NOTES AND TONES

NOTES AND TONES
Building on a rocky start, Magness revels in success

By JON W. POSES

Published Sunday, June 22, 2008

Blues singer Janiva Magness’ life story is one of the more compelling present-day dramas. She was born into a working-class family near Detroit. Both her parents battled alcoholism, with her mother committing suicide when Magness was just 13. A year later, Magness ran away to Berkeley, Calif.; the teenager became homeless, which led to substance abuse. When she was 16, her father committed suicide. She became pregnant with a daughter she would later give up for adoption. There have been so many complicated twists and challenging turns during her early years that they almost seem too exaggerated to seem real.

What didn’t kill Magness made her stronger. In an interview, she had this to say: "I have a life today I could never have imagined. You know, your fate does not have to be your destiny. Fate is what you are handed. Destiny is about what you could be. I’m living proof. The tragedies of my life no longer define me."

Now fast-forward to a happily married Magness, whose life partner is guitarist-composer and bandmate Jeff Turmes. Now based in Southern California after a stint in Arizona, Magness has now been singing for some 30 years; she continually crisscrosses the country and Europe and averages something like 200 performances annually. She has since connected with the child she gave up for adoption and is a proud grandmother to 6-year-old Henry.

The powerful vocalist, who has visited Columbia on a few occasions but not for a while, is a survivor to be sure, having been a young foster child moved to and from 12 houses during a two-year period. At one point in her career, she gave it all up and worked in the office of a construction company for a year before finally realizing music was, without question, her calling. The more-than-willing spokesperson for Casey Family Programs and Foster Care Month has become a fully evolved, powerful and soulful vocalist.

Less then two weeks ago, she released "What Love Will Do," her eighth recording and her first for the top-shelf, Chicago-based Alligator Records. The winner of the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Artist of the Year, she has gradually gained legions of fans as well as the accolades of critics.

"What Love Will Do" features 13 quite varied selections running the stylistic gamut from essentially pure blues to soul, R&B and a bit of pop. The oft-recorded title track, written by Little Milton some 35 years ago, will ring familiar to a lot of listeners, including those who followed the career of Jerry Garcia: He recorded the title as well. On the soul side of this recording, there are interpretations of Tina Turner’s "Get It, Get It," Al Green’s "I’m Glad You’re Mine" and Bill Wither’s "I Don’t Want You On My Mind," among others. On the more pop side, there’s a reading of Annie Lennox’s "Bitter Pill." Turmes contributes two originals, including "Sometimes You Got To Gamble," the album’s closer and a piano-vocal John Lennon-like duo ballad reminiscent of "Imagine."

Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records’ president, said signing Magness to his label made perfect sense. "I’ve been watching Janiva over the last few years and seeing her mature into a major artist," he said in a written release. "Her deep, subtle understanding of blues and R&B music is obvious in every note she sings. Plus, her live performances simply captivate the audience. She’s a wonderful addition to the Alligator roster and will prove to be one of today’sand tomorrow’s crucial roots music voices."

There are a few moments when it feels like "What Love Will Do" almost tries to cover too many styles in one recording. Then, again, each song owns the capability of squarely standing on its own and making it an enjoyable listen from start to finish.

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The Hennessy Brothers, members of one of Columbia’s strongest musical families, led by father Frank Hennessy, founder of Hennessy Music, 1729 W. Broadway, have issued "Chunky," a new self-produced CD.

In the name of disclosure, let me mention that Hennessy Music has been a longtime sponsor of the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series, which I direct, and the Jazz Series has had guitarist Sean Hennessy and bassist Kevin Hennessy perform for its events. This certainly does not alter the fact that "Chunky" represents a strong musical effort.

The nine compositions on the disc, recorded in Columbia by musician-composer Pete Szkolka, who also contributes "Shades of Grey" to the project, features all original work. A number of the pieces are co-written by Sean and Kevin Hennessy. However, each of the brothers - with Sean writing three and Kevin one - delivers his own work. Pianist Ken Kehner offers his "Waltz for Camille."

The recording represents the brothers’ varied leanings and gives listeners a composite taste of their combined musical interests. The opening track, their co-written "Have Another Hot Dog," edges toward the heavier funky side, and a lighter piece such as Sean Hennessy’s "Portrait" draws perhaps from the modal sector of Pat Metheny’s world. Meanwhile, there are ethereal and more abstract moments, such as those in "Angles," another co-written Hennessy Brothers piece, and Szkolka’s "Shades of Grey" reminds us of Oliver Nelson’s "Stolen Moments," with its mellifluous and fluid groove.

In part this recording is as strong as it is because of the sense of community it delivers. The brothers use Kehner on virtually all of the tracks and the returning Missouri native drummer Marty Morrison on the majority of the them. There are a plethora of Columbia’s and/or Missouri’s better musicians contributing on various cuts, including trumpeter Allen Beeson, three cuts; alto saxophonist Randy Hamm, three cuts; drummers Hake Hanselman, two cuts; and Brian Steever, who now heads to the University of Missouri-Kansas City to study with Bobby Watson’s program, two cuts. And, let us not overlook Greg Aker, one cut, who, in addition to his duties as jazz series assistant director, also happens to be a working tenor saxophonist.

"Chunky" can be purchased through the Hennessy Brothers’ Web site at www.hessessybrothers.com and through cdbaby.com/cd/hennessybrothers. I’ll also take an unconfirmed stab here and say it’s probably available at Hennessy Music as well.

Tribune columnist Jon Poses also serves as the executive director of the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series. He can be reached via e-mail at jazznbsbl@socket.net.