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ANN RABSON
BIOGRAPHY
02/2005 Ann Rabson is clearly a woman of distinction. A world-class barrelhouse piano player, a respected Piedmont-style finger-picking guitarist, and a uniquely passionate and witty songwriter, Ann is also blessed with an immediately recognizable contralto voice. Her talent has earned her eight prestigious W.C. Handy Award nominations. This is no ordinary grandmother. Ann’s roots in music run deep. At the tender age of four, blues great Big Bill Broonzy found his way into Ann's heart and imagination. Although she did not understand the lyrics, his music stayed with her through her life’s peaks and valleys. A short time later Ann wrote her first song - about bubbles. She started strumming the ukulele before she was ten and played her first guitar gig when she was a senior in high school. At the ripe old age of 35, her fingers began tickling the piano keys. The sound that first captured her soul set her on the path to create wonderful music of her own. Ann's songs mirror personal experiences of love and despair. Her easy, comfortable stage presence combined with her passionate and powerful performance breathes poignant life into her soulful lyrics. Ann’s original songs reach from the deepest caverns of the pained heart to the highest peaks of an exhilarating love affair. Her exceptional talent for choosing her covers and reworking them into “the Rabson sound” has garnered her respect from music reviewers across the country. Ann has been described as "elegant, powerful, warm and razor-sharp.” She has received media praise for her ability to blend the basic human elements of humor, pain, and joy in her performances. Living Blues calls Ann “a superior entertainer.” With her trademark boogie-woogie sound and her clean sense of timing, Ann has become one of the blues' finest artists. As Downbeat magazine says, “Rabson plays bluesy, honky-tonk piano with staggering authority.” Ann grew up in a music-loving family that quietly nurtured her natural musical bent. Her new release, (February 2005), is appropriately titled IN A FAMILY WAY. In addition to showcasing Ann’s talents, this album introduces the listener to the talents of other members of her family. Ann’s sister, renowned violinist Mimi Rabson, graces many cuts; brother-in-law Dave Harris contributes stellar work on the trombone; brother Steve Rabson, an accomplished jazz pianist shines, nephew Kenji Rabson, a rising star on the New York City jazz circuit, is featured on upright bass, and multi-talented daughter Liz Rabson Schnore completes the ensemble on rhythm guitar. IN A FAMILY WAY includes blues classics to which Ann gives a new twist, among them an exuberant Chicago-meets-New Orleans version of Willie Dixon’s "Three Hundred Pounds of Joy". Ann dusts off the original 1924 version of Ma Rainey’s See See Rider, reviving the long forgotten introduction. On the original I’d Rather Be Alone co-written with her sister Mimi, Ann sends a personal message. Ann’s I Want To Hop On Your Harley, is a fun track honoring the large “family” of motorcycle enthusiasts. I Can’t Get My Mind Off Of You tackles the process of healing from personal loss. The album includes two songs by songwriter Roddy Barnes, the clever Go Where the Bad People Go, and the hopeful A Better World. With the help of Ann’s musical family, IN A FAMILY WAY dips into many shades of blues, from classic blues and traditional jazz to boogie-woogie and New Orleans style R&B and beyond. The unique instrumentation of these arrangements grabs the listener’s attention, and the material is performed with meticulous precision and elegant rhythm. Ann maintains a busy schedule of solo performances and also participates in many national and international Blues in the Schools programs helping educate today’s youth about blues music. In addition, Ann keeps an active touring and recording calendar with Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women, the popular trio she co-founded in the mid ‘80s. IN A FAMILY WAY, Ann’s third solo CD, offers the listener another musical perspective on this versatile artist. Like her previous critically-acclaimed releases, Music Makin’ Mama and Struttin’ My Stuff, Ann Rabson’s smart and sassy blues will delight both long-time enthusiasts and embrace new listeners IN A FAMILY WAY. Welcome to the Family! |
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