Danielle Nicole

Cry No More

Concord Music Group

“Trampled Under Foot”, Danielle Nicole Schnebelen’s family band formed with her brothers Nick and Kris, won the 2008 International Blues Challenge. In 2011 they released their fourth album “Wrong Side of The Blues” produced by the Grammy winning Tony Braunagel and Danielle received her first Blues Music Award nomination. The band signed with Telarc Records, a division of The Concord Music Group, and their 2013 follow-up “Badlands”, also produced by Braunagel, resulted in TUF winning a BMA for “Contemporary Blues Album of The Year”; and Danielle winning her own BMA for Best Instrumentalist – Bass to become the first woman to ever win that honor. In September of 2015 Danielle Nicole released “Wolf Den”, her first full length album, on Concord Records.

“Cry No More” is Danielle Nicole’s new album set to be released on February 23^rd 2018. The band includes Danielle, bass and vocals; producer Braunagel, drums; recording engineer Johnny Lee Schell, guitar; Mike Kelly Finnigan or Mike Sedovic, organ; and background vocalists Maxanne Lewis and Kudisan Kai.

There are five extraordinary covers and they become terrific vehicles for Danielle. The opener “Crawl” was written by Tamara Champlin, a prolific songwriter, who has worked with everyone from Leon Russell to the Rhythm Tramps’ Terry Wilson. The lyric “If you want my love like before…then get down and crawl” is ultra hot. Her brother Nick Schnebelen sits in on guitar with Schell.

While recording these sessions at the Ultratone Recording Studios in Los Angeles Bill Withers was a surprise guest. Withers was so impressed with Danielle’s singing that he offered her a demo of the seductive “Hot Spell” a song he had written back in the 1970’s but never recorded. Withers called the song “risqué” and the song found a home. This is another outstanding performance.

“Poison The Well” is from singer/songwriter Maia Sharp who sometimes opens for Bonnie Raitt. “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore” is from Prince; “Monster” Mike Welch replaces Schell on guitar.

Blind Willie Johnson’s “Lord I Just Can’t Keep From Crying” is given a fabulous treatment as slide guitarist Luther Dickinson joins Danielle, Braunagel and Schell.

Nine songs were written or co-written by Danielle. “Bobby” was written about her father “who passed away a long time ago”; apparently putting her feelings into a song took awhile to process. On “Baby Eyes” the guitarist is Brandon Miller. “My Heart Remains” once again features Welch.

“I’m Going Home” is the first of five songs written with Braunagel; Sonny Landreth, with his trademark slide, joins guitarist Schell. On “Burnin’ For You” Walter Trout joins in.

Finnegan’s organ intro on the title track “Cry No More” is fabulous. Finnegan sings a duet with Danielle on “Someday You Might Change Your Mind”. On “Save Me” Kenny Wayne Shepherd joins the band. “Pusher Man” was co-written with John Lardieri.

Braunagel’s production brings out the best in Danielle. Her creative growth as a songwriter, bassist and vocalist is truly remarkable. This is highly recommended.

Richard Ludmerer

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