Reviews Archive

Live review - Echuca Blues Festival 2011

Hi Guys, Just got back from my first look at the Echuca Blues Festival, and you know what? How good it is to see a 'council/business houses/volunteers/in fact,the whole bloody city jumpin' on the Blues wagon. What a great way to spend a couple of days in winter, goin' from pub to pub, have a 'dram' or two. Walk down the main street, with talent abound, grab a 'snag and onions', drop into one of the many coffee shops (all with great coffee), and all this, at your leisure for basically zero!!! If you don't drink or smoke, you're laughin' man. The city heart of Echuca' was jumping, both in 'music,bodies',and nick knack shops, nearly "ALL" premises open, and so many pleasant assistants. I think that the city of 'Echuca" should be bloody proud of what they achieved this weekend. I got to see many of the acts at 'Echuca",and it was great to see so many young'uns strappin' on the old 'Axe" and givin' it a fair pasting. I'll go thru the program (which was free by the way, and a brilliant production it is too) . . . And the final Band I got to see on Sunday was my 'Fav for the Fest'. Andrea Marr and Band, Bloody Hell, Sharp, Tight, a Rhythm Section to die for, and Andrea's presence, and Vocals, World class. I've seen and heard a lot of guitar players in my life, but Greg Dodd has me enjoying the new face to an old instrument. He was really the reason we stayed all day at the Bridge Pub. I know that he was Dutch's axeman over the years,and have seen him in Mildura a few years ago with Dutch. But now with the lineup that Andrea has now, I can't tell you how good this band is, I only wish that they will record some live stuff in the future. Jeez, they were that good. . . . That's my take on the Echuca Blues Festival for 2011. "Tecka'. Terry Iredale .Tecka's Tracks R & B Program on CRN & HOTFM in Vic. Posted by: Clint, Tue, 30th August 2011

Little Sister Got Soul! (Blue Skunk)

Blue Skunk BS4524 I go through long stretches when I feel that soul music is one of those things whose day is past. Then, something miraculous happens…the slot in my door opens and I am blessed with some of the best stuff I've heard in quite some time. The Chicago area's Blue Skunk Music has released a CD by Andrea Marr that is reminiscent of what I was hearing when soul was king. Little Sister's Got Soul has it all…a strong vocalist with the power to melt the soles of your shoes or to blow those shoes right off your feet, depending or her mood or the cut you choose to listen to. Andrea Marr pours 100% of her heart and soul into every cut, never delivering less than her all. Little Sister's Got Soul! is soul the way it was meant to be, mixed with enough pure, raw blues to reach straight to the heart. Andrea Marr delivers the goods with pure raw emotional power. This is one of those albums that grabs you from the opening notes and leaves you hoping she never lets go. Then, there's the band. I have said a hundred times if I've said it once, no performer can be better than the band backing them up. In this case, that is not a problem. This band is as solid as bands get, their playing is right on the money, soulful, yet technically right on the money. Their arrangements are flawless and they play with a power that can only be reached when the band loves the music with their entire being. There is no doubt that this band loves the music. Like a throwback to the days when soul and blues were indistinguishable, Marr is a voice that will not be silenced and I, for one, am glad of it. This album and the folks responsible for putting it together are real winners. - Bill Wilson Posted: Mon, 9th May 2011

Andrea Marr - Little Sister Got Soul (US album review)

Andrea Marr - Little Sister Got Soul Amphead Music www.andreamarr.com www.myspace.com/andreamarrband www.ampheadmusic.com 10 songs; Time 41:21 minutes; Suggested Style: Soul Blues music was born in the United States, yet there are Blues artists in Australia. What a wonderful testimonial to the power, richness, and impact of the roots of all Roots music, Blues! Australia has a thriving Blues and Soul scene, and they can rightly brag about the crossover-the-ocean artists that have made a name in the U.S. like Sugarcane Collins, Dave Hole, Harper, Jimi Hocking, Fiona Boyes, and now, Andrea Marr. Andrea is truly a first class singer with a dynamic, gospel fueled voice, and I’m not the first to notice. She already has an impressive resume: * 2009 Female Vocalist of the Year (Chain Award, the Australian Blues Music Awards) * 2007 Female Vocalist of the Year (Newcastle Blues Awards) * 2005 Blues Performer of the Year * 2002 Female Blues Artist of the Year (Vic/Tas) This is simply a wonderful album. If you are a Baby Boomer very familiar with Aretha Franklin, Dinah Washington, Etta James and Memphis Soul sounds, you may not hear anything new, but you’ll hear an artist and her band who have mastered the idiom, breathing new life into it. If you are younger, or not familiar with the classic Soul music of America’s best, you’ll feel like you have discovered a gold mine! This is Andrea’s fourth album, and her performance, backup band, production, and engineering and mixing create a world class effort. There are seven originals plus covers of Etta James (“I Prefer You”), Dinah Washington (“Soulville”), and Glenn Kaiser (“If I Leave This World Tomorrow”). Her core band is Greg Dodd, guitar, Dean Matters, drums, Clint Healy, bass, Cam Scott, keyboards, and Sean Vagg, sax. Two of the originals are written by the band, and another is written with Dodd. The skilled instrumental contributions from each plus full band studio additional musicians make the CD more than just a vocal showcase. Standout moments beyond Marr’s singing are Dodd’s guitar work on “If I Leave This World Tomorrow” and his intro to “What’s Wrong With You,” the groups sagacious advice found in “Don’t Touch What You Can’t Afford,” the full horn section in “Real Good Man,” and Cam Scott’s piano work in “Baby Got Me Crazy.” This is no “regional” or “niche” album; this is great Soul music. Meet this “Little Sister” now and then watch for her to tour the U.S. – hopefully SOON! Reviewer James “Skyy Dobro” Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ and Blues Blast contributor. His weekly radio show “Friends of the Blues” can be heard each Thursday from 4:30 – 6:00pm on WKCC 91.1 FM in Kankakee, IL<-i>  Click here for the full story  Posted: Thu, 30th July 2009

ANDREA MARR - LITTLE SISTER GOT SOUL (album review)

Andrea Marr little sister got soul (10 tracks, 41 minutes) I reviewed Andrea’s first CD, Watch me work it, back in June 2006, and while I liked it, I didn’t really “get it” until I saw Andrea live at Goulburn the following February. Man, she is a dynamo, has a great blues/gospel voice, and really pumps out the sexiness, sass and attitude you hear on the CD. Sometimes an artist can create a particular personality in the recording studio, but they can’t deliver it live. This lady delivers in abundance! After all, she was the MBAS Performer of the Year in 2005 and represented them in Memphis. With Greg Dodd (guitar), Clint Healy (bass), Dean Matters (drums), Cam Scott (keys, Hammond), Sean Vagg (sax), a 3 piece horn section (Paul Williamson, Shane Hughes, Dave Palmer), and 4 backing vocalists (Rudy Tadros, Jeke terei, Edith Borradale, Carmel Sundaram), this CD is a powerhouse outing from this pint-sized songstress. Andrea has come up with a great collection of 7 originals and 3 covers that don’t have a weak one among them. The covers are Dinah Washington’s Soulville, Etta James’ I prefer you, and Glenn Kaiser’s If I leave this world tomorrow and they are terrific versions. You can get an idea what the originals (by Andrea and B. Strafford or various band members) are like by checking out the titles: Steam up the windows, Don’t touch what you can’t afford, Superwoman, Taught me to love, Real good man, What’s wrong with you, and Baby got me crazy. There’s a nice mix of feels and tempos, with lots of brass, and great guitar and piano and, of course, Andrea’s big vocals. In my opinion, this CD is a great example of a local product that’s the equal of anything coming into Australia from “the home of the blues”. Some albums have some great songs, some have some great performances, some have great recording quality, but some, like this one, have it all and just “hang together” and “sound right” from start to finish. (Actually, it reminds me of another great album; Dutch Tilders & The Blues Club, The blues is my life.) You’ve got to have a listen to this one. Gary deWall www.sydneyblues.org Posted: Wed, 11th February 2009

ANDREA MARR - LITTLE SISTER GOT SOUL

Al Hensley Rhythms Magazine Jan 2009 ANDREA MARR LITTLE SISTER GOT SOUL AMPHEAD MUSIC Launching the big horn-laden sound of her sequel to 2006’s Watch Me Work It, Melbourne soul-blues dynamo Andrea Marr wraps her unrestrained pipes around Dinah Washington’s ‘Soulville’ ahead of seven new powerhouse original songs, Etta James’ funky ‘I prefer you’ and Christian music singer Glenn Kaiser’s gut bucket blues ‘If I leave This World Tomorrow’. Guitarist Greg Dodd, bassist Clint Healy, drummer Dean Matters, saxophonist Sean Vagg and keyboard player Cam Scott were Marr’s musical running partners in the realization of this project. Scott’s tight and snappy horn charts and Marr’s vocal arrangements for her backing chorus by members of the Urban Praise Gospel Choir inject a soulful edge to songs of depth and attitude. The sassy ‘Don’t touch what you can’t afford’ and ‘Superwoman’ and the sultry ‘Baby Got me Crazy’ and ‘Steam up the Windows’ exemplify Marr’s growth as a creative artist. A fervent musical chemistry exists between marr and her road-tested band during the whole 41-minute set. Posted: Tue, 6th January 2009