No matter how many times one listens to Crystal Shawanda, one will always taken with the many colours that make up her work. Although she’s considered one of the top blues vocalists on the scene today, her palette is broad and multi-hued.

With a voice that can move from strident and undaunted to naked and vulnerable, one thing is certain – Crystal Shawanda is a force.  One can feel the power she brings to the music, it’s tangible. Yet she has complete control – her voice is like a mountain in the Rockies, where one sees the majestic, snow capped peak yet the base of that mountain is vast and sturdy, reaching down for miles beyond our vision.

Sing Pretty Blues, her newly minted release on Shawanda’s own New Sun Records, is a fine representation of her ease at the microphone and of her musical vision at work. It also reminds us how strong, confident and true to her artistic vision she is. While it’s difficult to choose any particular standouts from this outstanding crop of great music, I’ll mention a few simply to give others a glimpse into the beauty to be found.  Emerging from the roots of the blues is Shawanda’s dusky, contemporary take on Son House’s “Preaching Blues,” where the groove sits in such a deep pocket one is literally wrapped in her smooth vocal lines as they slide over the bar lines.  Stop Funkin Me Around, a Shawanda/Strobel/Tackett song, has a swampy sound that defies one to sit still through the jaunty groove, with a sassy yet assured vocal that makes it known she’s her own woman who is comfortable defending her boundaries.  The title track, Sing Pretty Blues, exposes her internal grit and determination to sing what moves her and not to worry about what others might think, the sign of a true master that lets the music speak beyond all.  In what clearly demonstrates Crystal’s facility for taking on a meaty ballad, her potent version of the Black Sabbath’s “Changes” makes one weep with the heartache oozing from every pore. Dirty (for JC) offers the listener tender grace and honesty in the form of redemption, as the sole acoustic track touches on her country soul heart.

There is a palpable yet ethereal connection between Shawanda and Strobel. The trust factor is evident as is the musical marriage alongside their matrimonial status. Their songwriting is topped only by their musical bond, which is simply divine.   These musical depths are rare and precious.  There’s also a great roster of musicians that bring this work to life.  One must mention Strobel off the top, for he’s not only provided most of the guitar work along with bass and percussion tracks, he also acted as Producer (with Shawanda as Executive Producer) as well as engineered, mixed and arranged the album. Other standouts include Peter Keys (keyboards) and an appearance by fellow Canadian Steve Marriner on harp.

Special mention must be made to Rob Pattee, for whom Crystal has dedicated this album. Robbie was one of Crystal’s greatest champions, fighting for her to be seen and heard on major stages across North America.  We can all thank Robbie for bringing our attention to the gift of Crystal Shawanda. (Cindy McLeod)