Philadelphia’s blues and soul drenched vocalist and songwriter released her 4th CD entitled “Tell It Like It Is” in October of 2010. The new CD is another successful collaboration between Philadelphia producer/songwriter, Chris Arms and Deb and was recorded at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA by Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Phil Nicolo. The CD features 9 new original songs and a cover of “Funkier Than a Mosquita’s Tweeter” originally performed by Tina Turner and written by her sister Aillene Bullock as well as “Cold Irons Bound” a Bob Dylan tune. The road tested band including guitarist Allen James, bass player Garry Lee and drummer, Tom Walling with special guests Jason Crosby on keyboards/violin, (Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph) and Matt Cappy on trumpet, (Jill Scott, MJ Blige, Jay-Z, John Legend), bring a live, spontaneous feel to the tracks. The songs are blues based with forays into gospel, soul, rock and jazz and thematically explore a range of topics and issues including feeling love and joy, finding spirituality, giving voice to the experience of homeless children without family support, how hard it can be to make changes and are both serious and playful. In a Review of “Tell It Like It Is”, Living Blues Magazine says “ Callahan’s voice has the spiked fervor of contemporary Susan Tedeschi, but it’s richer and smoother. Stylistically she’s picked up a lot from one of her earlier influences, Nina Simone – Simone’s squirming rhythms and hypnotic vocals reverberate in Callahan’s music.” “Deb Callahan is a shouter, a crooner, a soul-belter and above all a gifted lyrical interpreter. She could sing the phone book and make it sound good.” Blues source.com says “Debs vocals are right on with the subtle tinge of a street smart performer. She sings the blues beautifully and can handle a slower ballad with precision and patience”. Since 2002, Callahan has released three CDs, If The Blues Had Wings, The Blue Pearl and Grace & Grit. She performs many of these original songs live as well as putting her own twist on some standards. www.debcallahanband.com
