JANIVA'S GOT THE BLUES DOWN.Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer When saucy sauc·y adj. sauc·i·er, sauc·i·est 1. a. Impertinent or disrespectful. b. Impertinent in an entertaining way; impossible to repress or control. 2. blues singer Janiva Magness delivers a song, you're convinced. That's clear even without knowing a thing about her. Like all great r&b vocalists, the Los Angeles-based Magness is able to blur the line between blues and soul, singing with elegance and authority. But hey, don't take our word for it. Take the Janiva Challenge. Slip her excellent new album, "Do I Move You?" into the CD changer Changer The name given to a clearing member that is willing to assume the opposite position of a futures contract within a larger alternative exchange, of which it also is a clearing member. on random-play next to recent powerhouse platters from Candi Staton Candi Staton (pron. IPA: /ˈsteɪtən/) (born Canzetta Maria Staton 13 March 1940, Hanceville, Alabama) is an American soul and gospel singer. She is best known for her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free". and Bettye LaVette Bettye LaVette (born Betty Haskins in Muskegon, Michigan, 1946) is an American soul singer who cut her first record at 16, but achieved only intermittent fame until her 2005 record, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. . Magness show-stoppers like the tear-stained ballad "You Were Never Mine" sound seamless in comparison. "We need real music now more than ever because it gives us strength to pull through tough times," said Magness, who tonight brings her superb band to Cozy's in Sherman Oaks. "We need it in a real bad way. Blues is a ray of hope. It articulates what's lacking in people's lives." Magness, who plays about 200 shows a year in the U.S. and Europe, knows what she's talking - and singing - about. Barely a teen when she first encountered the power of r&b in her hometown of Detroit, Magness has led a difficult life. Both parents were lost to suicide, followed by residence in a dozen foster homes over two years. At age 16, Janiva became an emancipated e·man·ci·pate tr.v. e·man·ci·pat·ed, e·man·ci·pat·ing, e·man·ci·pates 1. To free from bondage, oppression, or restraint; liberate. 2. minor with chemical dependencies chemical dependency n. A physical and psychological habituation to a mood- or mind-altering drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. chemical dependency , and then a teenage mom with a baby up for adoption. Turmoil was a constant companion. After those beginnings, the blues came naturally. "In this country, being a blues player is plenty tough," Magness, 50, said. "It isn't for the faint of heart and it hasn't changed much. It seems a lot more people are calling themselves blues musicians Performers in the blues style range from primitive, one-chord Delta players to big bands to country music to rock and roll to classical music. Early country blues
Magness' vocals and stirring stage presence have expanded beyond clubs and festivals. Three years ago, she had the lead in the West Coast production of the Tony-nominated show "It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues," which ran at the Geffen Playhouse The Geffen Playhouse (or the Geffen) is a not for profit performing arts theater in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Originally named the Westwood Playhouse, UCLA purchased the property in 1993. UCLA's then chancellor, Charles E. . This year, she's been nominated for her third consecutive Blues Music Award, formerly the WC Handy Award, for contemporary female artist of the year. "It's a lifetime thing," she said of her music. "It's not as if I woke up one day and said, 'I'm going to sing blues and r&b.' It's something you're born into." Fred Shuster, (818) 713-3676 fred.shuster(at)dailynews.com JANIVA MAGNESS Where: Cozy's, 14058 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. When: 9:45 tonight. Tickets: $10. (818) 986-6000; cozysblues.com; janivamagness.com. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Singer Janiva Magness takes the stage at Cozy's tonight. Jeff Dunas |
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