The Joanna Connor Band
"The Joanna Connor Band"
M.C. Records MC-0046

M.C. Records is the label of choice for artists who are "national" or "international" in stature, but not competitive with their own pasts or their own work within a stellar, known, signed band. Kim Wilson (harmonica, vocals, Fabulous Thunderbirds) is on M.C., as is Ann Rabson(SAFFIRE), Odetta (inspiration to Bob Dylan in coffeehouse days) and Sleepy LaBeef(now that the rockabilly/roots revival is over). These players have a lot of life left in them, indeed, there is an excellent chance that their best work yet lies ahead, but by and large, they are past the peak of their fire.

Joanna Connor comes to M.C. Records from a different direction. Intense, fiery and fresh, she fronts a powerful, sharp, hip band. I intend "hip" here to be interpreted in its original American slang sense, the way it was meant in the first "hip cat" generation of jazz musicians, that much closer to the Wolof descriptive phrase, "hepi kat," meaning, "one who has had his eyes opened." These players are all engineers on the same blues-world-rock roller coaster, and it's a ride I've never been on before.

So often, too often, blues is locked behind the bars of its own traditions, and blues-rock, like most hybrids in Nature, is usually sterile. The Joanna Connor Band's shared grasp of authentic, discernible influences from Africa, Atlanta and the Andes transform it into something new and glowing hot. Every minute of each of the 14 cuts is pure blues, while at the same time being pure rock, while at the same time being spiked and spiced with completely unexpected twists.

Guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, B-3, drums, bass and backing vocals are all hot as the engine on the train that delivered Robert Johnson to Hell. That should be more than enough to encourage purchase of this release, but for practicing musicians, there's an added bonus. The Joanna Connor Band is a textbook for doing things well and right. You can shave with the guitar and harmonica tone. Ms. Connor's enunciation, trills and overall delivery of sometimes intricate lyrics prove that it can be done. The drummer is not just doing his duty, but having fun and contributing quite a bit to the front line at all times.

Were more space available to praise this album, I would fill it.