Lady "A" - Pacific NW Blues Diva
Renton, Washington, United States | SELF
Music
Press
The new release by Seattle's Lady "A" and her Baby Blues Funk Band is tight, funky old school R&B at its very best. If you have seen here live (very highly recommended by the way) you know that they put on a high energy, good time, fill the dance floor and keep them there shaking it until they drop show. Well Blue Z in the Key of Me follows suit with some sophisticated jazzy slow cheek to cheek numbers tossed in for good measure.
The Baby Blues Funk Band are Richard L. Mills on guitar, Gary Smith on bass and J. Oliver III on drums, keys and other instrumentation plus bass on three tracks. Oliver also had a hand in writing the music for a dozen of the 13 original tracks and lyrics on 6. Additional guest musicians, although track listings for them aren't noted, include Bruce Laing-harmonica, Steve Black-guitar, Butch Harrison-trumpet and Teri Anne Wilson-guitar. In addition to the 13 originals, 2 classic bonus cover songs Rufus Thomas' "Walking the Dog" and Bill Withers' stupendous "Use Me" are included to round things out. The art, design and photography of Amanda Gresham of Delta Music Experience make for a very professional package.
The band stays tightly in the groove throughout and adds a punch when needed. On "Good Music, Good Gumbo" Miss White invites you to her house for a backyard bash singing "LJ Porter's in the house Red Hotz just might stop by before the night is out… this parties off the hook it started at four, 'cause I've got good music, good gumbo and all my good friends, all get together, the party begins. The CD opens with the title track a laid back blues with a slinky guitar solo. "Do Yo Thang" opens with harp and goes right into the funk with Lady A imparting sage advice to a friend to 'wake up and find yourself a new man.' "R U Ready" is party time dance music and "Still Leaving" is a slow soul blues torch song. "Use Me" doesn't have the punch and snap of Withers version; but the soul is undeniable and "Walking the Dog" is a joyful funky strut. In my opinion all but maybe the most hard core blues traditionalists will love this CD, and I think it could easily make converts out of some of them too! BlueZ in the Key of Me is definitely a keeper and deserves some attention. Go to a show and get a copy is my recommendation.
- Washington Blues Society
The new release by Lady A and her Baby Blues Funk Band is tight, funky old school R&B at its very best. If you have seen here live (very highly recommended by the way) you know that they put on a high energy, good time, fill the dance floor and keep them there shaking it until they drop show. Well BlueZ in the Key of Me follows suit with some sophisticated jazzy slow cheek to cheek numbers tossed in for good measure.
The Baby Blues Funk Band are Richard L. Mills on guitar, Gary Smith on bass and J. Oliver III on drums, keys and other instrumentation plus bass on 3 tracks and also had a hand in writing the music for a dozen of the 13 original tracks and lyrics on 6. Additional guest musicians include Bruce Laing-harmonica, Steve Black-guitar, Butch Harrison-trumpet and Teri Anne Wilson-guitar although track listings for them aren’t listed.
In addition to the 13 originals 2 classic bonus cover songs Rufus Thomas’ “Walking the Dog” and Bill Withers’ stupendous “Use Me” are included to round things out. The art, design and photography of Amanda Gresham of Delta Music Experience make for a very professional package.
The band stays tightly in the groove throughout and adds a punch when needed. On “Good Music, Good Gumbo” Miss White invites you to her house for a backyard bash singing “LJ Porter’s in the house Red Hotz just might stop by before the night is out… this parties off the hook it started at four, ‘cause I’ve got good music, good gumbo and all my good friends, all get together, the party begins.
The CD opens with the title track a laid back blues with a slinky guitar solo. “Do Yo Thang” opens with harp and goes right into the funk with Lady A imparting sage advice to a friend to ‘wake up and find yourself a new man.’ “R U Ready” is party time dance music and “Still Leaving” is a slow soul blues torch song. “Use Me” doesn’t have the punch and snap of Withers version; but the soul is undeniable and “Walking the Dog” is a joyful funky strut.
In my opinion all; but maybe the most hard core blues traditionalists will love this CD, and I think it could easily make converts out of some of them too! BlueZ in the Key of Me is definitely a keeper and deserves some attention. Go to a show and get a copy is my recommendation.
Reviewer Malcolm "Yard Dog" Kennedy is a frequent contributor to the Washington Blues Society Bluesletter, and he is the former Vice President and Merchandise Director of the society. He is the co-author of the profile published in the 2009 Blues Festival Guide, which recognized the WBS for its Keeping the Blues Alive Award. Malcolm volunteers at the society's monthly all-ages Blues Bashes and at many festivals and special events promoting the blues in the Pacific Northwest.
- Malcom "Yarddog" Kennedy
Lady A and the Baby Blues Funk band...old school funk and blues...great show.... and club favorite...
Steve Sarkowsky - Highway 99 Blues Club
Discography
Check CD BabyNow, Amazon.com or ITunes for purchase:
Pussy & Grits ( P&G - Can I get my Breakfast)
Producer(s): L.A.B.B.
2 song CD
Released August, 2004
BlueZ in the Key of Me - self released
Producer(s): J Oliver III - for Revilo The Sound Connection
Lady "A" , Have-A-Cup Productions
Released April 2010
In the Works: Mini CD for 2012 Blues competition -
"The Brighter Side of Monday" -
produced by: Have-A-Cup Productions
Details coming soon!
Photos
Bio
Pacific NW Blues Diva Lady "A" heads up one of Seattle's Hottest bands in the Pacific NW - Lady "A" & the Baby Blues Funk Band (L.A.B.B.) and has just formed a new BluZ and Funk Band, Lady "A" & a Lil' Sum-Sum.
Both these bands deliver untold Blues & Funk not reserved for the faint of heart. You need energy to keep up with either of these bands and Lady "A" is out front delivering action packed lyrics along with non-stop movement. She has sung with many bands and as a solo act.
Lady "A" has been singing for more than 20 years, however, began her solo singing career with the Baby Blues Funk Band in 1994. This sultry, husky voiced vixon is a contemporary blues diva and keeps her roots of Alexandria Louisiana in the forefront of every show she performs. Her audience is her main concern... always wanting to know "Are you having a good time?"
L.A.B.B.(Lady A Baby Blues) has opened for such artists as Dr. John; Jon Cleary; Henry Butler; Shemika Copeland and others, to name drop a few.
The woman herself (Lady "A") has opened on stage for artists such as Denise LaSalle and the late Little Milton and been on stage with such artists as Eden Brent, Janniva Magness, Kenny Neal, Charmaine and Charles Neville, Super Chikan, Wylan Thibbdeau, and Howlin Mad "Bill" Perry.
Lady "A's" high energy show has been compared to the likes of "Tina Turner" with those legs and that smile... she easily draws audiences in with her sultry-husky voice and contemporary Blues stylings. This sultry songstress began singing at age 5. She began her performance career as a back-up singer in the Sonny Byers Motown ReVue during the 80's. Her musical ear and Louisiana roots, along with a musical family always led her back to the Blues, mixed with the flavors of soul and funk like a perfect jambalaya. Though born and raised in Seattle, Washington you can clearly hear the southern undertones in her music and lyrics on her new CD "BlueZ in the Key of Me".
Whether in a smokey nightclub, private party setting or blues festival, this Diva is always backed by the Best and Ferocious Baby Blues Funk Band whom she has performed with since the band's inception in 1994. The ensemble of superb musicians keep the music pumpin and the joint always jumpin with their funky renditions and musical arrangements which instills "A New Breed of Blues".
Lady "A" just released her first solo CD "BlueZ in the Key Me" in April 2010... a gumbo mix of what the lady likes to call - Neo-Blues which incorporates; 1 cup of Contemporary Blues, 1/2 cup of Funk, a pinch of witty lyrics and a dash of the best
musicians in Seattle.... THERE YOU HAVE IT! "BlueZ in the Key of Me"produced by Lady "A" & John T. Oliver of Revillo Productions.
A Delta Music Experience regular artist, Lady "A" loves DME!! check out the many events you can take a musical excursion on, with DME www.deltamusicexperience.com
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