Mary Jo Curry Band Front Porch

Mary Jo Curry Band
Front Porch
Self-Produced

Out of Illinois, the Mary Curry Band makes a strong musical statement with its new album. A classically trained singer, pianist, and actor was struck by this band she heard in a small club. It was there she met the guitarist, and her future husband, Michael Rapier. Five years after playing together, they met Chris Rogers on bass and Rick Snow on drums to form the core of the band. Not only did they become a tight band, but they also became gifted songwriters and produced this new recording. Brett Donovan or Ezra Casey on keyboards, and Brian Moore on saxophone round out the touring and recording band. On this recording, they are joined by special guests Albert Castiglia, Tom Holland, and Andrew Duncanson. Nine of the eleven songs are band-written originals.

With a funky bass riff, the album kicks off with "Nothin' Is Easy," as Curry sings about bad times being here and she standing at the crossroads but life ain't unfair. Castiglia takes a short solo while Brett Donovan on the Hammond and saxophonist Moore stand out. It is followed by a party song where Curry says she wants to turn up, get down and "Turn It Loose." She quickly displays an authority in her singing with nuanced vocal dynamics, clear diction, and the relaxed feel of her phrasing. All this while the band helps build the excitement in her vocals with their backing. Tom Holland adds scintillating guitar on as she lambastes her lover on "All Your Lies." The band is superb with Rogers and Snow putting together a tight shuffle groove.

She impressively handles the complexity of a relationship in "The Man," as well as duets with Duncanson on "Lookin'," which set against an insistent driving groove. The urgency of her vocals on these two songs contrast with the wistful quality on the ballad "House Is Lonely." It says so much about how good a singer she is that she is equally convincing in both settings. Andrew Terrell Thomas wrote "Explaining the Blues," where she pulls out all the emotional and vocal stops singing about while she left one man for another. Casey's organ solo adds to the drama of her outstanding performance.

"Shake and Bake" is an instrumental feature that showcases Tom Holland's fleet Chicago blues fretwork and saxophonist Moore, set against the crisp rhythm section. Castiglia is back for a spirited cover of Edgar Winter's "We Had a Real Good Time," and the brooding title track about waiting and making her plans for her man who has been keeping strange company and doing Mary Jo wrong. There is a second line-gospel-funk feel to "Joyful," that closes this impressive, outstanding recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Mary Jo Curry in performance.