It’s
always good to step aside from the clamor of the masculine mystique in the blues
and visit with the ladies. So here is my latest visit to the ‘soft side’ (ha-ha)
of the Blues featuring three wonderfully talented artists who surely will make
you sit up and take notice of their ample talents.
Lisa
Biales: Singing In My Soul
Lisa
Biales: Singing In My Soul (Big Song Music)
One
of the most quoted idioms in the Blues world is “if you are going to cover a
song, make it your own’. Easily said, not so easy to do.
With
this release Ms. Lisa Biales (Be-Alice) gives a lesson on how to do it and do it
right. One of my all time favorite songs is the Mississippi John Hurt ditty ‘Let
The Mermaids Flirt With Me’. With this version Ms. Biales captures a different
aide of the tune and make it flighty and more fun than should be allowed. With a
voice that rings clear and spot on she adds a not-so-subtle touch of joy that
uplifts us in the moment of and carries us right thru to the end.
With
a old school rock & roll approach Lisa once again lifts us to the rafters,
with her version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ‘Strange Things Happening Every
Day’. There seems to be a connection back to Ms. Tharpe’s version, with it’s
rockin’ gospel treatment, but done in a style that fits Lisa and the Paris Blues
Band (yes, they are from Paris, France).
A
superb take on the classic doo-wop song ‘I Only Have Eyes for You’ allows Ms.
Biales to work her ability to sing ballads as well as her more uplifting songs.
This works especially well in terms of the arranging and artistry that the bands
imparts keeping it on the down low and you can just smell the smoke and taste
the extra dry martini’s in the shadow laden club (or studio).
From
the doo-wop to the ‘do-how’ we get treated to “You Got To Know How’. Originally
penned by the amazing Sippie Wallace, Ms. Biales keeps the historic time period
of this track in tact with rolling piano by Cincinnati’s favorite Ricky Nye (who
also produced this release) and a down ‘n’ dirty treatment from the Paris Blue
Band, dang I swear I hear a tuba on this track, that’s how cool the treatment
is.
There
is one original tune from Ms. Biales, ‘Magic Garden’ is a tasty walk thru this
magic garden of hers that seems to be chock-filled with earthy delights and
eternal renewal for everything that resides inside it. It is also worth noting
that this track fits in so well with the overall feel and texture of the
release, not an easy task to do.
There
seems to be a natural fit with Ms. Biales and her band that transposes to the
release. I can just see them sitting in the recording room/studio over one mic
and sharing, laughing, and making historic music to share with us all.
