CD Reviews
brought to you by
Blues On Stage
|
|
"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
| |
Magda Piskorczyk
Magda Live
(Artgraff © 2008 # MPAGCD 001)
Review Date: Nov 2008
by Norman Darwen
“You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover”, as a great man once sang - or even a CD, I might add. Young Polish singer Magda Piskorczyk, with her long flowing hair, acoustic guitar, and cover versions of Tracey Chapman and European icon Jacques Brel, looks as though she should be filed under ‘singer-songwriter’. It is an assumption very quickly dispelled by a listen to any of the tracks of this release, beautifully recorded at the studio of Radio Gdansk in 2006.
Magda has an unusually deep voice for a woman, with a musical approach that is solidly blues-based but which also incorporates elements of modern jazz, a hint of African music, and lots of gospel (the set finishes with several gospel numbers, and Magda has performed a tribute show to Mahalia Jackson). She also knows how to involve the crowd, whose contribution here adds to the ambience.
Her English lyrics may not always be strictly accurate but she is adept at establishing a ‘blue’ mood – try her versions of UK blues-rock singer Paul Rodgers’ ‘Muddy Water Blues’ or Tommy Johnson’s classic ‘Canned Heat’ for prime examples. Occasionally too, as on Nat Adderley’s ‘Work Song’, she can remind the listener of Mose Allison, with a cool, jazzy approach to the blues. Her band shares this individual take on the music: the rhythm section of Maksymilian Ziobro and Roman Ziobro on drums and upright bass respectively provide subtle support for Magda, her often fiery and always impressive saxophonist Arkadiusz Osenkowski and acoustic guitar and dobro player Aleksandra Siemieniuk.
Rounding out this extremely fine and rather distinctive and different set is a 15 minutes long video segment, which confirms what the listener already realises after listening to this CD: Magda is one talented lady! Remember the name – Magda Piskorczyk (pronounced ‘Peaskorchick).
www.magdapiskorczyk.com
"This review is copyright © by the writer and Blues On Stage: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
Buy this CD NOW:
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on the Amazon banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
More CDs:
Click on this banner to get you new low percent credit card:
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Hosting & Design:
CLICK HERE for Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $75.
The most affordable web hosting and design services available. Click Here
to find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies of your CD to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles with any questions.

|
Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com
Copyright © 1995 - by Ray M. Stiles & Blues On Stage All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. Blues On Stage is a ® Trademark of Ray Stiles.
|
|