January 1, 2006

January 2006

The Blue Pearl – CD Review

Deb Callahan is a singer/guitarist/song-writer/bandleader based in Philadelphia, PA, and The Blue Pearl (no label name or issue number) is her second album.   It is important to note that this is a band effort and ranges from rocking blues with slide guitar playing (try the opening :”Blue Pearl Moon”) and the sassy, boogying funk of “Livin’ Loud” to the folksy “Land of Promise”, and there are also classic soul influences, New Orleans inflections, a power rock ballad and even a slight hint of contemporary R’n’B (well, the group En Vogue anyway)   The songs are all originals, with the exception of the closing Paul Butterfield composition “Lovin Cup”, a wonderful, pounding Chicago blues performance.   There are echoes of Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Janis Joplin, which certainly indicates that she is a name to watch!   Rating: 7 – Norman Darwen