Why all the formality? This is no fly-by-night operation. The lady comes with credentials.
In May, Janiva was awarded the glittering crown of Contemporary Female Artist of the Year at the Blues Music Awards for the second year in a row, beating out heavyweights (note: I mean that figuratively) Susan Tedeschi, Marcia Ball and Shemekia Copeland.
To glimpse this mysterious dark horse of the blues, queue up her single You Were Never Mine on YouTube. Warning: Pop a new box of Kleenex first. Her sultry voice shimmers at a restrained point just under boiling as the lyrics hand you the kind of heartbreak that can lead a woman to drink before noon.
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Janiva Magness' Ladies, We Have the Right To Sing The Blues Mix
Stormy Blues
by Billie Holiday live with
Jerry Mulligan and Lester Young
From a live TV show taping. This is for me a definitive Billie - and I love Billie. So much sorrow and desire. So much humanity and joy in her voice and face. Especially when Lester solos. Clearly a personal dialogue between just those two.
Send Me to the Electric Chair by Bessie Smith
Well, when I listen to this song - I ain't so sure she didn't really kill that man after she found him with that other woman. And now she's ready to die for what she done! If THAT ain't blues....
As Good to Me As I Am To You
by Aretha Franklin
How can it be I never hear people talking about this particular Aretha track? It totally kills me! We all deserve to be treated better than we are by someone, and finding out the cold truth about some folks in our lives - well this tune is a balm for that wound. "All I am saying, is be as good to me as I am to you. Yeah!"
Down So Low
by Tracy Nelson
This cut moves me so deeply. The pain and resolve to the fact that she will never find another man like him - and that is what cuts deepest. Guess he was one hard act to follow. I been there a few times myself...
I Don't Hurt Any More
by Dinah Washington.
Ahhhh. This track is such a triumph over the loss, so grand. Finally the pain has lifted and I am moving on, baby! Who hasn't felt that way when we finally get over it and move on? Dinah sings this with such dignity. What a relief!
Nobody Loves You Like Me
by Etta James
Just downright tough as only Etta can. She comes out swingin' with two fists, as she so often does! Proclaiming to be the best of the best lovers. Nobody loves you like Etta!
Sure As Sin
by Candi Staton
This tune gives me chills every time I hear it. Candy's conviction here is unmovable. Her ultimate proclamation of sin, lovin' another woman's man and she don't care what they say about it! "...Cause somebody put an urge inside me, to satisfy your kind of man, baby just as sure as sin."
Empty Bed Blues
by Lavern Baker
Who hasn't woke up with the worst of hangovers only to find the man has gone. Go ahead, get up in spite of it all and keep moving on, find a new "coffee grinder, the best one I can find." Reminding us all that not only life, but love, moves on.
Nothing Seems to Matter Without You by Bonnie Raitt
This tune takes me back to a time of being so very young, and sweet about love. There's something so innocent about her vocal here. Just purely missin' her man. "Another night its gettin' late, and I'm alone with just the ache, and the memory of you beside me."
The Soul of a Man
by Fontella Bass
First time I heard this song, it sent chills all down my body, hair stood straight up on my arms and I began to weep. Fontella totally abandons herself to the lyric and melody here. With all the force and power of all the Gospel greats, she totally rips down to the truth of what is keeping her tied to this man. Absolutely beautiful.
If you've been lost since Bessie's been gone, go to janivamagness.com.
