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Blues Underground Network |
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Davina And The Vagabonds "Black
Cloud"
When they make up the list of the
hardest working bands each year, one that certainly can be found at the
top of that list is Davina And The Vagabonds. With an astounding average
of over 300 gigs a year over a five year period, Davina And The Vagabonds
have played to thrilled audiences from Minneapolis to Switzerland and
beyond. Fronted by Davina Sowers, whom is considered by many to be
"one of the hardest-working blues woman on the road today",
Davina And The Vagabonds have made enormous strides over the last few
years and now with their release of "Black Cloud", we all get to see
why.
Best described as a raucous and
eclectic mix of "Soul, Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Dixieland", "Black
Cloud", Davina And The Vagabonds, fourth release, could easily be
described as Sgt. Pepper and The Lonely Hearts Club Band Goes To
Dixieland. Bordering a lot more on the Jazzy, Dixieland Spectrum of music,
"Black Cloud" is certainly still an album you should not sway away from
just because it may not be as Bluesy as you might like, after all, there
are quite a few albums that should be listened to just on the merit
of the fact that they are quite good and quite unique, "Black Cloud" falls
into that
category.
Davina Sowers' singing has been
compared to Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, and Amy Winehouse. I for one can
certainly attest to the comparison to Amy Winehouse, whom I still consider
to be an amazing talent, despite her on going addiction problems. Coming
from an extremely talented background, Davina Sowers, whom has been
performing since the age of 5, is a virtual powerhouse performer whom
simply leaves her audiences in awe, where ever she and The Vagabonds
perform. An example of the impression she and the band leaves with
audiences can easily be seen via their appearances at Minnesota's Bayfront
Blues Festival, in which they had the highest on-site CD sales of any
artist performing at that event for three years in a row. Not an easy
at all thing to accomplish and one that is only a small indicator of
their immense talent. Davina And The Vagabonds has also shared the stage
with many musical heavyweights including, Joe Bonamassa, Little Feat,
Buddy Guy, The Blues Brothers, and Irma Thomas, to name a
few.
In addition to Davinas' outstanding
virtuosity, as a Singer and Classically Trained Pianist, she is joined on
this release by Michael Carvale (Upright Bass), Darren Sterud
(Trombone), Connor Mcrae (Drums), and Dan Eikmeier (Trumpet). Each and
everyone one of The Vagabonds are extremely talented musicians, something
that comes through loud and clear on "Black
Cloud".
"Black Cloud" consists of 14 tracks,
all originals, and all written by Davina Sowers. "Black Cloud" marks their
first album of entirely original music and also shows off Davina's
talent as a writer. Sandwiched between the mainly instrumental "Vagabond
Stomp" (intro) and "Vagabond Stomp" (outro), the remaining 12 tracks on
"Black Cloud" has no problem show casing a band, that has not only found
their unique niche', but has also learned how to bring that niche' forward
to the masses. Most of the songs on this track will give you a feeling
that you are listening to a Soundtrack similar to Moulon Rouge, which I
found quite interesting because this whole album was easily able to invoke
unique images in my head, as if I were more listening to a movie with my
eyes closed, then simply a
CD.
The Amy Winehouse comparison does not
take long as track 3, "Disappears", starts playing and it is actually
quite hard not to picture Amy when listening to this one, a feeling and
sound that continues into the next track "Start Running". Great work
from the whole band on that one. After two slower tracks, "Black
Cloud" heats once again with "Lipstick and Chrome" with Davina once again
showing off her talent pounding the keys on her
Piano.
The closest I can figure that "Black
Cloud" gets to the Blues is with their Soulful Blues track "River" which
clearly leaves no doubt in ones mind that Davina is certainly a,
Singer
Extraordinaire.
The remainder of "Black Cloud"
offers up more of the same great heart pumping Jazz and Dixieland sound,
with a little Gospel thrown in for the second to last track, "Carry Him
With
You".
For me, I can't really call "Black
Cloud" a Blues album other then perhaps the themes to a lot of the songs
may be blues oriented in nature. I can, however, call "Black Cloud" a very
good album courtesy of a immensely talented group of individuals, with
Davina Sowers taking stage, front and center. It was not hard at all to
see why Davina And The Vagabonds are such popular band after listening to
this release and although the name of this album is Black Cloud, you can
be absolutely certain that is does come with a silver
lining.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground
Network)
Additional Info
Tracklist
1. Vagabond Stomp (intro)
2. Black Cloud 3. Disappears 4. Start Running 5. Sugar Moon 6. PushPin 7. Lipstick and Chrome 8. River 9. Pocket 10. Let's Bring It Back 11. Bee Sting 12. Crosseyed 13. Carry Him With You 14. Vagabond Stomp (outro)
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