EDMONTON, CANADA (Top40 Charts/ Mark Pucci Media) Stony Plain Records announces a
September 27 world-wide release date for legendary singer
Maria Muldaur's newest album, Steady Love, her seventh album for the Edmonton-based independent label that this year marked its 35th anniversary. Self-produced by Muldaur, Steady Love is one of the most accessible, joyful and soul satisfying releases in her ever-growing catalog of memorable music. Stony Plain is distributed in the U.S. by ADA, in Canada by Warner Music, and in foreign territories by a variety of well-established distribution companies.
Over the last decade, Maria Muldaur has released a quartet of lovingly and authentically produced acoustic blues albums paying tribute to the early blues pioneers and legends, and garnering multiple Grammy and Blues Foundation nominations. Now - detouring from her ongoing exploration of vintage blues - for her latest release, Maria has decided to return to her much beloved New Orleans to record a contemporary electric blues album that reflects the kind of music she loves to perform live - what she calls "Bluesiana Music" - her own brand of New Orleans-flavored blues, R& B and "swamp funk."
Steady Love contains a compelling mix of contemporary blues tunes written by some of America's greatest blues poets, including Percy Mayfield, Greg Brown, Eric Bibb, Bobby Charles, Stephen Bruton, Elvin Bishop, Henry Glover and others. Some are debuted here for the very first time, while others are culled from the repertoires of The Staple Singers, Levon Helm, B.B. King, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Arthur Adams. In addition to some high-powered straight-ahead blues, the album features uplifting, gospel-tinged blues numbers like Bruton's "Walk by Faith," "I Am Not Alone," written by Rick Vito, and a stirring, heart wrenching rendition of Mayfield's perennial classic, "Please Send Me Someone to Love;" plus high-spirited versions of classic gospel anthems, "I Done Made It Up in My Mind" and "As an Eagle Stirreth in Her Nest."
The soul and grit of Steady Love comes from Muldaur's distinctive, deep and impassioned vocals soulfully preachin' and shoutin' the blues, and the greasy grooves laid down by an A-list of New Orleans funk veterans. Keyboard wizard and funkmeister David Torkanowsky, guitarist Shane Theriot, who literally wrote the book on New Orleans funk guitar (2002's New Orleans Funk Guitar Styles), bassist Johnny Allen (a key member of roots/funk favorites, the subdudes) and drummer Kenny Blevins (drummer in John Hiatt's all-star backing band, The Goners) all turn in inspired, high octane performances.
Contributions from New Orleans traditional jazz 'n' funk drummer Shannon Powell, local guitar ace Cranston Clements, and a final mix by veteran Grammy-winning producer John Porter, all work to make this one of the most attention-grabbing, widely accessible and soul-satisfying releases of Muldaur's remarkably prolific, varied and vibrant career.
Backed by her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, Maria will support the release of Steady Love, touring extensively with key shows at major markets around North America, including what promises to be a highlight event at Snug Harbor in New Orleans on October 15.
Maria's rarely been off the road since she recorded her seminal classic, "Midnight at the Oasis," on her first major label album, back in 1974. And as Steady Love proves, she continues to make powerful music!
Please check the following websites:
www.stonyplainrecords.com
www.mariamuldaur.com
