craft. She quickly climbed the musical ladder to play with such legendary performers as Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmy Vivino, Popa Chubby and her idol, the father of the rock & roll piano, Johnnie Johnson!
Doña has also appeared on several critically acclaimed albums, including Shemekia Copeland's 2000 Grammy Nominated CD, "WICKED", and Doña's own albums, "ROWENA SAID...” and "RAW". Calling Chicago her home, Doña continues to impress worldwide audiences with her Roots, R&B style. Doña Oxford and her band offer an unforgettable musical experience and are definitely a show not to miss!!!
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