Janiva Magness' new album 'Love Wins Again' coming April 8 on Fathead/Blue Elan Records

INCENDIARY SINGER-SONGWRITER JANIVA MAGNESS CREATES AN EMOTIONALLY CAPTIVATING, SONICALLY LUSH TESTIMONTIAL TO THE POWER OF LOVE Award-winning performer’s 12th album, out April 8, continues her heralded partnership with Grammy nominated producer Dave Darling, and is her first release via Blue Élan Records Love Wins Again comes following a Blues Music Award and 2014’s top Billboard-, blues radio-, and Americana radio-charting album Original Photo by Jeff Dunas LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Janiva Magness’ new album, Love Wins Again, out on April 8, 2016 on Fathead Records/Blue Élan Records, is yet another evolutionary step for the soulful, elegant, award-winning singer-songwriter. Its 11 core songs and two bonus tracks are built on a sonically sophisticated architecture that’s in full service of Magness’ remarkably flexible and generous voice — which can flow smoothly as champagne or churn up gravel on command. Love Wins Again shatters genre barriers by enshrining elements of Americana, soul, rock, pop, country and blues. The album’s title is a mantra that resonates throughout: the concept of love as a physical, psychic and spiritual force that has the strength to conquer negativity, sadness and personal demons. “Love is a bigger power than hate and darkness,” Magness explains. “It’s easy to forget that when we’re struggling or when the world often seems frightening and out of control. But love can transcend barriers between people and cultures, and bring us closer in ways we might not have imagined. Love can also be frightening. It requires opening yourself up and taking risks, but in the end, love will always win.” Love Wins Again marks Magness’ fifth collaboration with four-time Grammy nominated producer Dave Darling, whose credits include Glen Campbell, Brian Setzer, Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx, John Waite and Stray Cats, and whose instincts compel Magness to tap her deepest creative powers and lead her songs to unpredictable places. He has become her key songwriting foil and is the primary architect of the album’s gorgeous textural sound, which blends acoustic and electric instruments, flourishes of Latin percussion, horns and an enlightened approach to the studio to create perfect settings for her vocal prowess. More than just expert range and craft, Magness’ voice rings with sincerity. With songs like “Love Wins Again,” “Doorway” and “Say You Will,” Magness has proven that she is an accomplished storyteller and diviner or the heart, whose songs reveal life’s potent truths. “Love Wins Again” begins the album with a zesty, groove-propelled message that’s part manifesto and part testimonial. Magness’ joyful melody soars above the song’s bed of percolating percussion and ringing R&B guitar. Love won again in multiple ways in Magness’ own life last year, through the completion of her memoir, launching a musical based on her life story and again when she married English bluesman and singer-songwriter T.J. Norton. Even when Magness is sending a warning flare in her state-of-the-world address “Your House Is Burnin’ Down,” she does it with grace. The tune’s “get up” call to action, sung with a handful of gravel in her voice, and its punching horns and high-energy beat invoke the urgency and drama of early James Brown.  Following up her last album is no easy task. Original, from 2014, marked her debut as a songwriter and raised the creative bar for her collaborations with Darling. It entered the Billboard blues chart — where her releases routinely appear — at number five and topped the blues radio charts. Original also scored her seventh Blues Music Award, for Contemporary Blues Female Artist. In addition, the album received a Best Song nomination for “Let Me Breathe,” co-written with Darling.  The same honor was bestowed upon the songwriting team in 2013 for “I Won’t Cry.”  Altogether, Magness has been nominated for 25 Blues Music Awards and follows the legendary Koko Taylor as the second woman to win the highly coveted B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. Original also revived her own label, Fathead Records, after a six-year stint with the internationally respected blues imprint Alligator Records. “It was really time to get out on my own again and take full control of my music,” Magness says. That change also reflected her rising status in the Americana music scene — where Original climbed into the Top 20 on the radio chart — alongside such similarly tough, soulful and literate artists as Mavis Staples, Sharon Jones, and Bettye LaVette. Love Wins Again is being released via Blue Élan Records, an artist-friendly label headed by Kirk Pasich, who shares Magness’ interest in working on behalf of at-risk youth. Magness is an alumnus of the foster care system and is a spokesperson for Casey Family Programs National Foster Care Month as well as an Ambassador for both the Foster Care Alumni of America and the Child Welfare League of America. Magness explores her own turbulent youth, her rise to stardom and more in her just-finished, as-yet-untitled memoir — a book that took three years to write that has already inspired an in-the-works musical. Her various trials — losing both parents to suicide as a young girl, traversing through 12 foster homes and giving up a child for adoption at age 17 — left Magness in the deepest despair. But ultimately, inspired by the encouragement of her final foster mother and a galvanizing performance by the legendary bluesman Otis Rush, she found stability and salvation in music. Today Janiva Magness is one of the most beloved figures in the Americana, blues and roots music world. She’s reached a larger and more diverse audience with each succeeding album and developed a reputation as a live entertainer that’s made her a staple of the international festival circuit. http://janivamagness.com Janiva Magness Tour Dates March-May 2016 Sun., March 13   BETHLEHEM, PA  Blast Furnace Blues Fest Tue., March 15 CLEVELAND, OH  Beachland Ballroom Wed., March 16  DAYTON, OH  Jimmy’s Ladder Thur., March 17  CHICAGO, IL  City Winery Fri., March 18  INDIANAPOLIS, IN  The Jazz Kitchen Sat., March 19  RIVERSIDE, IA  Riverside Casino & Resort  Thurs., Sat.-Mon., March 24-28  BYRON BAY, Australia Byron Bay Bluesfest  Fri., April 15 SUTTER CREEK, CA SUTTER CREEK THEATRE Sat., April 16  SAN FRANCISCO, CA  Biscuits & Blues  Tue.-Wed., April 19-20  SEATTLE, WA  Jazz Alley Fri., Sat. April 22-23  PORT WASHINGTON, WA  Upstage Wed., April 27 SELLERSVILLE, PA  Sellersville Theater  Thur., April 28  SHIRLEY, MA  Bull Run   Fri., April 29  FALL RIVER, MA  Narrow Center for Performing Arts Sat., April 30  MANHATTAN, NY  The Cutting Room  Sun., May 1  WARRENDALE, PA Jergel’s Tue., May 3  WASHINGTON, DC  The Hamilton Sat., May 7 - MEMPHIS, TN - Rum Boogie   http://www.conqueroo.com

Electro-fi artists Fathead - Fatter Than Ever - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Fatter Than Ever, from Fathead and it is a full spectrum of blues influenced tracks. Opening with I Don't Want To Leave The Party, a rolling boogie, featuring John Mays on lead vocal and Al Lerman on harp. Johnny Says has a rootsy '50's kind of sound with Bucky Berger pushing things along on drums and cool guitar from Papa John King and Lerman on harp. Take A Little Time For Yourself has a little twist of country swing with a cool resonator solo from Lerman. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Evil Eye has a jagged rhythm pattern accentuated by Berger. With laid back vocals and harp and guitar adornment, I just like this track. Twenty Second Chances has a R&B ballad feel with some of the best vocals on the release. Lerman adds a warm to the track with some smooth sax work. When Did You Ever has a country two step feel. Vocal harmonizing between May and the band gives this track a feel of it's own. Lerman plays a cool harp solo on this track as well adding just that right touch. Slippery Slope has a contemporary blues feel and vocal harmonies. Lerman takes a nice harp solo on the track making it one of my favorites. Life Goes On is the most melodic track on the release making it the most likely for radio play with it's catchy hook and subtle instrumentation. My Brother actually reminds me quite a bit of the Doobie Brothers. Vocal harmonies on the chorus and both and guitar and harp leads make it a prime radio track as well. Better Off Taking Chances has a laid back Randy Newman style. Lance Anderson adds some nice piano work on this track and Lerman also adds a cool sax solo. Shoot That Rooster is a cool jump track that makes my top 3 on the release. With a great rhythm and nicely blended vocals, over the cool piano work of Anderson and hot solos from King and Lerman, this track cooks. Pinching Pennies has a little twist of Latin and a little pinch of funk and a dose of New Orleans. Denis Keldie opens Preacher Man with a cool B3 part and the pace is set by Berger on drums, cool bass lines from Omar Tunnoch and the guitar work of King. A Little Feat like track with contemporary rock/blues/funk feel ...sure to be well received. Throw Me A Bone is a cool track with a feeling of Rufus Thomas. Cost To Boogie has a sound of Funky Chicken with Tower Of Power. King breaks loose with his hottest solo on the release. It's a great conclusion of an interesting release.

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