By Adam Signore

Who is Joanne Shaw Taylor?

Joanne Shaw Taylor, a young 30 something Rock & Blues guitarist from England, who bounces back and forth between Detroit, MI & England for residence is kicking butt on the music scene. She has been impressing audiences from the start. Discovered at age 16 by Dave Stewart she has made a name for herself as a force to be reckoned with.

I recently had the pleasure of seeing her show at the new City Winery in Boston and I knew I was going to be impressed and still had my expectations very much exceeded. Per my style, more on that later 🙂

About Her Music

Joanne Shaw Taylor has five albums issued. Her first release, White Sugar is a rock solid  blues album, slow, swampy and most definitely rocking. JST’s love for rock blues performers like SRV is done justice in her music. Her second release, “Diamonds in the Dirt” is as impressive. The song “Same As It Never Was” won her a 2011 British Blues award for Songwriter of the Year.

Joanne Shaw Taylor has also put out other great albums, “The Dirty Truth” recorded in Memphis which is just deep down sexy. 2013 saw the release of “Songs from the Road”, a stellar exploration of her live shows. I’m a sucker for the live show and let me tell you, a Joanne Shaw Taylor show is something you do not want to miss.

The Latest Release from Joanne Shaw Taylor

Her latest addition to her catalogue, “Wild” is a must have album. It’s a little more exploratory in style and the mixing is spot on. Her style is expanding, the songs are amazing and it just makes me hungry for more. This album also included a cover of the amazing Nina Simone tune “Wild Is the Wind”. Always loved the David Bowie cover of this and was very interested to see what she would do with it. Wow is all I can say.

“Wild” opens up with “Dyin’ to Know” rockin from the first punch while being a mixture of driving and slow burn all in one.

“Get You back” is a classic American rock tune from this Brit. “Wish I could Wish You Back” is a gentle tune that walks us through love lost.

“I’m in Chains” is a electric driving rock blues tune with tasty guitar licks that aim to please. “My Heart’s Got a Mind of it’s Own”, an old school blues tune with piano & horns. The beat is pure joy. You’ll dig it Mahdudez!

Lots of good tracks top to bottom and I highly recommend getting this CD. The song “Sleeping on a Bed of Nails” will get under your skin and eat your brain. Fricken awesome.

So What’s News?

Latest news I hear that she has signed with Sony’s Revitalized Silvertone label and we patiently await her next release and say congratulations! Joanne is wrapping up her US tour but we certainly hope she makes it back this way very soon!

She’s got a 6th album in the early stages and set for a 2019 release. I for one am chomping at the bit to hear this!

Joanne Shaw Taylor Live

So, like I was sayin’ I got to see her 1st show of 2018 at City Winery in Boston. Was looking forward to hearing a lot of the new album but unfortunately her keyboard player was having visa problems and could not make the show.

I was wondering how this might affect things and let me tell you, I have ZERO complaints. In fact I feel we got a more personal off the cuff performance. Of course I want to make another show and see things as they were planned but went away totally happy.

Joanne Shaw Taylor & band have great stage presence (as expected) and Joanne Shaw Taylor makes great work of interacting with the audience. In fact as a first timer at her show I thought that folks were being a little too vocal for a crowd but quickly realized that this is the norm.

Luigi Casanova on Bass was rock solid with the beat and together with drummer Oliver Perry kept a thunderous beat going all night. So as I said, zero complaint. This trio was as powerful as any band I have seen.

I would say that if you don’t know Joanne shaw Taylor you should do something about that. Rock & Blues is alive and well in this band.

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