Page 40 - BiTS_08_AUGUST_2022

Janiva Magness—Hard To Kill—Label Logic ASIN :
B09Z6VF45V

Janiva is back with a new hairdo and a new album (her 16th.)
on her own label Fathead Records, the album features eleven
original compositions, four of which were co-written by her,
as well as a nice cover of John Hiatt’s 'The Last Time'. We
begin with 'Strong As Steel' an autobiographical song about
survival, 'Don’t You Forget About Me' is a wonderful, catchy
funky song like modern day Motown and 'Fireman' is another
survival song this time a poignant slow blues. The album was
produced by her longtime guitar player Dave Darling at
Studio City Sound in Los Angeles and the band also features Zach Zunis (guitar), Gary
Davenport (bass) and Matt Tecu (drums).

'Lover Girl' is another funky song this time sounding like Prince, more of the same on the
catchy 'You and Me' and yet more 70s-style funk on 'Standing On The Moon' more in the vein
of Graham Central Station. 'Comes Around' is a Bonnie Raitt-style soul ballad, 'I'm Still Here' is
a bluesy track with slide guitar and 'Right Here' is a dramatic tender ballad. I really liked
'Closer' a laid back blues where Janiva assesses her current situation in life, whereas 'Oh
Pearl' is an open letter to the daughter that she gave up for adoption when she was just 17
years old - it’s an honest and truly heart-wrenching emotional performance. There are some
really good tracks here but also some quite mediocre ones, everything is well-played and
sung but I would have liked to have heard a bit more blues-influenced material.

Graham Harrison

Kat Riggins—Progeny—Sono Recording Group ASIN :
B09Z6VFW4J

This is Kat's fifth album and her second on Mike Zito's Gulf
Coast Records where she is backed up by Mike and his road
band of Lewis Stephens (keyboards), Doug Bykrit (bass), and
Matthew Johnson (drums). The first three tracks 'Walk On',
'Sinkin' Low' and 'Expresso' are all Zito-style blues rock but
'Got to be God' is a jazzy ballad that lets Kat's vocals shine
more. 'In my Blood' also sees Kat's vocals soaring over the
piano-led song and 'Walk with Me Lord' is a short highly
emotional gospel song that leads into the dramatic 'Promised
Land'. Another Florida based artist guitarist Albert Castiglia joins Kat for the funky 'My City',
and 'Cross the Line' is a bluesy song that reminded me of Shemekia Copeland, while on
'Woahman' Kat is joined by Melody Angel on guitar. 'Mama' is a moody slow blues and we
finish with '40 25 40' a call for unity complete with biblical references.

Kat can obviously sing but I'm afraid that I thought that this record was fairly mediocre
without the emotional intensity that I normally find is a feature of Mike Zito's own work and I
found many of the songs a bit ordinary and generic although they are all well-played and
produced.

Graham Harrison