"Sometimes you
take a chance on a CD by a new artist and are completely taken
by it. I am happy to report that this is such a CD. The material
is at once original, yet entirely accessible and somehow oddly
familiar, like seeing a smiling face on the street that looks
like a long lost friend, only to find they are your best NEW
friend. The musicianship is top-notch and the production is appropriate.
There are no turkey songs or throw-aways, each one is strong
and sticks with you. In what may be my favorite CD this year,
Kara Maguire presents them with passion and style. Oftentimes
when listening to a new CD (and perhaps this is even more true
of contemporary blues artists), you wish the performances were
a little different...a note held here, an adjusted phrase there,
but not so with Kara. She has it down and I wouldn't change a
thing. If you have any doubts about buying it, doubt no more.
Just buy it! This is one "Nobody's Girl" that should
be everybody's girl. "
John
Wajgel , amazon.com
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 Kara Maguire sings convincingly
with a natural embrace, as she works with deep down tradition
on this program of contemporary blues songs that come enhanced
by the energy of a smokin' blues/rock band of L.A. veterans.
She creates a comfortable atmosphere in which we just want to
sit back and enjoy the stories that she has to tell.
Kara came to
Los Angeles after years of experience on the East Coast, singing
and acting in musical theater, able to convince any audience
through her heartfelt delivery. Like most of us, she found that
the recording artists who inspired her early on continued to
foster in her a deep appreciation for the blues and all its down-home
comfort. Citing a list of early musical influences, such as Carole
King, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt and Etta James, she explains,
"I got hooked on performing my own songs live and have been
pursuing that ever since coming to L.A."
Helping Kara
interpret this program of original blues music is a band of hot
L.A. all-stars. Producer Tom Harkenrider lends his guitar magic
to the fire as well as contributing "Nobody's Girl"
with its meandering country feel and its deep Delta echoes. Guitarist
Jerry Rosen, who wrote most of these new songs, supports Kara
with comfortable instrumental fills, exciting lead guitar power,
and several wah wah adventures. Bassist Tyler Pederson and drummer
Paul Fasulo, both familiar faces all over the Southland blues
scene, hold down the band's rhythmic foundation, while harp master
J.T. Ross colors several tracks with his own brand of contemporary
blues.
You'll find
that every track's a winner, as Kara sings about faded love affairs,
getting fed up with the way things are going, trying to make
things work out right, and making damn sure that we all agree
with what she tells us on "The Blues Ain't Dead."
--Jim Santella, Blues Journalist
Note: Jim Santella
writes about live blues and new recordings for Southland Blues
as well as several national magazines.
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APRIL, 2007: You'll find a review in April's Southland
Blues magazine as well as a "Spotlight"
article.
You can download a scanned tear sheet or a copy of the Southland
Blues "Spotlight" article here.
MAY, 2007: A review of the "Nobody's
Girl" CD from Blues Art Studio, an online USA/AUSTRIAN Blues
Review website.
"Nobody's
Girl" charts at #17 on the Living Blues top 25 April blues
radio chart.
"In
terms of quality of performance, I would rank Kara
Maguire with Renee Austin" Larry
Bevins/Kalamazoo Blues Association
Big City
Blues - summer festival issue
News Flash: Full-throated, wide-ranging
vocalist Kara Maguire has recently relocated to Los Angeles after
an acclaimed East Coast musical theater career and certainly
didn't waste any time before linking up with some of the Southland's
most smoking blues-rock veterans. Accompanied by guitarists Tommy
Harkenrider and Jerry Rosen (who also had a hand in all the songs
here save the powerful, reflective title tune), bassist Tyler
Pederson, drummer Paul Fasulo and dynamite harp player JT Ross,
Maguire wails with a "The Blues Ain't Dead" passion
and non-stop verve that recalls greats like Bonnie Raitt and
Etta James at times. Tyler also plays a great boogie piano on
the rockabilly-styled "Drive Me Crazy" that closes
the eleven song set.
Guitarist Rosen writes some great
songs as well-whether soulful ballads on the order of the rainy
day painful "I Tried" or the wah-wah guitar framed
"Let It Ride" soliloquy, up-tempo drum pounders like
the insinuating "He Knows How To Do It Right" and the
tension-packed opener "I Got It Bad" or declarative,
experiential statements such as "DNR" (do not resuscitate!)
and the moody "Nobody's Clown." Maguire compositions
like the fore-mentioned title cut, a tough, Koko Taylor-like
"This Woman's Liberation" (vivied harmonica by JT)
likewise impress.
News flash: One of the most impressive
and convincing programs of original blues music that I've heard
so far this year--this gal sings her ass off.
--Gary von Tersch
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