CD Review
Lady Bianca
All By Myself
(Magic-O Records MOCD 503)
by Gordon Baxter
Review date: August 2004
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Kansas City born singer/pianist/songwriter Lady Bianca soon moved to the
West Coast where she developed her musical talents. She was subsequently
awarded a four year scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of music,
to further hone these talents. More recently, the Oakland Blues Society
voted her Best R&B Female Vocalist in 2002, when she was also given the
keys to the City. In the wake of this adulation, Lady Bianca has released
"All By Myself."
Those of a nervous disposition should make sure they are fully awake before
hitting the play button. Lady Bianca jumps straight at you with the opening
note of "I Got The Blues," letting you know that she has a big, powerful
voice. She is also a talented pianist, which she repeatedly demonstrates
throughout the album. It is worth noting that this is piano blues only, so
anyone expecting the rest of the band to join in after the first few bars
will have a long wait.
The vocals are a bit more restrained for "Man From New Orleans," which
leaves you with the feeling that she really wants to cut loose. This song
includes the first of several hints at a New Orleans influence in Lady
Bianca's piano work. Whilst this one is also uptempo, Lady Bianca is
equally at home on slower numbers where she moves into more of a
story-telling mode, relating the problems of men and their women (and vice
versa!).
Whilst superficially, at least, "All The Blues Clubs Are Closed" sounds
like it might be about the state of the listener's favorite music, do not
be fooled by the title. In reality it is another blues tale of love, and
how her man is not home, even though all the blues clubs have closed up for
the night. Lady Bianca backs this one up with some rocking piano on "Teach
Me How To Boogie Like You," with its shades of "Whole Lotta Shakin'." The
album also rounds off in a more uptempo fashion with the title track. It
starts with a spoken rant at her man, which sounds like it might be a Louis
Jordan style story, but like all the others here, it is a Lady Bianca original.
"All By Myself" shows Lady Bianca to be a gifted vocalist and pianist.
There are few blues artists playing in this style these days, so it is
something of a welcome change, and worth chasing down for that reason
alone. All of the songs work pretty well using this simple arrangement, but
you can easily imagine some of them working better with a full band, where
Lady B. can really let rip on the vocals.
www.LadyBianca.com
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