Hi Everyone!
I hope you're enjoying the start of 2012 & staying warm!
First of all.....for all my friends in the UK who are always writing to ask when I might be coming their way, I'm delighted to announced that I'm heading to Scotland to participate with an amazing roster of artists in a tribute to the Late, Great Gerry Rafferty (Stuck In The Middle With You, Baker Street, and many many other soulful hits) on January 22nd & 23rd. Our tribute concert is part of the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland.
Then, I'm off to Hawaii to do a benefit for the Big Island Jazz & Blues Society on February 4th. For that event I will be accompanied by a stellar group of musicians, the Big Island Jazz All Stars! This benenfit concert will be in Hilo, HI at the Hilo Elks Lodge.
Hoping that all my Big Island friends & fans will spread the word & turn out for this!
Meanwhile.....February is the Month of Love, and what better way to celebrate it than with Music!
I have 2 very special "Music For Lovers" Shows with my wonderful Jazz Quintet in the San Francisco Bay Area coming up to celebrate Valentine's Day.
As many of my fans tell it, my music has been the Soundtrack to many a Love and Lust Affair over the last 38 years! So, why not bring a lover, a friend or just treat yourself to an evening of romantic love songs guaranteed to put you "in the mood" and inspire you to fall in love all over again!
Then - AT LAST!! The San Francisco Debut of my BRAND NEW SHOW that features all the new material from my latest CD, STEADY LOVE (which reached #1 on the Living Blues Chart - see reviews below for a description of what you'll be hearing at this gig!).
My Red Hot Bluesiana Band & I will be performing all the high-octane, upbeat, spirited tunes from STEADY LOVE at our favorite juke joint in All the Land.... Biscuits & Blues, the "Home of the Blues" here in the Bay Area!!!
Come enjoy great Southern Soul Food, the best biscuits west of the Mississippi, and some funky music in a real Soulful, Down Home atmosphere.
So.....whether you're in the mood to cuddle up & get all romantic with the one you love, or you wanna kick off your shoes & dance away your Blues, ~ come on out - we've got something for ya ! ~
Recently, we received word from the Blues Foundation that I've been nominated for THE KOKO TAYLOR AWARD: Best Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year!!!
In order to vote, you need to be a member of The Blues Foundation - but what better way to show your support for America's most soulful music, the Blues, than by signing up and voting! So, if you're as big a fan as you say you are, become a member of The Blues Foundation, support their work, and vote for me and all your other favorite Blues artists!
Here's what people are saying about STEADY LOVE....
“One of the greatest albums of the year.”
- John Shelton Ivany, JSI’s Top21 Syndicated Column, 9/26/11
#
“If there’s an underlying theme to the collection, it’s simply that there is a thread that connects this music. There are echoes here of the way Ray Charles turned gospel into secular gold, and Muldaur shows that spirituality can still rock out!”
- John Taylor, Blinded by Sound, 10/7/11
#
““Soul & grit” emanates from Muldaur’s voice on every track of this impressive CD. Muldaur and the band excel at all levels.
...A triumph!”
- Mick Rainsford, Blues in Britain, 10/6/11
#
“Muldaur has one foot in church and another in a Saturday night juke joint as she belts out hand-clapping church rousers, soul ballads and greasy swamp stompers.”
- Eric Feber, The Pilot, 10/12/11
~Peace & Blessings~
Maria
photo by Alan Mercer
Click here to listen to an excerpt from STEADY LOVE, and don't forget both of these albums would make great gifts, so visit the Amazon store on my website to purchase them! (Go to page 5 in the store to find both of these albums!)
I want to thank all my loyal friends & fans who came to all of our shows this year, and purchased my CDs. I deeply appreciate your loyalty, and encourage you to continue to
~SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!~
~ Love, Peace & Blessings ~
Maria
STEADY LOVE has only been out for a few months, and already we've received many rave reviews, excerpts from which appear below:
“One of the greatest albums of the year.”
- John Shelton Ivany, JSI’s Top21 Syndicated Column, 9/26/11
#
“If there’s an underlying theme to the collection, it’s simply that there is a thread that connects this music. There are echoes here of the way Ray Charles turned gospel into secular gold, and Muldaur shows that spirituality can still rock out – the sacred and the profane aren’t all that far apart, and spirituality can still temper earthly desire without corrupting the former or diluting the latter.
There’s not a single weak outing in Muldaur’s now-extensive discography, but this just might be one of her best. Highly recommended!”
- John Taylor, Blinded by Sound, 10/7/11
#
“[Her latest release, STEADY LOVE] continues the winning streak she’s been on for the last decade and finds a clearly energized Muldaur in New Orleans surrounded by a first rate assembly of musicians and background vocalists. With her characteristic sly, sexy vocals, she dips into swampy funk...[The] title track is a top notch slab of southern soul and the Percy Mayfield classic, Please Send Someone to Love gets a slow torchy treatment that showcases Muldaur’s [soulful] vocal chops. While she is no longer the young chanteuse that made Midnight at the Oasis such a sexy come on in 1974, the intervening years have added a knowing wink to Muldaur’s voice that makes it real clear when she sings on Arthur Adam’sGet You Next To Me “If you want my Peaches, come on and shake my tree”, only a fool would turn down the invitation! Steady Love is a fine entry into Muldaur’s immense catalog of great music. “
- Mark Smith, Blues Source, 10/17/11
#
““Soul & grit” emanates from Muldaur’s voice on every track of this impressive CD – Muldaur and the band excel at all levels.
...A triumph!”
- Mick Rainsford, Blues in Britain, 10/6/11
#
“Muldaur has one foot in church and another in a Saturday night juke joint as she belts out hand-clapping church rousers, soul ballads and greasy swamp stompers. Over the years her voice has only gotten better, with her pipes now displaying a lusty, full-bodied resonance. On “Steady Love” the 68-year-old proves she’s one hot N’awlins mama who is way beyond that Oasis at midnight.”- Eric Feber, The Pilot, 10/12/11
#
“Maria Muldaur and her sweet, sultry voice literally helped to define the term "Americana," and she's a national treasure. She's recorded songs that have crossed many genres, and she appeals to fans of all ages. Get ready for a cool road trip down to N'awlins with "Steady Love!"”
- Sheryl & Don Crow, Nashville Blues Society, 9/26/11
#
“Perhaps nothing points up the timeless quality of this music as well as her performance of “Please Send Me Someone to Love.” Muldaur makes Percy Mayfield’s classic 1950’s ballad sound like a wrenching lament for the world we’re living in right now.”
- Nick Critiano, Boulder Daily Camera, 10/7/2011
#
“[STEADY LOVE] is a sure fire winner all the way for Ms. Muldaur. Fans of her earlier, more commercial releases are sure to enjoy this, as will lovers of her more recent Blues albums for Stony Plain.”
- Waverley McTavish, Blues & Rhythm (UK), 9/26/11
~ Peace & Blessings ~
Maria
Meanwhile, we are almost finished working on my Memphis Minnie Tribute Album, which will include soulful guest performances by Bonnie Raitt, Ruthie Foster, Rory Block, Phoebe Snow, Del Rey, Suzy Thompson & others.
That one will probably be out at the very end of 2011, or the beginning of 2012.
Speaking of Phoebe Snow, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear Sister in Music, Phoebe Snow. We met in New York in 1970, in front of Gerde’s Folk City. Knowing that I was a big Memphis Minnie fan, and had already recorded one of her songs, Phoebe whipped out her guitar and sang & played an amazing rendition of Memphis Minnie’s “In My Girlish Days”. I was absolutely awe-struck by her unbelievable voice and quite considerable skill on the guitar! Right there, in that moment, we bonded & became friends and Soul Sisters for life, a relationship that lasted some 41 years! Throughout both of our long musical journeys, we commiserated and gave each other mutual support and advice on life, love, and the vicissitudes of this crazy thing called the” music business”.
Phoebe was so much more than merely a singer. She was an absolutely formidable force of nature! Every time she opened her mouth to sing, she unleashed an earth-shaking, electrifying Power and Musical Energy that reached out and grabbed you & transported you to a Higher Place.
I feel so blessed to have known her as an intimate friend, and to have had the chance to collaborate with her musically. I will miss her terribly, but take solace in knowing that she is up there raising the roof, or should I say clouds, belting it out in that Heavenly Choir on High!
Here is a soulful song I had the pleasure of singing with Phoebe on my Yes We Can! album in 2008 ~ (even more relevant today!) ~ give a listen & enjoy!
I had a fabulous time hanging out & singing with my Soul Sisters & Buddy Guy at the GRAMMY Ceremony, and feel honored to have been part of the whole celebration!
(From L to R: hanging out with Betty Wright, Cyndi Lauper, and Buddy Guy)
