ARCHIVES

REBA RUSSELL BAND

www.rebarussell.com

	photo by Tom Maguire

Reba Russell returns with her hard hitting Memphis band and a critically acclaimed new CD in hand.

Bleeding Heart, the CD in question, contains material that exemplifies what Memphis music is all about: Blues, Country, Gospel tinged R&B, and all spaces in between.  Here, it’s delivered by Russell with a whole lot of tenderness and just the right amount of sass.

Reba’s most fully realized release to date, Bleeding Heart mirrors the band’s performance on any given night.  And it all revolves around Russell.  For Russell everything is heartfelt, borne out of something highly personal.  She can wail convincingly on a driving Blues number and turn around to be lonely and winsome on a ballad without resorting to being maudlin.  Bed rocking Reba’s highly intense, powerful vocals is a band that shares her sensibilities: husband Wayne Russell on bass and vocals, Robert “Nighthawk” Tooms on keys and harp, Doug McMinn on drums, and Josh Roberts on guitar.

Watching Russell on-stage, it seems improbable that the assertive persona leading the band spent a big part of her career singing back-up, (by Reba’s estimate on more than 500 recording sessions), for artists ranging from U2 to Al Green.  But just as surprising is that she enjoys her time in the background as much as she does the spotlight.  That outlook is based on Reba’s love of just being part of the process and her belief that she learned from every one of those experiences.

After years of singing in cover bands “just to get gigs”, she tired of singing other people’s sentiments; and turned her attention to writing her own material and playing Blues full time.  It made an impact on her life and who she is today.  A fiercely independent individual, Russell has her own production company and moves her career forward at her own pace.  She doesn’t need to actively source dates but rather relies on word of mouth and the impression she leaves with her audiences.  And, not surprisingly, the gigs keep coming.

Reba Russell had a lasting effect on the 2006 Distillery Blues Festival audience and now returns to thrill at Waterfront Blues!