Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women

 

Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women, one of the country's most popular acoustic blues groups, will be performing in the Northwest for the first time since the release of their most recent Alligator album, OLD, NEW, BORROWED & BLUE (AL 4826). Saffire, as well as solo member Ann Rabson, have recently earned a 1995 W.C. Handy Award nomination for Female Artist of the Year in the traditional blues category. (The W.C. Handy Awards take place May 2nd, in Memphis--see Universal Notes).

The collective creative trio consists of Ann Rabson's rollicking, boogie-woogie piano, blues guitar and jazz-tinged vocals, Gaye Adegbalola's passionate guitar, seductive harmonica and soulful vocals and Andra Faye McIntosh's fiddle, mandolin, acoustic bass, guitar and powerful singing all write material with shades of blue. Their newest recording pays tribute to the group's influences, mixing classic blues songs with originals inspired by their musical heroes and heroines, such as Jelly Roll Morton on "Roll Mr. Jelly Roll"--a great movin' tune--also Ma Rainey and Big Mama Thornton. But this recording has more than the typical Their original songs have more than the typical I IV V IV chord changes running through them. Their music truely entertains the listener with stories about a "Bitch With An Attitude" to "There's Thunder In These Thighs". This music displays Saffire's well known clever, witty, sexy and fun personalities in their songs, complimented by tasty acoustic arrangements. Expect a few laughs from this Saffire on record, just when you need something light and savoy--Thank the goddessess!

Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women have come into their own, and their acoustic music comes from a long history of audacious, humorous, honest songs. According to Gaye, Ann, and Andra, "We embrace the old...we celebrate the new...We've begged, stolen and borrowed a variety of songs, rhythms, textures, licks and tricks." Really what they've done is define themselves through their influences and continue where their influences left off, blazing a trail for the generations ahead to follow.