While ‘The Preacher’ drove steadily south from Portland, OR, with a load of gear destined for the studio, I busied myself writing new songs and colluding with producer, Mark ‘Kaz’ Kazanoff. A brand new recording project was taking shape!
Now, just a few short, intense weeks later, we’ve packed and relocated for the Summer Festival season in Australia - and I now have a new post as Official Ambassador for the Australian Blues Festival!
But let me back-track for a moment…
Hurricane Ike was approaching the south coast of Texas as we nervously planned our first day of recording. I split my time between musical discussions with Kaz and the weather channel. Although the session boasted a fantastic line-up of local Austin players – guitarist Derek O’Brien (long-time member of Antone’s house band), Nick Connolly (Grammy nominated keyboard player) and upright bassist Ronnie James Weber (most recently of ‘The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ & ‘Little Charlie and the Nightcats’) – we were relying on drummer Jimi Bott to fly in from Portland, OR. Would he make it? As it turned out, Jimi’s initiative (via a quick itinerary change) saw him successfully arrive at Austin airport - ironically the only airport still open! Hurricane Ike drove a lot of evacuees into town, but Austin didn’t even get a drop of much-needed rain…
My last studio recording, ‘Lucky 13’ - also on Yellow Dog Records - was a wonderful opportunity to explore various blues influences. It was described as ‘a musical road-trip from New Orleans to Chicago’. I wanted this new recording to reflect my experiences of playing in America over the last couple of years. Amongst other things, I’ve had the chance to play with and be inspired by some great guitarists, so this new album is more guitar-oriented. I think it contains some of my most forthright guitar-playing yet! Even in the middle of the session I took a chance and tried some brand new stuff. There’s some solo resonator guitar, some slide playing, ‘dirty’ electric trio material – right through to some luscious tracks with bigger instrumentation. Special guests, the wonderful Marcia Ball and gritty bluesman Watermelon Slim join me on a couple of gospel-inflected tunes – and legendary Delta pianist Pinetop Perkins also dropped by Wire Studio to play on a song called (appropriately?), ‘Old Times Ways’. Needless to say, we all had a hell of a time!
As a blues songwriter, my songs are based on stories and emotions. This new recording, consisting of 15 songs, is like a collection of short stories from the road. The traditional blues themes of travel and yearning for home and family get a personal perspective - as befits a gal ‘long ways from home’ – but my trademark ‘sassy’ songs from the female perspective are never far away. Although we haven’t decided on a final track order, the session yielded 13 original tunes and two covers; one from JB Lenoir and from Australian blues icon Chris Wilson. More news soon – and look for a release date early in the New Year!
Now, just a few short, intense weeks later, we’ve packed and relocated for the Summer Festival season in Australia - and I now have a new post as Official Ambassador for the Australian Blues Festival!
But let me back-track for a moment…
Hurricane Ike was approaching the south coast of Texas as we nervously planned our first day of recording. I split my time between musical discussions with Kaz and the weather channel. Although the session boasted a fantastic line-up of local Austin players – guitarist Derek O’Brien (long-time member of Antone’s house band), Nick Connolly (Grammy nominated keyboard player) and upright bassist Ronnie James Weber (most recently of ‘The Fabulous Thunderbirds’ & ‘Little Charlie and the Nightcats’) – we were relying on drummer Jimi Bott to fly in from Portland, OR. Would he make it? As it turned out, Jimi’s initiative (via a quick itinerary change) saw him successfully arrive at Austin airport - ironically the only airport still open! Hurricane Ike drove a lot of evacuees into town, but Austin didn’t even get a drop of much-needed rain…
My last studio recording, ‘Lucky 13’ - also on Yellow Dog Records - was a wonderful opportunity to explore various blues influences. It was described as ‘a musical road-trip from New Orleans to Chicago’. I wanted this new recording to reflect my experiences of playing in America over the last couple of years. Amongst other things, I’ve had the chance to play with and be inspired by some great guitarists, so this new album is more guitar-oriented. I think it contains some of my most forthright guitar-playing yet! Even in the middle of the session I took a chance and tried some brand new stuff. There’s some solo resonator guitar, some slide playing, ‘dirty’ electric trio material – right through to some luscious tracks with bigger instrumentation. Special guests, the wonderful Marcia Ball and gritty bluesman Watermelon Slim join me on a couple of gospel-inflected tunes – and legendary Delta pianist Pinetop Perkins also dropped by Wire Studio to play on a song called (appropriately?), ‘Old Times Ways’. Needless to say, we all had a hell of a time!
As a blues songwriter, my songs are based on stories and emotions. This new recording, consisting of 15 songs, is like a collection of short stories from the road. The traditional blues themes of travel and yearning for home and family get a personal perspective - as befits a gal ‘long ways from home’ – but my trademark ‘sassy’ songs from the female perspective are never far away. Although we haven’t decided on a final track order, the session yielded 13 original tunes and two covers; one from JB Lenoir and from Australian blues icon Chris Wilson. More news soon – and look for a release date early in the New Year!