Debra Power is a veteran Calgary pianist/vocalist with a long overdue first album. If you haven’t heard of her, it’s because she’s mostly played in clubs in Calgary while raising a daughter. But she is going to represent Western Canada at the IBCs this month and I’m sure her dusky voice and new songs will be well received there. Just one listen and you’ll see why her first album is labelled overdue. A full band is behind her with Mike Little on organ, Mike Clark on sax, Russell Broom on guitar, Chris Byrne on bass and Kelly Kruse on drums. They rock out on the opening “Streets of Heaven”, things aren’t going well but there will be a reward. “Turn Me Around” is another fine song but still about redemption: ‘temptation & sin all know me by name’. “I’m So Happy” is a rock ‘n’ roll song to her husband. In the clever rocker “Love Glasses”, she describes getting through life with this latest accessory. On “Even Redheads Get The Blues” she points out how badly she needs a vacation – another rocker with great sax work and slide guitar. When she slows things down, she goes to soul ballads like “Just A Little Bit” and “Jesus Is Crying”. “You Bring Out The Lover (In Me)” is a fine stomper of a song. Debra Power has some excellent songs that have been well served by the players here. I hope she does well at the IBCs and now that she’s travelling maybe she’ll show up here too. Her web site is www.debrapower.com.