Search - Sista Monica :: People Love the Blues

BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE Issue No.61 by Tom Hyslop

Roman C. Guzman | Turlock, CA | 09/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You might have noticed her name in a list of W.C.Handy nominees. Maybe you've heard her perform in a club or at a major festival. It's even possible that you haven't heard of her. Well, her super-bad new disc, "People Love The Blues", is pure impact, and if it takes hype to get the message out, this is a good time to start it. Get hip to Sista Monica now, she's that good. Sista Monica Parker's huge voice and incredible chops give her one of the best instruments around. Her sweet but powerful singing bears traces of admired singers like Etta James and Katie Webster. Teqnique? Monica can blow the element out of her microphone with the best of them ("Somebody Gonna Give Up Something Tonight"), work a late-night ballad with gospel intensity ("A Chnce To Breathe")or quiet sincerity ("It's A Shame, It's A Mystery"), or convincingly deliver an anthemic standard-to-be ("People Love The Blues"). And She's a performer that can hold your attention through an entire humorous narative ("Honey It's Your Fault"). Her phrasing and delivery are unerring and she has attitude to burn. Three covers- Jackie Wilson's "Baby Work Out", Albert Collin's "Put Your Shoe On The Other Foot", and James Cleveland's "Walk Around Heaven All Day"- aside, Sista Monica wrote and produced everything on this album, alone or in conjunction with keyboard player Danny B. All the material is top-notch, mostly in a contemporary style not too far from the great sound of Collins' Alligator and Pointblank records. Her band, including Ron E. Beck on drums, a horn section and several guitar and bass men, smolders on slow blues and boils over on the funk. The record spotlights several appearances each from some of the best guitarists in the businnes: the impeccable Dan Caron (of the late Charles Brown's Band), versatile Jimmy Thackery and mighty Larry McCray, who defines both raw power and beautiful understatement in his contributions. Enough said. If you dig contemporary blues, it's hard to imagine that you won't like Sista Monica. She's star material all the way. This is a near-perfect record, and, like the title says, People Love The Blues."

Sista Monica is the Real Deal

R. Weinstock | Falls Church, VA USA | 09/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Few singers have emerged in the past few years who have impressed this writer as much as Sista Monica Parker. She has a new album on her Mo Muscle label, People Love the Blues, that should help continue to establish her as one of the great singers in the blues today. While I was sent a cd without a cover or liner notes, I presume her band that includes keyboard wizard Danny B. (Beconcini), drummer Ron Beck and guitarist Sam Verela with special guests on this album, Larry McCray and Jimmy Thackery. A couple tracks feature the booting sax of late Ken "Big Papa" Baker whose loss is still felt by Monica and her band. For those not having heard her two earlier albums, Sista Monica is a powerful singer with a voice that will remind you of Etta James, though one can hear other influences including Ruth Brown, Big Maybelle and others. And like them, when you hear her sing, you notice her presence. On an album with consistent first-rate performances, it is hard to pick stand-out tracks, but a long blues, One Thang Baby, may be it with a smoldering backing. And Monica is not the woman as victim here. If a man wants to give her crap, he can sleep in his own bed as she reminds him on You're Only Good For One Thang Baby. Not that she can't handle a lighter mood as on the more low-key A Chance to Breathe. There is also a rocking rendition of Jackie Wilson's Baby Work Out. What else can I say, but she has produced another superb album that firmly establishes her as among the leading singers in the blues today. While the mass media focuses on the next young blues phenom, a major talent like Sista Monica whose music has substance may not get the hype, but certainly should and will get an audience her talent deserves. And she is as good live as on record"

The Sista can COOK!

deacon_g | Santa Clara, CA | 06/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whew! This is one great disc!Sista Monica is in great form on "People Love The Blues". The music starts strong and delivers all the way through the final cut. She has surrounded herself with killer musicians and then puts her passionate style and voice on top of it all. Put it on, turn it up and enjoy some pure, "rockin' the house" blues! There is no bad time of day to play this CD.If you're looking to fill out a blues collection or just a definitive blues disc to have on the rack, this is the one to buy!"