This is suddenly a busy season for reviews! The run-up to the end of the year in October seems to be the time for new releases, and this year is no exception. My in-tray here is suddenly stacked with new music, and that’s great, as we have some terrific songs to share with you in the coming weeks. So this one sees your co-editor reviewing the action for a change!
First up, released on Friday, 13th, is the suitably spooky “Black Magic” by Joanne Shaw Taylor. Check out the video, and you are immediately into the Halloween season—skulls, women in black, candles!
You can stream the song from here
Joanne says of the song,
“I originally wrote the music for my album ‘Nobody’s Fool’ and intended for it to be an instrumental called ‘Butterbeer Blues, but then I decided to give it lyrics and transform it into a fun, traditional acoustic blues song. Hopefully I succeeded, and you’ll enjoy the rootsy vibe.” The lyrics unfold a tale of entrancement, spellbinding love, and the mystique of attraction, all delicately wrapped in Joanne’s signature guitar brilliance.
Always one to push boundaries, Joanne’s union with Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records continues to flourish, ensuring that her music reaches her global fanbase uncompromised and pure. This relationship, alongside her innate creativity, guarantees a stream of sensational releases that cut through the industry noise.
Discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics when she was a mere 16 years old and subsequently invited to tour the world, Joanne’s rise to stardom, propelled by endorsements from music giants like Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox, remains unmatched.
With a discography boasting chart-toppers like Reckless Heart, The Blues Album, and most recently Nobody’s Fool, Joanne is unstoppable. As she readies her next studio album, fans can expect a cocktail of her signature guitar riffs, emotive vocals, and inspired songwriting.
As for this single, it kicks straight into this funky guitar sound, with Joanna’s vocals slipping between a country feel spliced with the blues. The track rips along and has some terrific honky-tonk piano and backing vocals that got us all singing along. It ebbs and flows through the beat, and it has instant commercial radio appeal. At the risk of using an overworked term, it’s really catchy!
Photo by Stacie Huckeba
Joanna is also on tour in the US currently.
For more information and to purchase tickets for Joanne’s upcoming tour, visit joanneshawtaylor.com/tour.
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Tour Dates
Sunday, October 15 – Memorial Hall – Cincinnati, OH
Tuesday, October 17 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
Wednesday, October 18 – District Live at Plant Riverside – Savannah, GA
Friday, October 20 – Arts Bonita, Center for Performing Arts – Bonita Springs, FL
Saturday, October 21 – Kravis Center – West Palm Beach, FL
Sunday, October 22 – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Friday, November 10 – Davidson Theatre at the Riffe Center – Columbus, OH
Saturday, November 11 – The Kentucky Center – Louisville, KY
Sunday, November 12 – Playhouse Square – Cleveland, OH
Tuesday, November 14 – Riviera Theatre – North Tonawanda, NY
Thursday, November 16 – The Flynn – Burlington, VT
Saturday, November 18 – Smith Opera House – Geneva, NY
Sunday, November 19 – The Egg – Albany, NY
Tuesday, November 21 – Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA
Wednesday, November 22 – The Cabot – Beverly, MA
Friday, November 24 – Capitol Center for the Arts – Concord, NH
Saturday, November 25 – Capital One Hall – Tysons, VA
Sunday, November 26 – The Beacon Theatre – Hopewell, VA
Tuesday, November 28 – Carolina Theatre of Durham – Durham, NC
Wednesday, November 29 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA
By Benny (the Ball) Benson
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