Music
Press
"A soul treat. This is something I enjoy, a cocktail of deep blues and classic soul. Missy's version of O.V. Wright's "Ace of Spades" is amazing - the band is so tight. Other classic cuts such as "I Can't Stand the Rain" or "Tell Mama" sound beautiful with Missy doing the singing and fronting her tight band. The blues side of her talent is just as good - "Little By Little", "Same Old Blues", and "Stand Up and Dance" will make blues fans close their eyes and sway. For me, this is clearly one of the best records in 2009." - Przemek Draheim, Blues.pl
"A young vocalist that's already covered a lot of ground trying on and taking off various styles goes back to her first love of soul, with some jazz and blues sprinkled into the mix. With a set heavy on taking a smart journey through the past, Andersen has a lot on the ball and proves she's earned her stripes the old-fashioned way, by working at getting her chops tight instead of working at being an instant celebrity. Fun stuff that bodes well for the future." - Chris Spector, Midwest Record
"One of the reasons this disc is so good is that Andersen has chosen to mix it up on this recording so no two songs are exactly alike. From the old style R&B of the opening cut "Ace Of Spades", the up-tempo, horn driven blues number "New Feet", the driving funk of "Pack It Up", to slow soulful tracks like "Same Old Blues", she and her band rock you off your feet, and then slow it down so you can rock in your sweet baby's arms. You could replace a DJ with this disc as all you have to do is slip it in a sound system and let it run. You'll get thirty plus minutes of music you can move to without ever feeling like you've had to listen to the same song twice, let along over and over again.
The band, Heine Andersen (guitars), Asmus Jensen (drums), Soren Bojgaard (bass) and Jeppe Jull (Hammond organ) with the help of guests Robbie Smith and Bob Mathes on trumpet and saxophone respectively, do a great job of creating the illusion of being loose while being incredibly tight. They can push the beat forward hard and fast when required, but also slow it right down and play slow and rich so that you feel each note in your bones. And that's not because they've got the bass turned up so high that you can pulverize tempered steel with it, but because they play with such feeling that you can't help but allow it to seep beneath the surface of your skin.
Of course the band can be as hot as you like but if the singer can't keep up her side of the deal, well there's not much sense in listening. Missy Andersen not only lives up to her obligations as a singer, she blows them out of the water. One moment she's growling out some charged up funk lyrics and the next her voice is aching from the blues. Even more impressive is the breadth of her range as she's able to climb and descend the scale with equal ease so that no matter where she is on the it she's not showing any strain what-so-ever." - Richard Marcus, A Leap in the Dark
"I had not heard of Missy Andersen, a San Diego based vocalist before I received her impressive eponymously entitled release on Main Squeeze Records. Born in Detroit, raised in Queens, she has had a varied career (even a rap single) before coming under the tutelage of Earl Thomas. The present album shows up as blues on my Itunes, but it as centered as much on deep southern soul. It was recorded in Copenhagen with her husband Heine on guitar and a strong band that plays strongly in the classic Memphis Stax-Hi records vein. They may not be the reincarnation of the Hi Rhythm Section but they acquit themselves well as do the horns added to 4 of the seven selections.
There is a mix of some classic soul and blues including the opening rendition of the O.V. Wright classic “Ace of Spades,” Ann Pebbles “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” Etta James’ hit, “Tell Mama,” Junior Wells’ “Little By Little,” and Don Nix’s “Same Old Blues,” along with the original by Missy and the band, “New Feet,” a strutting soulful blues. The covers are musically not that far removed from the original recordings, but Missy does sing them with conviction and an unforced, full-throated, and soulful manner. The last number, “Stand Up and Dance,” has her strutting her stuff over an acoustic accompaniment with Nathan James on Dobro slide guitar. A complaint is that with 8 tunes, and just over a half hour of music, this is a short CD, but there is no filler here. It will be interesting to see how she follows this up, but she is someone I would love to see perform as she is one of the better soul-blues singers to come to my attention recently." - In A Blue Mood - Ron W.
There’s a new name out there in the music world and it is Missy Andersen. This CD has 8 tracks and they are all great. Missy sings, her husband Heine plays guitar, Asmus Jensen on drums, Jeppe Juul on organ, and Soren Bojgaard on bass. What a great unit. These guys can really build up a song. Soren on bass is just wonderful. I have listened to this CD several times, and the bass work is phenomenal. All is hear is Missy’s sensuous voice and those bass lines. Then the drums and organ, and classy guitar licks come through. Something else.
Missy has a voice that well, just makes you want to hug her. She just drifts right in there. Soft, sweet, yet powerful, saying what needs to be said in her way. My favorite cuts are “Ace of Spades,” and “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” She has two original cuts, and the whole thing just moves. Very tasty when you are hungry for some blues with soul.
The more I listen, the more I hear, and the more I like it. You should try this one out and see if it fits. If she comes to town I’ll be there.
- Blue Barry, Smoky Mountain Blues Society
“I have always loved Missy's voice and style. She has a truly original sound and her phrasing of the melody is creative, intelligent, soulful and, in my humble opinion, puts her in the league with Irma Thomas or any of the great contemporary female (or male for that matter) soul/blues vocalists. Her version of O. V. Wright's ‘Ace of Spades’ is priceless! The band is tight, right on point and perfectly complements her vocal delivery. I give this one 5 stars!” - Earl Thomas
Discography
Missy Andersen (April 2009)
Photos
Bio
“Something about soul speaks to me. And if you dip it in some blues, it’s even better. It has nothing to do with the notes; it’s about the story and the feeling. It isn’t always pretty, but you can always feel it when it’s done right. That’s all I want to do. I want to sing my story in a way that both the listener and I can feel.” Missy Andersen
Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Queens, New York, Missy’s first real memory of singing is at age six. Her mother entered Missy in a child talent contest and everyday she practiced with her after school. It was her favorite thing to do. For some reason the contest was cancelled and her afternoon practice sessions stopped, but Missy was hooked from then on. “Singing would always be my friend and I would turn to it whenever I needed to express something I couldn’t find the words to say,” says Missy.
Her parents had an extensive music collection that included lots of soul, R&B, blues, jazz, and gospel. Her favorite songs were always the ones that told a story. It wasn’t always the most popular song on the album, but she would play them over and over and over. She listened to Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Staple Singers, Teddy Pendergrass and a host of others. And like many before her, Missy mimicked other singers until she found her own voice. Later she would discover Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday and that eventually lead her to O.V. Wright, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, James Carr, Ray Charles, Ann Peebles, and Irma Thomas.
Although singing is her love, she had her first stab at the music business while in her teens with the rap single, “Be For Real” under the moniker, Denyce "Flip" Isaac. Although the record’s success was small, it still led to her being the opening act for Cissy Houston in a string of club dates. It wasn’t long before Missy turned back to singing, honing her skills fronting local bands as well as doing studio sessions as a background vocalist.
Moving to San Diego, California, she met local blues man, Earl Thomas in the late 90’s. It was then that she became one of the original Juke Joint Jezebelles, a gospel, blues, and soul quartet, who provided backup vocals for Earl’s stage show. She played and toured with Earl for several years hitting festivals and venues in the U.S. and Europe. Earl Thomas and the Jezebelles shared the stage with Ray Charles, B.B. King, Robert Cray, John Hammond, Keb’ Mo’, Kenny Neal, and The Meters.
After fronting San Diego-based band, Tell Mama, Missy felt it was time to strike out on her own. Her self-titled debut album, Missy Andersen, released on Main Squeeze Records, is an organic mix of soul and blues from another era with a healthy dose of today. She displays her talents on 8 tunes, including two originals - ‘New Feet’ (track 2) and ‘Stand Up and Dance’ (track 8). Missy Andersen (vocals) is joined by her husband and bandleader Heine Andersen (guitar), Asmus Jensen (drums), Jeppe Juul (organ) and Søren Bøjgaard (bass). Additional musicians include Nathan James playing Dobro slide guitar on track 8.
Missy Andersen serves on the board of Blues Lovers United of San Diego (BLUSD) and is a lead presenter in its sponsored Blues in the Schools (BITS) program.
(Danish version)
Missy Andersen, som er født i Detroit og opvokset i Queens i New York, har sunget lige så lang tilbage hun kan huske. Hendes første møde med musikindustrien var i hendes teenageår med rap- singlen ”Be for Real”. Selvom singlen ikke opnåede den store pladesucces medførte den alligevel, at hun i en periode var fast opvarmningsnavn for Cissy Houston (Whitney Houstons mor) ved hendes koncerter. Senere videreudviklede hun sit sangtalent, som forsanger i flere lokale bands og som korsanger på flere studieoptagelser.
I 90’erne flyttede Missy til San Diego, hvor hun mødte den lokale blues- & soulmusiker Earl Thomas. Hun blev en af de oprindelige sangere i gospel/blues/soul-kvartetten The Juke Joint Jezbelles, som udgjorde koret i Earl’s shows. Gennem flere år turnerede hun med Earl, hvor de optrådte på festivaler og klubber i både USA og Europa.
Efter at have været frontfigur i San Diego-bandet Tell Mama, følte Missy at det var tid til at komme videre og finde sin egen vej.
Med rødderne solidt plantet i R&B-, soul- og bluestraditionen, leverer Missy hver sang lidenskabeligt, overbevisende og som en kvinde, der har levet det liv, hun synger om.
Bag sig har hun et dansk band med fire af de rigtig tunge drenge inden for genren. Bandet består af:
Søren Bøjgaard, bassist fra Thorbjørn Risager.
Jeppe Juul, Orgel fra Kira and The Kindred Spirits.
Asmus Jensen, Trommeslager fra Omar and The Howlers.
Heine Andersen, guitarist fra Candye Kane
Links
