New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Two-time Grammy nominated singer/saxophonist
Mindi Abair has launched a timely initiative to celebrate the power of women, shifting the condescending language 'pretty good for a girl' into a rallying cry.
Abair is accustomed to taking a leadership role, both in terms of her remarkable career as a performer, as well as within the music industry (as a
National Trustee for the Recording Academy). She has had two Billboard #1 albums and her current
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers CD 'The EastWest Sessions' kicked off the new year as the #1 record on the RMR Blues Rock Album Chart and the #3 record on the RMR Blues Album Chart. Next month, Abair and her band will perform a mini-concert on SiriusXM's Bluesville, where she's currently rocketing up their airplay chart.
Despite Mindi Abair's successes and her high profile within the business (her biography, below, speaks for itself,) she has also experienced deflating gender inequality along the way, and is now trying to provide women with a forum to feel more empowered. Her new CD includes the inspirational track, 'Pretty Good For A Girl' - featuring legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
More about the song and the initiative, here:
https://www.prettygoodforagirl.net/the-song
'Behind-the-scenes' music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=MKKjzEy0t5Y
Abair shares these thoughts on 'Pretty Good For a Girl': "Early on I never thought twice about being a woman in a man's world. I just followed my passions and believed everyone was equal. Sometimes that was the case. Other times it wasn't. Those times that I've been judged for being a "girl" I've tried to use as character strengtheners. I believe the words that have been used against me can become my battle cry, and every moment I've been pushed down I can use to light a fire underneath me to be better and stronger. The phrase "Pretty Good For A Girl" keeps coming around in my world. I see so many women create and accomplish incredible things every day. It's inspiring for me to watch Misty Copeland dance and Serena Williams dominate a tennis game and
Adele bring a room to tears with her voice. But many times there is someone to add to any celebration of achievement... that's "Pretty Good For A Girl." It just takes the wind out of your sails, doesn't it? Well, I'm here to turn that into a term of empowerment. That's right it's "Pretty Good For A Girl." I'm proud of being who I am and representing women. I wanted to tell my story through this song and make it into a celebration of sheer Woman Power. When we were going over songs for the recording sessions,
Kevin Shirley mentioned that he thought
Joe Bonamassa would kill it playing on this song. I thought... "But he's not a girl." No he's not, but Joe came in one night, hung out, and recorded the whole song with us, not just a solo. He was in it from note one. And it inspired me. What a cool thing that he could come in and take this song to the next level with me... push me towards greatness. It's a meaningful song for me and I love that he joined me for it. I hope it inspires you the same way it inspires me."
A 2018 U.S. tour kicks off February 13th, with dates confirmed through October. Initial dates here:
Feb. 13-15: Jazz Alley - Seattle, WA
Feb 18: One World Theater - Austin, TX
Feb 21: King Center - Melbourne, FL
Feb 23: Ritz Theatre - Jacksonville, FL
Feb 25: Capitol Theater - Clearwater, FL
Feb 27: City Winery - Atlanta, GA
March 1: NBC-TV's Today in Nashville (Interview & Performance)
March 1: City Winery - Nashville, TN
March 21: SiriusXM Bluesville Performance / Interview (DC)
March 22: World Cafe - Philly
March 23: Tangier Cabaret Room - Akron, OH
March 24: Manchester Craftmen's Guild - Pittsburgh, PA
Check out the full itinerary, here: https://www.mindiabair.com/tour/
More about Mindi Abair:
One of the most recognized and sought-after saxophonists/vocalists, two-time GRAMMY nominee
Mindi Abair has been electrifying audiences with her dynamic live performances and utter command of the saxophone since her debut album in 2000. No one since
Junior Walker has brought saxophone and vocals in one package to the forefront of modern music, with a raucous tone and dynamic stage presence. She has garnered ten #1 radio hits, six Top 5 solo records and two #1 spots on the Billboard album charts. In 2014, Mindi received her first GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category, followed by a 2015 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo LP Wild
Heart featuring Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb' Mo', and Max Weinberg.
The daughter and granddaughter of working musicians, Abair continues to captivate fans while evolving her sound. In 2014, after two seasons as the featured saxophonist on the hit series American Idol, Abair released Wild Heart. This LP showcased a compilation of grittier rock and soul tracks featuring some of the biggest names in music. To help translate this sound to her live shows, Mindi enlisted longtime friend and The Boneshakers founder Randy Jacobs (Bonnie Raitt, Was Not Was, Willie Nelson) to inject his brand of
Detroit Blues Rock. The collaboration was undeniable, and it lead to an almost immediate decision to join forces creatively.
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers features band leader
Mindi Abair (Saxophone, Vocals), Randy Jacobs (Guitar, Vocals), Sweet Pea Atkinson (Vocals), Rodney Lee (Keys), Derek Frank (Bass, Vocals), and Third Richardson (Drums, Vocals). Their first record together
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers LIVE in Seattle was released
September 2015 to significant critical acclaim, and a 2 ½ year non-stop tour schedule across the US.
In April 2017, the band took a short break to record their first studio record. The EastWest Sessions was recorded over five days at legendary Hollywood recording studio EastWest Studios with renowned Blues Rock producer
Kevin Shirley (Led Zepplin, Joe Bonamassa, The
Black Crowes, Aerosmith). The album, which was released
September 15, 2017, is a powerful, bluesy, momentous, and deeply emotional journey. The album features a track with iconic blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, and 2017 GRAMMY® winner in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, Fantastic Negrito.
She authored the book "How To Play Madison
Square Garden - A Guide to Stage Performance" and serves as a
National Trustee for The Recording Academy.
The artists she's toured with and/or recorded with are a testament to her talent: Aerosmith, Gregg Allman, Keb' Mo', Joe Perry,
Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Adam Sandler, Lee Ritenour, The Backstreet Boys, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Webb, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Bill Champlin,
David Pack, Mocean Worker, The Ides of March, Rick Braun, Teena Marie,
Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, and
Peter White.
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