Lisa Mann interview in BluesWax
BluesWax
Sittin’ In With
Lisa Mann
By Robert Putignano
Oct 26, 2012
Lisa Mann resides in Portland, Oregon, and has been a mainstay of the Pacific Northwest music scene for several years. She was inducted into the Cascade Blues Association’s Hall of Fame in 2011. In 2011 she and her Really Good Band represented the CBA at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis where they were semifinalists. Mann plays bass, sings, contributed nine tracks and covered four tunes on her latest CD, Satisfied. Lisa also produced this fine (and diverse) disc. Her solid band is made up with Jeff Knudson’s guitar, Michael Ballash’s drumming, and Brian Harris’ keys. Fellow Northwesterner Lloyd Jones also makes an appearance adding his distinctive voice and guitar.
I caught up with Mann not long after she released her second CD.
Robert Putignano for BluesWax: Are you doing alright, Lisa?
Lisa Mann: I am.
BW: Satisfied is your second release?
LM: Yes, but I’ve done a few other releases before that were compilations. Plus I write stuff that’s all over the map that I’ve released locally here in the Northwest, too. I’ve recently decided to narrow things down and market to the blues and blues-rock. That’s when things started to change and took off for me.
BW: I’d say! Before hearing Satisfied I hadn’t heard of you, but one of our WFDU DJs [EB Fisher] mentioned you and I then saw your CD on the Blues Revue list for potential review and I got it from Art Tipaldi [Blues Revue editor]. I was pleasantly surprised. Chip Eagle [Blues Revue and BluesWax publisher] also had previously mentioned your name, so I asked him to put us in touch, and very quickly – you called me!
LM: I actually was at a diner in Jersey when Chip called me, can you believe it? I am originally from West Virginia, so I have some redneck roots. I was raised in a Jewish family, we had a bumper sticker in West Virginia that said: “Shalom You All.” There’s actually a pretty big Jewish community there. My folks broke up and I moved out here with my mom so I pretty much grew up in the Northwest. I now consider myself a “Webfoot.”
BW: A Webfoot?
LM: They call us “Webfoots,” like a duck, because it’s raining here all the time.
BW: Okay, but getting to your latest CD, it’s really a good one.
LM: Well, thank you!
BW: Has this band been together for a while?
LM: Yeah! We’ve been doing this for a while with this configuration, Brian Harris on keyboards, Michael Ballash on drums, and Jeff Knudson (who has been with me for the whole time) on guitar. Prior to this band we had a different keyboard player and drummer who ran off to run with the Insomniacs band for Delta Groove. I was tied down for a while taking care of my mom, but now I’m free to travel a bit more and get out to do some festival gigs around the country.
BW: But, like Lloyd Jones (who appears on your record), you keep pretty busy regionally?
LM: Exactly. Lloyd and I run into each other often. That’s how that duet song with Lloyd Jones, “Always Nobody,” unfolded. It’s based on some hilarious things I heard him say. He likes to tell stories like when he travels overseas where there he attracts larger audiences, but when he returns back home, no one shows up. So I thought that would make for a great song. So a year later I run into Lloyd again and he was telling me that he would tell people to come to his gigs because there’s plenty of parking! So with that comment I finished the song. If your WFDU radio listeners and readers at BluesWax go to www.CDBaby.com, they can download “Always Nobody” for free. But hurry as it will only be there for another month or so.
BW: And people can find out more about Lisa at www.LisaMannMusic.com, too.
(for the rest of the interview, please visit: http://bluesrevue.com/2012/10/the-ezine-lisa-mann-10-26-12/#)
MORE >>Lisa Mann – Four Muddy Waters Award Nominations
Lisa Mann has received the honor of four Muddy Waters award nominations by the Cascade Blues Association for 2012. Lisa has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Bass Player of the Year. Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band have been nominated for Contemporary Blues Act of the Year, and “Satisfied” was nominated for NW Recording of the Year. The other two nominations for NW Recording include Curtis Salgado’s “Soul Shot” and Lloyd Jones’ “Doin’ What it Takes,” putting her in pretty heavy company.
The CBA Muddy Waters Awards will take place at the Melody Ballroom in Portland, OR on Thursday, November 1st.
MORE >>
Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint: “’Satisfied’ is a very strong CD”
Lisa Mann is one of my favorite people in the whole world and we’ve never even met. She’s based in Portland, Oregon and I’m here in Virginia. Only an entire country separates us, but we’ve become good friends through her music and trading emails when we can. This lady is extremely busy; she’s touring, recording, writing, and doing some amazing work and I’m lucky enough to get to hear it later. Her second album “Satisfied” is self-published and available at live venues or at CD Baby here. You can find out all things Lisa Mann at her website.
I guess what I’m saying is, if you’re looking for a completely objective review of her music, well, I’ll be honest and fair, but honestly I really liked this album a lot. I first listened to it the way I listen to a lot of CDs, I threw it in my car player and listened while I drove back and forth between Richmond and Jordan’s Branch. I can catch up on a lot of CDs while covering that territory, but I mainly listened to Mann’s sides over and over again.
Her voice is remarkable – she has the ability to purr and then immediately switch to a deep growl. There is no doubt that she is growing as an artist, her confidence is sky high, and it should be. She’s assembled a fine band made up of Jeff Knudson on guitars, Michael Ballash on drums and Brian Harris on keys. There are a number of guest artists that I’ll cover in a minute.
All in All, “Satisfied” is a very strong CD, one that I’m proud to put on the juke box. And Lisa, if you ever make it to the East Coast, we’ll make sure you have a stage to play. Just come on down to the crossroads and we’ll set you up.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW >>
MORE >>What DJs are saying about “SATISFIED”
Lisa Mann leaves this listener more than SATISFIED with her latest release. Smart writing, soulful vocals and great hooks all come together for a powerhouse album showcasing this wonderful band. Forget two thumbs up-both my EARS are at attention. Bravo!”
Biggdaddy Ray Hansen
Blues Therapy Radio Show KWCW Walla Walla
Satisfied rocketed to #1 on the WMHB Top 40 monthly blues chart shortly after it arrived in the mail and the CD proves once again that Lisa Mann is the real deal. While the musicianship and song-writing are outstanding, the vocals are what set Lisa apart – from smokey and soulful on ballads to smokin’-red-hot on upbeat tracks. Need blues? Lisa Mann will leave you Satisfied and then some.”
Cap’n Barney aka Pat Turlo
ODD ROCK on WMHB 89.7 FM
Ms. Mann has a deep throaty voice that at once surprises and then pleases within seconds of each other. “Satisfied” contains an intelligent and wide variety of songs reaches to all corners of the blues/roots genre and subject matter. Her approach to the bass can best be described as a subtle force. It is ever present, blending with the sound of the band but taking front stage when called for. Whether it’s a Portland Shuffle or a slow burner “Satisfied” will do leave the listener in just that state.”
Jimi Patricola, Blues411.com
Great gooly mooglies, another solid CD! Every cut is a winnah, I just can’t see us NOT playing a cut.”
Jon Alan, Hawai’i Public Radio
Excellent stuff!”
Brant Zwicker, “At the Crossroads”
MORE >>
TIP JAR!
