Liz Mandeville

Heart O’ Chicago
Blue Kitty Records

Liz Mandeville has long been a figure on the Chicago blues scene and with her latest release Heart O’ Chicago she pays tribute to the city and its music that she loves. This is her second album on her own Blue Kitty label, following her well received Clarksdale from 2012. Prior to that she had a handful of discs that had come out on Earwig. 

Great listening here, as Mandeville delivers with her smooth vocals and is backed by an incredible band of Chicago blues veterans, including Blues Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Shaw on sax for a couple numbers and the always sensational Billy Branch offering harmonica on a couple more. The core band includes Mandeville on guitar alongside Minoru Maruyama, Daryl Wright on bass,Jermiah Thomas on drums and Joan Gand on keys. Terrific horn work provided by trumpeter Wade Baker, trombonist Eric Campbell and saxophonist Oz Landesberg. Also, aside from Billy Branch, Dizzy Bolinski adds harmonica on one track, making his debut recording.

On “Quit Me On A Voice Mail” Mandeville emotes her best Etta James-like phrasing, just one of her on the money singing approaches. There is truly a lot of vocal highlights throughout the album provided by Mandeville, and two of those of note are the duets with Charlie Love on “Don’t Doubt My Love” and “Smart Women Foolish Choices.” The first is just soulful bliss as the two share the spotlight. With a funky guitar riff and snappy horns, Mandeville gives a new original reading behind BB King’s theme on “Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues,” while detailing how since day one in the garden of Eden and throughout history she’s still paying her dues. Throw  in a couple of stinging guitar solos and this song takes off. It’s obvious that Mandeville has a knack for writing clever and fun lyrics, such as her ode to quitting smoking “every silver lining has a black cloud” stated on the song “Silver Lining (Shirley’s Blues).”

Heart O’ Chicago is a tremendous album, full of the variety of blues, soul and R&B that make up the musical textures of the city. And Liz Mandeville gets it right every time on these eleven prime tracks that showcase her abilities to make you take note that she is a force to reckon with. Very much recommended.

Total time: 49:12

Cloud Of Love / These Blues / Don’t Doubt My Love / So Called Best Friend / Quit Me On A Voice Mail / Party At The End Of Time / Silver Lining (Shirley’s Blues) / Tic Tok / Why Would A Woman Sing The Blues / Smart Women Foolish Choices / (Life Is Like A) Wave