Maria Muldaur Visits Chan's

Maria Muldaur, a blues, jazz, gospel, folk, country and rhythm & blues artist with over 40 years of performing experience will be on stage at this Saturday night to introduce fans to her newest album "Steady Love."

Many will remember "Midnight at the Oasis," Muldaur's 1974 release that reached Number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that same year she released her second album "Waitress in a Donut Shop" which brought her her second hit, "I'm a Woman."

Her inspiration as a musical artist came while living in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. She only had to walk out her door to be at the epicenter of the folk and roots music boom that was happening in the early 1960's. Songwriters and musicians like Bob Dylan were a part of this scene. 

She was exposed to an extensive original blues and jazz collection of music when she was hired to babysit during her senior year of high school. The family had a collection that ran across one wall in their home, right up to the ceiling. When the children were sleeping and the parents were out, she listened to it all.

Her new album, "Steady Love," is a mix of contemporary blues tunes written by great blues poets including Percy Mayfield, Greg Brown, Eric Bibb, Bobby Charles, Stephen Bruton, Elvin Bishop, Henry Glover and others.

Some are debuted on this CD for the very first time while others are from the repertoires of The Staple Singers, Levon Helm, B.B.King, Sugar Pie DeSanto and Arthur Adams.

Muldaur calls this album, "Bluesiana Music." It's her own brand of New Orleans flavored blues, R & B and swamp funk and a contemporary electric blues that reflects the kind of music she loves to perform live. She considers New Orleans to be her musical and spiritual home.

Backed by her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, Chan's is just one of the many tour dates which will hit the major markets in North America.

"Steady Love" showcases Muldaur's deep and impassioned vocals as she soulfully preaches and shouts the blues with all the greasy grooves laid down by A-list funk veterans from New Orleans. She is accompanied by David Torkanowsky, the keyboard wizard, Shane Theriot, guitarist who wrote the book on New Orleans funk guitar, Johnny Allen on bass and Kevin Blevins on drums.

Muldaur will have two performances at Chan's on Saturday, Oct. 1. Tickets are $25 for the 8 p.m. show, $20 for the 10 p.m. show, or $28 for both.