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~ GREETINGS FRIENDS ~
At the start 2012, I made a resolution that if I was asked to donate my time & energy to a truly worthy cause, my response would be to "JUST SAY YES!". So far this year, this resolution has led me to some really interesting & definitely different events & projects, which, I'm happy to announce, will take me on a Bluesy journey South this Spring, to Mississippi, Memphis and my Beloved New Orleans!!
I'm heading on down to "The Home of the Blues".....
This April, dozens of Delta Blues greats from Mississippi and beyond will converge in Clarksdale, Mississippi to play their hearts out to Blues fans around the world. The event, dubbed America’s Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert, is an effort by philanthropic media organization Explore.org and the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale to raise attention around the value of music and music technology education in the Mississippi Delta region, and to benefit the America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund at Delta State University. Acclaimed actor/narrator Morgan Freeman and explore.org founder Charlie Annenberg Weingarten will be on hand to host the night, which will be broadcast live nationwide on LINK TV and streamed live globally via explore.org and delayed and/or live on XM Radio’s Bluesville Channel! The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert will feature some of the best Blues and Delta Blues acts on the scene today, including performances by: Bobby Keys (sax) and Sugar Blue (harp) of the Rolling Stones, Bill Payne of Little Feat, multi-Grammy nominated singer Maria Muldaur, James “Superchikan” Johnson, Bill “Howlin Madd” Perry, T-Model, Robert “Wolfman” Belfour, Jeremy Jemmot, Big T, Big A, Big Dave, Mark “Muleman” Massey, Watermelon Slim, Heather Cross and Heavy Suga, Kingfish, All Night Long Band, Lightning Malcolm, Daddy Rich, & Josh “Razorblade” Stewart. The musicians will perform in an effort to raise money for the America’s Delta Blues Scholarship Fund, which will help children and young adults achieve an education in music or music technology through various programs run by Delta State University’s Delta Music Institute (DMI), and the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.
“Music is the soundtrack to our life and follows us everywhere we go,” said Charlie Annenberg Weingarten. “By giving underprivileged kids the chance to pursue their dream of working within the music industry, we are giving them a chance to not only change their own lives, but to possibly change ours too.”
America’s Delta Blues: The Blessissippi Crossroads Concert
April 28, 2012 - 8pm Ground Zero Blues Club
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Tickets are available in limited quantities, and cost $45 for General Admission and $150 for VIP. VIP includes a private catered reception on Friday evening at The Delta Blues Museum featuring the premiere of the Explore.org documentary Blessissippi--Blues Ground America, live music by Delta Blues musicians and special guests.
The event will be aired live on LINKTV from 8:00 to 11:00pm CST, and streamed live on explore.org from 8:00--12:00am CST.
For more information please visit www.explore.org. Tickets can be purchased through the Delta Blues Museum online or call 662-627-6820.
Then, on May 9th & 10th I'm going to be in Memphis for the 33rd Annual Blues Foundation Music Awards!
This year I have been nominated for the Koko Taylor Award for Best Traditional Female Blues Artist. Ever hopeful, we're keeping our fingers crossed! CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFO!
July 20th & 21st, 2012 The Guthrie Center Great Barrington, MA
July 22nd, 2012 Memorial Park @ The Maynard Public Library Maynard, MA
July 27th, 2012 Winery Gig Murphy's
August 2nd, 2012 Windsor, CA
August 4th, 2012 Riverfront Blues Festival Wilmington, Delaware
August 11th, 2012 Gravenstein Fair Sebastapol, CA
August 25th, 2012 Old Capitol Blues & BBQ Springfield, IL
Well that's all for now ~ More to come soon! ~ Hope to see you at one of my upcoming shows!!
Peace, Love & Blessings!
Maria
photo by Alan Mercer
Click here to listen to an excerpt from STEADY LOVE, and don't forget both of these albums would make great gifts, so visit the Amazon store on my website to purchase them! (Go to page 5 in the store to find both of these albums!)
I want to thank all my loyal friends & fans who came to all of our shows this year, and purchased my CDs. I deeply appreciate your loyalty, and encourage you to continue to
~SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!~
~ Love, Peace & Blessings ~
Maria
STEADY LOVE REVIEWS:
“One of the greatest albums of the year.”
- John Shelton Ivany, JSI’s Top21 Syndicated Column, 9/26/11
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“If there’s an underlying theme to the collection, it’s simply that there is a thread that connects this music. There are echoes here of the way Ray Charles turned gospel into secular gold, and Muldaur shows that spirituality can still rock out – the sacred and the profane aren’t all that far apart, and spirituality can still temper earthly desire without corrupting the former or diluting the latter.
There’s not a single weak outing in Muldaur’s now-extensive discography, but this just might be one of her best. Highly recommended!”
- John Taylor, Blinded by Sound, 10/7/11
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“[Her latest release, STEADY LOVE] continues the winning streak she’s been on for the last decade and finds a clearly energized Muldaur in New Orleans surrounded by a first rate assembly of musicians and background vocalists. With her characteristic sly, sexy vocals, she dips into swampy funk...[The] title track is a top notch slab of southern soul and the Percy Mayfield classic, Please Send Someone to Love gets a slow torchy treatment that showcases Muldaur’s [soulful] vocal chops. While she is no longer the young chanteuse that made Midnight at the Oasis such a sexy come on in 1974, the intervening years have added a knowing wink to Muldaur’s voice that makes it real clear when she sings on Arthur Adam’sGet You Next To Me “If you want my Peaches, come on and shake my tree”, only a fool would turn down the invitation! Steady Love is a fine entry into Muldaur’s immense catalog of great music. “
- Mark Smith, Blues Source, 10/17/11
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““Soul & grit” emanates from Muldaur’s voice on every track of this impressive CD – Muldaur and the band excel at all levels.
...A triumph!”
- Mick Rainsford, Blues in Britain, 10/6/11
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“Muldaur has one foot in church and another in a Saturday night juke joint as she belts out hand-clapping church rousers, soul ballads and greasy swamp stompers. Over the years her voice has only gotten better, with her pipes now displaying a lusty, full-bodied resonance. On “Steady Love” the 68-year-old proves she’s one hot N’awlins mama who is way beyond that Oasis at midnight.”- Eric Feber, The Pilot, 10/12/11
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“Maria Muldaur and her sweet, sultry voice literally helped to define the term "Americana," and she's a national treasure. She's recorded songs that have crossed many genres, and she appeals to fans of all ages. Get ready for a cool road trip down to N'awlins with "Steady Love!"”
- Sheryl & Don Crow, Nashville Blues Society, 9/26/11
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“Perhaps nothing points up the timeless quality of this music as well as her performance of “Please Send Me Someone to Love.” Muldaur makes Percy Mayfield’s classic 1950’s ballad sound like a wrenching lament for the world we’re living in right now.”
- Nick Critiano, Boulder Daily Camera, 10/7/2011
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“[STEADY LOVE] is a sure fire winner all the way for Ms. Muldaur. Fans of her earlier, more commercial releases are sure to enjoy this, as will lovers of her more recent Blues albums for Stony Plain.”
- Waverley McTavish, Blues & Rhythm (UK), 9/26/11
~ Peace & Blessings ~
Maria
Meanwhile, we are almost finished working on my Memphis Minnie Tribute Album, which will include soulful guest performances by Bonnie Raitt, Ruthie Foster, Rory Block, Phoebe Snow, Del Rey, Suzy Thompson & others.
That one will probably be out at the very end of 2011, or the beginning of 2012.
Speaking of Phoebe Snow, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear Sister in Music, Phoebe Snow. We met in New York in 1970, in front of Gerde’s Folk City. Knowing that I was a big Memphis Minnie fan, and had already recorded one of her songs, Phoebe whipped out her guitar and sang & played an amazing rendition of Memphis Minnie’s “In My Girlish Days”. I was absolutely awe-struck by her unbelievable voice and quite considerable skill on the guitar! Right there, in that moment, we bonded & became friends and Soul Sisters for life, a relationship that lasted some 41 years! Throughout both of our long musical journeys, we commiserated and gave each other mutual support and advice on life, love, and the vicissitudes of this crazy thing called the” music business”.
Phoebe was so much more than merely a singer. She was an absolutely formidable force of nature! Every time she opened her mouth to sing, she unleashed an earth-shaking, electrifying Power and Musical Energy that reached out and grabbed you & transported you to a Higher Place.
I feel so blessed to have known her as an intimate friend, and to have had the chance to collaborate with her musically. I will miss her terribly, but take solace in knowing that she is up there raising the roof, or should I say clouds, belting it out in that Heavenly Choir on High!
Here is a soulful song I had the pleasure of singing with Phoebe on my Yes We Can! album in 2008 ~ (even more relevant today!) ~ give a listen & enjoy!
I had a fabulous time hanging out & singing with my Soul Sisters & Buddy Guy at the GRAMMY Ceremony, and feel honored to have been part of the whole celebration!
(From L to R: hanging out with Betty Wright, Cyndi Lauper, and Buddy Guy)
