Love Spin

Description

Debbie Davies is one of the top blues artists in the world. An award winning singer, songwriter, and guitar player, she has been a professional musician since the early 1980s. She has received ten nominations for Blues Music Awards, and in 1997 and 2010 won the award for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist. Davies cut her teeth playing in blues and rock 'n roll bands in the San Francisco Bay area before returning to Los Angeles in 1984, where she played lead guitar in Maggie Mayall and the Cadillacs, an all-female band led by wife of British blues pioneer, John Mayall. In 1988 she was recruited by Albert Collins to join the Icebreakers, and for the next three years she was a featured guitarist performing behind one of the most innovative bluesmen of all time. Debbie played on John Mayall's 1990 album, A Sense of Place, and in 1991 she recorded with Albert Collins and the Icebreakers on the Grammy nominated self-titled release for Point Blank/Virgin Records. In September 1993 Davies came out with her debut solo release on Blind Pig Records, which featured a cameo by Collins. Since then, Debbie has produced eleven solo recordings (including 2009's ground-breaking and acclaimed all instrumental Holding Court, on Little Dipper/Vizztone) and two collaborative CD's with guitarists Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Anson Funderburgh and Otis Grand. The roster of other artists who have joined Debbie on her recordings reads like a who's who of the blues: Albert Collins, Ike Turner, JamesCotton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Coco Montoya, Duke Robillard, Tommy Shannon, Chris "Whipper" Layton, Sugar Ray Norcia, Charlie Musselwhite, Bruce Katz.. Debbie also played with Robin Rogers and Tommy Castro's Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise Revue. Debbie Davies' music has always encompassed many of the blues styles as well as reflected the music she heard as a youth. So when she sings It's All Blues, she is truly putting her arms around all of the blues styles from Chicago to New Orleans, New York to Austin, to LA. Love Spin reaffirms Debbie's place among the blues elite. In addition to her usual band mates, the album features Terry Hanck (sax, vocals), Dana Robbins (sax), Dave Keys (piano) and Jay Stollman (vocals). Review: Back On Form - DEBBIE DAVIES- Love Spin -Little Dipper/Vizztone You may know that Debbie Davies was once upon a time, a working member of the Albert Collins' Band. Well as time has gone by that becomes more and more important. Debbie has always had a fine way with her Strat, but never more so than here. The opener, ‘Life Of The Party’ starts with a fiery guitar intro, which, although it could not be mistaken for Mr C, has the same sort of ‘attack’ that Albert had. Debbie’s last outing was with an album called “After The Fall”, a recording recounting the adverse effect of falling in her home and breaking her arm; a life shattering matter if you make your living playing a guitar. That CD was - in hindsight - a tad reflective with songs like ‘Done Sold Everything’ contemplating her parlous financial state. This one is a different cup of tea., From the fist note to the last there is a kind of joyous shout of “I’m Back!” Here. . The opener ‘Life Of The Party” that’s who I am. The title track ‘Live Spin’ opens with a super bit of lap-steel slide work from co-producer Paul Opalach. ‘Let The Heartaches Begin’ Is a joint-harmony vocal with Terry Hanck . That is followed by a funky piece called ‘Don’t Change It Up’, ‘It’s All Blues’ is a fabulous slow burner. ‘I Get the Blues So Easy’ comes with a fabulous horn section and a ear popping (Collins inspired?) solo. Other musicians on the album include Terry Hanck (sax, vocals), Dana Robbins (sax), Dave Keys (piano). This is a fabulous return to form for a lady who may well find herself on the receiving end of awards for it. Ian McKenzie Review: Five Stars - completely satisfied