Ann Kerstetter and the All star Band of Cronies

Most of the blues CDs that come my way are fairly average...okay, but not great. So I wasn't expecting a lot from an unknown in Pennsylvania. Well, one should never assume and I was knocked out by Ann’s album. She sings with authenticity and passion and has a marvelous voice. - Norman Davis, Midnight Flyer Blues Show. Portland Org

Bruce Iglauer, President Alligator Records, commenting on the Ann Kerstetter Band's
Performance at the 2009 IBC Memphis:
"Ann is a strong vocalist in the classic blues sense with a good variety of techniques. The guitarist is very tasty and the rest of the band is solid with good dynamics. Nice positive stage presence - very personable."
- IBC Review

"I recently found a great new blues act hiding in Northumberland, PA.
Ann Kerstetter and her band bring
new life to some well known and forgotten blues hits on her latest CD -
CLASSICS. Whether its a boogie number or a slow one, Ann and her band deliver. - Greg "Doc" Lefebre

"Ann Kerstetters vocals are powerful, and filled with emotion. The musicians surrounding her are tight and work very well together. Here is a group of artists whos talents seem to have no boundaries, The Ann Kerstetter Band delivers a refreshing mix of jazz, blues, and rock that is guaranteed to satisfy. "Classics" is one of the best surprises of the year. With covers of some of the biggest names in the industry. "Classics" is truly an instant classic."
- -Al Lundy

After listening to Ann Kerstetter's first release, Classics, and now this her latest, _”Duke St. Diary) - -I am convinced the girl can sing! Ann has complete control over her voice - generating a colorful palette of vocal textures and nuances to effectively grab the listener and relay her message. While Ann opted for musical variation with strong influences of jazz and pop, the release is dominated by the blues. The production is first rate...as are the arrangements. This is a great recording in every possible way. - . Bonnie Tallman, BC Productions Artist Management Group.

They say you can never go home again. Don't tell that to Ann Kerstetter.

Kerstetter, who performs with her band this Saturday on the Hiawatha, just released her second album, which pays homage to the music she listened to as a kid while living with her aunt Nancy at 77 Duke St., Northumberland.

The appropriately named "Duke Street Diary" isn't a collection of covers, however. It is a mostly original collection of music that touches on the sounds that influenced her to want to be a performer.

"It is a reflection of a time in my life when music was so important to me," Kerstetter said during a recent interview.

Kerstetter spent years singing throughout the Susquehanna Valley with Crosstown Bus before retiring from the music business to raise a family and teach Spanish. Several years ago, while attending the Billtown Blues Festival, she saw the "Georgia Songbird" E.G. Kight perform and was inspired to return to music.

Since then, she's been on a roll, winning the Billtown Blues Challenge, opening up the Billtown Blues Festival, competing in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and releasing her first CD, "Classics."

Although Kerstetter's breakthrough came through the blues, she said her new collection of songs is a better representation of what she's about.

The album covers a wide spectrum of music, including jazz, rhythm and blues, '60s surf rock, country and, yes, blues.

"I don't want to be pigeon holed. The blues brought me back, but this album isn't tied to one genre of music," she said. "It can't be."

The album kicks off bluesy enough with its two cover songs, Ann Rabson's barrel house anthem to womanly independence, "Annie's Blues," and Kight's funk and blues ode to playing with fire, "If You Ever Touch Me."

The rest of the album was written by either Kerstetter, current and former members of her band or a combination. Songs include keyboard player Greg Burgess's infectious "All Day and All Night Long" and bassist Andy Seal's mournful "Cryin' Out the Blues."

Kerstetter said she was looking for a flamenco sound with "No Me Toques Asi," which she sings in Spanish. Guitarist Alex Callenberger came up with just what she was looking for with a quirky rhythm that sets the tone for the rest of the song. Harmonica wild man Charlie Moore adds a touch of spookiness to the song with some stark, but effective minor-key playing.

The album then goes country, with the Delbert McClinton-esque "Messin' Down in Texas," which sounds as if it came straight out of an Austin honky tonk. "Screen Door" also harkens back to Texas, but with a large dose of Andrews Sisters-meets-Asleep at the Wheel swing.

"Nancy Priscilla" is perhaps the off-beat - and funnest - cut on the album, featuring Ventures-style guitar by Callenberger and playful lyrics by Kerstetter that tip a musical hat to her favorite aunt.

"Serenity" conjures up Peggy Lee's "Fever," while Burgess's "When Your Smile Warms Me Like the Sun" is pure smokey jazz, reminding me of Laura Nyro's "Billie's Blues" from the "First Songs" album.

With the album's finale, "From Duke Street Down to Memphis," Kerstetter returns to the blues with a vengeance, looking back at her days in Northumberland through the lens of a thumping I-V-IV blues progression.

The album includes Callenberger, Seal, Moore and all-pro drummer Jeremy Hummel from her current band, but also former collaborators Burgess, drummer Steve Mitchell and guitarist Sean Farley from the original lineup, plus Hammond B-3 player Steve Adams.

"I wanted to be able to showcase all the musicians I've worked with," Kerstetter said. "They've all inspired me to do what I do." - Williamsport SunGazette Dave Thomposn.

" An uptown beat pulses through Classics, a wonderfully produced self release from Pennsylvania's Ann Kerstetter Band that covers deep soul (William Bell's Stax classic "You don't Miss Your Water"), the Beatles ("Don't Let Me Down"), and roadhouse R&B ( Delbert McClinton's "Every time I Roll The Die") but favors jumping blues and boogie ( "Louella," "Boogie Woogie Blues") and elegant ballads ("Dangerous Mood," "God Bless the Child"). Kerstetter is a fabulous singer with personality, wide emotional range, and a welcome lack of affectation. And the arrangements provided by the band (Sean Farley on guitar, Greg Burgess on piano, Andy Seal on bass, and Steve Mitchell on drums) are praiseworthy."
- Tom Hyslop

"I had the pleasure of hearing Ann Kerstetter's Band at the International Blues Challenge this year and was really taken with their performance. Great musicality combined with Ann's beautifully rendered vocals had the crowd hooked and wanting more. I wondered if that energy would translate well to recorded material. My answer came shouting at me in the form of their CD, "Classics", a very well done compilation of blues/soul/R&B covers. My particular favorite track is their rendition of William Bell's signature ballad, "You Don't Miss Your Water". Other singers have covered this and Ann's version is simply one of the best I've heard.
Ann has assembled an excellent band to back her smoky vocals and this is a dynamic combination. I understand some of their original material is due out in the near future and I will be ready for another fine CD from this band. Don't miss an oppurtunity to hear them live when they play in your town."
- -- Brett Fleming

The following twelve CDs have advanced to the second round of the 2010 Best Self Produced CD contest:

1. Billtown Blues Association - Ann Kerstetter, 'Duke Street Diary'
2. Black Swamp Blues Society - Bill Halsey, 'Hot Dry Work'
3. Blues Society of Tulsa - Little Joe McLerran, 'Believe I'll Make a Change'
4. Blues sur Seine - Mountain Men, 'Spring Time Coming'
5. Colorado Blues Society - The Informants, Crime Scene Queen
6. Diamond State Blues Society - The Porkroll Project, 'Shake It Twice'
7. Kentuckiana Blues Society - One Shot Johnny, 'Times Like These'
8. Maine Blues Society - Pat Pepin, I'n It For the Long Hall'
9. Polish Blues Association - Boogie Boys, 'Hey You!'
10. Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society - Laurie Morvan Band, 'Fire It Up!'
11.Southern Fried Blues Society - Rick Tobey, 'Chicken Road'
12. Spa City Blues Society - Virgil Brawley, 'Bottle Tree'
-- - The Blues Foundation

Ann Kerstetter put on a performance - a show! -She let the crowd know all about herself and what she does. My hat goes off to her for her drive and spunk. The Williamsport Community Arts center was lucky in that the venue offered TWO terrific concerts last Thursday night, Bonnie Raitt and Taj's "BonTaj" and Ann Kerstetter.
Bonnie Tallman, BC Productions Artist Management Group.

- Bonnie Tallman, BC Productions Artist Management Group.( Saffire, Ann Rabson, EG.Kight)