Joyann Parker Hard to Love

Joyann Parker
Hard to Love
Hopeless Romantic Records

"Hard to Love" is an easy to delight in mix of soul, blues, country and roots from the Minnesota based vocalist. Parker with guitarist Mark Lamoine and bass player Michael Carvale, produced this release that features 13 songs co-written by Parker & Lamoine. Joining Joyann Parker (vocals/guitar/piano/trumpet) in the studio are Mark Lamoine (guitar/backing v), Tim Wick (piano/organ), Michael Carvale (bass), Alec Tackmann (drums/percussion) and Gunhild Carling (horns on one track).

While she is a classical trained pianist with a degree in music from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Parker sang in Church and a wedding band until she became enthralled with blues and soul, and her band won the Minnesota Blues Society's band competition and in 2015 competed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. As a performer she has also added old-time country to her repertoire and Parker and Lamoine recently launched a new show, The Music of Patsy Cline.

This is an impressive release full of good songs, solid playing and passionate vocals starting with the blues-tinged southern rock style of the opening "Memphis," where her mix of dynamics as well as her phrasing and clarity impresses while Lamoine adds some biting slide guitar. In contrast to the no nonsense vocal on Memphis, Parker displays her tonal as well as emotional range set against a swampy groove. "Home" is a marvelous gospel original with Parker sings about overcoming the hard times when crying all alone when one will go home where there is peace in the valley. Lamoine adds a superb guitar solo here to accompany her uplifting vocal. "Dizzy" is a driving funky, rocking blues with her emphatic vocal followed by the low-key, heart-fully sung lament "Jigsaw Heart." There is a similar feel to "Bluer Than You," with lovely piano (and a striking solo) as well as her overdubbed trumpet to support her singing, while "Ray" sports an infectious New Orleans groove. Among these strong performances, "Evil Hearted," a late-night blues may be the standout with the superb atmospheric backing and a superb, nuanced vocal, with some jazz-tinged guitar from Lamoine.

After the rock and roll of "What Happened To Me," the album closes with the title track accompanied solely by Wick's piano that again displays her strengths as a vocal with her clarity, timing, phrasing and ability to go from a whisper to a shout without ever sounding shrill or forced. It is a lovely and terrific close to an a very strong roots and blues recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. While written for Jazz & Blues Report, this review has not been previously been published. Here she sings "Evil Hearted."

Davina and the Vagabonds Lifting That Black Cloud

Hailing from the Twin Cities, Davina and the Vagabonds is apparently one of the hardest working bands in that area, combining the vocals and piano of Davina Sowers with an intriguing line-up of trumpet, trombone, bass and drums. Inspirations include blues, traditional New Orleans jazz and cabaret that have made them in demand for a variety of musical festivals. John Hammer has labelled their sound “hot jazz-blues-cabaret-soul-lounge-rock,” a label seems apt to this writer, particularly after listening to their 4th CD (first to these ears) is “Black Cloud” on Roustabout Records, that has Ms. Sowers joined by Michael Carvale’s bass, Darren Sterud’s trombone, Connor McRae’s drums, and Dan Eikmeer’s trumpet on a program of Ms. Sowers’ originals.


After a brief raucous opening “Vagabond Stomp,” the title track, “Black Cloud” with Davina’s forceful vocal on a performance comes off like a Brecht pastiche, followed by the pop flavored “Disappears,” with Sterud taking a blustery trombone solo with plenty as she displays her clean articulation of her lyrics as well as plays. “Start Runnin” starts as she slowly warns someone to step up or start running because otherwise Davina is gonna make a mess of her going for a slow march to a breakneck tempo with nice muted trumpet from Eikmeer with rollicking piano from Davina.


Its typical of the tone of much of this album as Davina sounds theatrical and/or campy one song such as “Start Runnin, and then comes off like an innocent lovestruck girl on the lovely ballad, Sugar Moon. The theatrical flavor of Pushpin, contrasts with the rollicking Crescent City grooves of Lipstick Chrome, as he shouts “nothing could go wrong” as the band answers with "nothing." Davina takes a nice piano solo here on a performance that would be home on the stage at dba’s or The Spotted Cat. It is followed by a lovely soul ballad River, where she sings wistfully about doing her lover wrong. Sterud’s muted trombone solo adds some appropriate coloring behind her vocal.


“Black Cloud” is a marvelously entertaining recording that is well sung and well played. Maybe some moments are a bit too cute (which may be a consequence of there approach after all), and perhaps she might lighten her vocals on an occasion. But that its perhaps getting a bit too analytical as opposed to simply enjoying the fun and pleasures that Davina and the Vagabonds bring. They may be hard to classify as to musical genre, but they are very easy to listen to and enjoy. Their website is http://www.davinaandthevagabonds.com/ which links to itunes.


My review copy was provided by a publicist.