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Marguerite Mariama - Wild
Women Never Get The Blues... (PowerLight Media)
Released - August, 2006
Hmmm. Still trying to figure this one out. I have a lot of respect for
those who can do a little of this, and a little of that. Looks like Ms.
Mariama does a LOT of this and a LOT of that.
Her bio calls her a "triple threat" artist and educator - active in music,
dance and theatre. A little Googling around turns up some serious work as
an educator, motivator, cultural historian, as well as a performer.
My goodness, Ms. Mariama sounds right at home with this material - it's
sort of non-blues-blues. Hers is a mature voice, comfortable with her
range, comfortable with the band - and the backing combo is quite good.
There's something wrong with the mix, however. Too often, her fine voice
is hard to pick out from the band. That was a problem for my ears.
Kudos to Curtis Robinson, who plays a fine blues guitar.
Despite the poor technical quality, there are some fine outings here.
Count Basie's "Goin' To Chicago" was one of my favorites, as well as
Charlie Smalls' "Home," originally from "The Wiz."
My impression, judging from
the material chosen, as well as the tenor and tone of the liner notes, is
that this one was a labor of love that has been crying to get out for some
time. What I'd really love to hear is Ms. Mariama cut loose on more
familiar stuff (well, at least to me), in a recording of better
technical quality.
A major rave, though, for whoever made the decision to go with quality
cover art. Top-notch stuff.
 
Two and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(00/00/06) |
