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| Blues Woman Sista Monica Parker is Back with a Vengeance Sista Monica Parker, internationally known as "The Lioness of the Blues, " croons, testifies, and roars audiences through the thrill and the pain of loving dangerously in her newly released CD, "Living in the Danger Zone." With elements of her roots in R&B and gospel, this contemporary blues album has reviewers singing praises and live audiences clasping their hearts, clapping their hands, singing along, and getting up to dance. Blues Blast Magazine reviewer Steve Jones reports that the album is charged with "old-school female blues, R&B and gospel vocals with a big, fresh and clean sound." "Whether it's slow and funky like 'Just Keep Living, ' or bold like 'Worn Out Your Welcome, ' Parker is up to the task and gives her all. The rest of her band are equally solid, with a mix of her touring band and long list of studio musicians supporting her, " said Jones. Sista Monica's band is composed of veteran sidemen: Danny Sandoval on tenor sax, Don Caruth playing funky blues guitar, Leon Joyce Jr. banging the drums, Artis Joyce 'AJ' on bass, musical director Danny 'B' Beconcini playing his piano and Hammond B3, and new addition Bill Vallaire on rockin' guitar. The opening track, "Hug Me Like You Love Me, " was inspired by BB King, who told the female blues artist to "come in close and hug me like you love me" when posing together for a photo after performing at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz. Jones calls the song an "upbeat and hot number that gets the heart pumping for the rest of the album." "'No Shame In My Game' is full of attitude and carries plenty of spirit with it, " writes Brian McKinnon of Muzikreviews.com. "It also has an important message for neglectful lovers out there." McKinnon says that the contemporary blues album's "momentum is kept going with 'Fierce Force of Nature'" and "the good tunes keep coming with 'Worn Out Your Welcome.'" Don and Sheryl Crow of the Nashville Blues Society say, "Monica gets down to some serious slow blues in 'Tears, ' as she aches for a lover, then turns the tables on a no-good dirty dog that has definitely 'Worn Out Your Welcome, ' perhaps the most danceable cut on the album. And, the set closes as Monica shows her gospel roots with a sweet, powerful duet with Kelley Hunt on piano on 'Glory Hallelujah!'" "Living in the Danger Zone" is distributed by City Hall Records of San Rafael, and can be purchased in stores and on iTunes (http://www.itunes.com/cd/sistamonicaparker) and Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Living-Danger-Sista-Monica-Parker/dp/B005TZFYYS), where one reviewer wrote: "Sister Monica Parker has the voice of an angel and the power of a speeding train. If you love Etta James or Ruth Brown, or even to the young blues lover Shemekia Copeland, you will love this CD." The Danger Zone World Tour includes performances at Anthology in San Diego on January 12, Jimmy Mak's in Portland on January 21, Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz on January 27, the Reno Blues Society's Annual Dance Party in Reno on February 18, at two festivals in France, Le Meridian Jazz Club in Paris, France on March 28-31, a tour of Italy in July 2012 and Quebec in August 2012. About Sista Monica Parker Sista Monica Parker is a blues singer, writer and performer who moves audiences with her heartfelt lyrics and soul-touching sounds that percolate from her American roots in R&B and gospel. Produced and recorded by Parker at the comfy and cozy Bay Area recording studio, Live Oak Studio, "Living in the Danger Zone" is her eleventh album. Sista Monica's song "Show Me What You're Working With" from her previous album "Can't Keep a Good Woman Down" was selected and choreographed by Ray Leeper for one of the dance routines performed by Melanie Moore, the Season 8 winning dancer of the hit television series "So You Think You Can Dance." The routine can be seen on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lROTaDJJfc. Sista Monica is a 2012 Blues Music Award (BMA) nominee for "Best Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year." The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded to musicians and songwriters in Blues music. The awards ceremony is in May 2012 in Memphis, Tennessee. write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |