singer, pianist, and actor. Nine years ago, she was struck by the blues. While out with a friend for the
evening, Curry heard music coming from a little club down the street and was “pulled” in. This is where
she met guitarist, now husband Michael Rapier, and her relationship with the blues began. Five years
after they started performing together, they enlisted Chris Rogers on bass and Rick Snow on drums
giving them the solid foundation needed to propel the band’s sound. The four core members have grown
beyond being a tight live band, into a quality recording and song writing unit. Rapier, Snow, and Rogers
also produced all the tracks on the album. In addition to the four core members, The Mary Jo Curry Band
is joined by Brett Donovan or Ezra Casey on keyboard, and Brian Moore on saxophone, rounding out the
touring band. Their latest release has a strong “live” feel to it, capturing the excitement the band
generates on stage. So exciting in fact, it seems limiting to use the term “listening” regarding their music.
You feel it. You sense it. It’s an experience.
“Front Porch,” the new album from Mary Jo (the first release from this band line-up), is made up of ten
original songs and one cover. Nine of the originals were penned by the members of the band, and the
tenth original was specifically written for Mary Jo by legendary Chicago drummer and composer, Andrew
Blaze Thomas, that showcases the talents of a woman born to sing the blues.
After self-titled album (produced by James Armstrong) was completed and finding its way onto the
charts, blues great Albert Castiglia, a friend of Mary Jo’s, teasingly asked her why she didn’t include him
on the first album. Later good friend, and Chicago great Tom Holland, and then Andrew Duncanson from
Kilborn Alley, made similar comments to Mary Jo. With these offers, songs were written, tailored with
these great artists in mind. The three guest stars delivered stellar performances on the tunes. Castiglia
and Holland enjoyed the songs so much they added their fire on two additional songs.
Curry’s opener, ‘Nothing Is Easy,’ is a high intensity, guitar driven track that tells of difficult times, so
troubled that even seeking a deal in the delta isn’t so easy. She then leads the band into full-on party
mode with the drivin’ boogie ‘Turn It Loose.’ Curry delivers a scathing rebuke to her lover in ‘All Your
Lies,’ with friend Holland adding ice pick lead guitar to the heavy Chicago shuffle. She sinks her teeth into
the struggles of a complex relationship on the slinky R&B track ‘The Man,’ composed by Rogers.
Duncanson and Curry join forces over a one chord steamrolling groove, in the supercharged vocal duet
‘Lookin’,’ a track that is sure to garner radio attention.
The 8-bar ballad, ‘House Is Lonely’ is a sentimental dedication to Rapier’s sister and grandson. Curry
unleashes all her sound and fury on ‘Explaining the Blues,’ the dramatic showstopper written exclusively
for the vocalist’s expansive dynamic and emotional range. ‘Shake & Bake,’ a swinging instrumental,
brings a fast-moving change in the action, giving each band member, plus Holland, a moment to stretch
out. The fun reading of ‘We All Had A Real Good Time’ stays true to the original 1972 Edgar Winter Group
recording with Castiglia stepping into the role of Ronnie Montrose, bringing a snarling guitar solo on the
Southern Rock party anthem. The heavy, hard hitting title track ‘Front Porch,’ speaks of a woman’s
WEBLINKS
OS: www.maryjocurry.com
FB Musician: www.facebook.com/maryjocurryblues/,
RN: www.reverbnation.com/maryjocurry
Publicist & Radio: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
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