Janiva Magness – Do I Move You? (NorthernBlues Music).

2006 Blues Music Award nominee for Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year Janiva Magness is described by Delbert McClinton as “…. sings with a rare conviction. She will not be denied.”. What is confirmed by listening to Do I Love You? is that Janiva Magness is a supremely confident blues vocalist. The funky blues of I’m Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin’) showcases her smokey voice and is a powerful opener. Her tight band gives an excellent backdrop to her superb blues/rock vocal. Willie Dixon’s Workin’ On Me Baby is given a shuffling blues treatment and shows that Janiva can be a real diva if she turns her hand to it. You Were Never Mine (co-written by the aforementioned Mr. McClinton) has Janiva producing another facet to her singing. This time she is slow and soulful and the layers of her voice are nothing less than spectacular. Bassist Jeff Turmes contributes three songs to the album, the first being I Can’t Stop Cryin’. This is the real deal and could easily be mistaken for an authentic song from the blues heyday. It’s Turmes again, this time on Don’t Let Your Memories but unfortunately, this acoustic blues is a bit tame.

Janiva and the band are back on form with classic R&B in the form of I Want You To Have Everything. This is sung with panache and cements her place as one of the best North American contemporary blues singers around. The title track (written by Nina Simone) is a slow, electric blues with Hammond organ from Richard Bell giving the basis of the sound as it does on many others. The very sultry Magness asks the questions and you feel that you better know the answers. Bad Blood is the last of Jeff Turmes’ songs and is probably the best of the trio. The stuttering guitar and gritty soul will make it a favourite for some time to come. There’s some big band blues on I Give Up. This is a real swinger and confirms that Janiva can turn in a high standard on more than one blues sub-genre. Stealin’ Sugar is old style and almost vaudeville. There’s even a washboard (rub board) on this highly entertaining track. The album finishes in the same strong fashion in which it started with the very strong blues rock of A Man Size Job. It is no wonder that Janiva is held in the high regard that she is when she can produce work to the standard of Do I Move You?

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Copyright David Blue 2006.