Blues In The Night - CD Review by Joseph Blake

Victoria-based vocalist Maureen Washington's Blues in the Night...and Stories My Mama Told Me is an inspired, impressive collection of performances. Backed by Karel Roessingh's elegantly bluesy piano, Washington reshapes an eclectic repertoire of her mother's favourite tunes with a smoldering, understated vocal approach.

Her readings of Etta James' R&B classic At Last and Norah Jones' hit Come Away With Me burn with restraint and strength. Her version of Peel Me a Grape is more dramatic and features exquisite timing and taste. Backed by Roessingh's funky, parlor piano phrasing and masterful solo, it's a delight, as is Washington's equally theatrical reinvention of her blues title track. She works more restrained, subtle magic on vintage country material You Don't Know Me and Turn Me On. Georgia gets an even more soulful reading.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square and The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face are stark, revealing readings, and the deep blues vocal on Stormy Monday wraps up a triumphant recording. Great!
Needless to say, I loved it.

Joseph Blake

Music Promo by Richie Auriemma

Victoria, BC has a secret......but not the kind that's kept under wraps or behind closed doors.....it shines in the beautiful & talented Maureen Washington.

Man, can this gal belt it out.And then in the next breath enchant you & perhaps make you & your partner to dance a little closer...smile a little deeper.

Smooth is a word that used an awful lot for jazzy type singers. Maureen is the definition of it. The end as well as the beginning.

There is a richness in her tone that I have never heard before from any other singer. To hear it nine fold, check out LA VIE EN ROSE......it's what dreams are made of.

You know how you feel when you hear a voice that you know is gonna be with you forever.....I find this with Maureen Washington. A true singer out there in a field of her own goodness.

SUMMERTIME, RIGHT STUFF, & LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN are diamonds to discover here as well.

I am head over heels for Maureen's work....you will be to....and you'll thank me for it. I PROMISE!!!!

Please support Maureen Washington & her stellar body of work.

Tx--Richie Auriemma
http://www.reverbnation.com/auriemma



http://www.reverbnation.com/maureenwashington

Blues in the Night show review by Christine Skorepa - PG Citizen

October 22, 2010

Christine Skorepa
Citizen staff

There's something to be said for days gone by when big boxy microphones were used by a bluesy soul songstress as she soothed stressed audience members with her sultry tone.

Maureen Washington performed at the Prince George Playhouse last weekend to celebrate her new CD release Blues in the Night and what a night it was.

Washington floated to the microphone in a siren-red dress and when she opened her mouth the sheer emotion she poured into her music was enough to set my heart stirring.

I know I was only one girl sitting with one boy in the audience but Washington moved me like I have never been moved before. I cried through her entire first set of songs.

At Last my was complete undoing and right along with Peel Me A Grape, Blues in the Night and the heart break of You Don't Know Me left me shattered - but in a good way. It was so moving.

Washington's voice is unique, strong yet smooth and her dulcet tones are those of a familiar friend and a vamp. It's just amazing to me to watch the emotions wash over her lovely face in a very telling way and she connects to her audience by including them in her joys and triumphs, her sorrow and heart break.

Because the album is dedicated and created for her mother Barbara Washington, who was in the audience, there was a dialogue being carried on between the two of them and I don't mean emotionally. I mean they were talking to each other throughout the concert with Barbara sharing some sweet moments with the audience as well. It was great to be a witness to this tribute that honoured a mother well loved by her daughter.

Washington grew up in Prince George and moved to Victoria to further her career four years ago. Because of her strong connections to this town she returns often.

I must say Karel Roessingh the piano player that accompanied Washington was superb. He literally tickled the ivories and I finally got what that phrase meant. His fingers flew so quickly and the notes were so clear and crisp and I get it. He really did tickle the ivories.

Shawn Smith played saxophone and clarinet to lend a lovely tone to the songs. He seemed very experienced and was very good humoured when Washington got a bit playful with him, adding to the performance.

Washington gave the evening her all and left nothing undone. Her performance is something I will never forget and for her finale she chose Georgia because it reminds her of Prince George and finally, I was not alone with my tears. Several members of the audience joined me and I was so happy to see that.

So, Prince George music lovers, don't miss the next opportunity to hear Washington sing. She's coming back to town at the beginning of December.

I'll keep you posted on the details.

In the meantime check her out at http://www.reverbnation.com/maureenwashington.

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Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.

Blues In The Night by Maureen Washington & Karel Roessingh

Courtesy of Shaw A&E.
Filmed at the Alix Goolden Hall ~ Victoria BC
Filming by Daniel Pender

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Shan's Smiles & Winks: TI♥T 2: Being Wowed

Shan's Smiles & Winks: TI♥T 2: Being Wowed: "I've mentioned before my beautiful diva friend Maureen - I've been a fan since I first heard her sing when we were teenagers. Maureen transf..."

Just my thoughts

I moved to this place to create a better life for myself and my children. I really was hoping to see my career take off, which in my mind would mean more money, which would equal a better life.
I know that money doesn't buy you happiness, but it's sure important... like breathing. I really wanted to have a life where we didn't worry about being able to pay the bills, and when emergencies show up we could cover it, and could eat out how ever much we wanted and be able to go on trips etc.
But here I am poverty stricken once again. Of course I am richer than I think. Heck we pay 1990.00 for rent and 650.00 for private school fees per month. But it's the debt load that hangs over my head. Too much spending, when there was work, too much spending when there wasn't work. Credit cards were at times a way to keep us alive. I will admit there is always frivolous spending.

A year ago I was introduced (on line) to a author named Elizabeth Gilbert. She had some phenomenal book out that went crazy in sales and changed her life. Actually the book was about 'how' she had changed her life from desperation to peace. She had changed, wrote the book and her life changed yet again.

When I first watched her presentation on TED called A DIFFERENT WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE CREATIVE GENIUS, it was mind boggling how effortless she presented. She was in a realm beyond me, and spoke about the creative process I was amazed and I loved it, I ran out bought the book. (Not that the book was about her presentation)
If you know me, you know I LOVE to buy books with good intentions of 'ONE DAY' I'm going to read them all! I will proudly say I have read at least half of this book. It was inspiring, and I felt that she was telling my story on these pages. Yes, it was amazing and inspiring to find someone as crazy as myself in black and white.
I've kept trying to finish it... but after a long break from reading, Ihave lost some of my memories of some of the content.
Happily I found out they made a movie about the book! (more and more I realize that I am a visual learner which might be another reason why I don't fully read the books I buy)
The movie came out and I was on a mission! I didn't take anyone with me, I just needed to be alone. I didn't want someone else to distract me or complain they didn't like it etc...
I WAS MOVED!
How was I to remember all the important lessons that were helping her to grow and change to a woman of peace right before my eyes? I immediately made the decision to see it again, buy the DVD and finish reading the damn book. Five days after seeing it the first time, I saw it again. A little less frantic on trying to remember everything that was going to help me change my life, which I took as a good sign; but still determined to learn the freedoms to peace that she found.

On my drive home from the movie, still in tears, I started to stop looking at my bad and start looking at my good. All the good things that I 'had' done for my children, how I have shown them courage, strength, determination, opportunities that can be created, and survival! I feel like a failure so weak and lifeless most of the time, but this is in my head, probably due to fear. But who I am and what I do is completely different.
How many people would sell their house, pack up their five children and move to a city they've never really been to? Then proceed to create a life, make friends with musicians, land gigs at prestigious venues, record 3 albums within 4 years of being here, still keep her kids organised, fed and sheltered while walking them through some of their own difficult situations, work part time, then work full time all while gigging 3-5 times per month, not to mention while working in and around and through a messed up relationship which cancer enters the picture 2 years in.
I'M PRETTY AMAZING!!!!

Diva M

We Interrupt Our Scheduled Recording...

We Interrupt Our Scheduled Recording to bring you the beginning of 'another' recording!

The adventures in recording part 5

When you are not a full time musician and have a regular J.O.B. & family, it's hard to keep things focused and on track. The summer has come and is quickly coming to an end and we have not been back to the studio since June. Music festivals, vacations and schedules have kept us from continuing with the recording.
The good news is we will be back to the studio at the end of August and hopefully that will allow us to finish things up, at least on the recording end of things. Next will be photos and CD layout and THEN duplication. I suspect that the album will be completed in October! (hoping hoping hoping)

So in the mean time..
I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with Karel Roessingh who is a phenomenal pianist. I first met Karel through another musician who was unable to play on my Summertime EP album. Karel was recommended to me as a replacement.
I called him up said who I was and what I wanted, and he said SURE!
The music Karel played on the album was wonderful!!! his solo for La Vie En Rose is exquisite. Many times as I listen to the solo, I rewind it to listen to it over and over. Since that time we've had opportunity to play a couple of gigs together, the caliber that Karel is has pushed me and allowed me to grow more as a musician.

All of this to say, I am beginning another recording with Karel this week!
This will be an easy listening Jazz and Blues album of my Mother's favourite tunes that I sing.

My Mom who truly is my biggest fan, was at each and every one of my performances in Prince George when I lived there. Now that I am an Island girl, she sadly says, "I 'wish' I could be there with you" when I am heading out to a gig.
The wheels in my brain started spinning when I overheard someone talking about Karel’s studio, I thought this would be fantastic! Karel is great to work with, a phenomenal musician and then is able to record as well! WOO HOO HOO!

Next a benefactor came who would loan me the funds to create this new project… double WOO HOO HOO! Chatted with my mom and asked her what songs would she like me to do? And we’ve got a strong list of her favourite songs. (most of them are popular standards) It will be great mix of Jazz and Blues mostly love songs and as she calls them “the breaka my heart songs” too.

This will be a most wonderful experience for me to work with Karel and I’m excited to finally have the long awaited Jazz album.

and my Mom will finally have me wrapped up in a disc to play at home... over and over and over and over and over.....

Diva M