Carolynn Black: Reviews

• The Carolynn Black Duo (Carolynn & Tom) debut at The MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, OH - 09/21/06
• The Carolynn Black Band debuts at SUMMERFEST, "The World's Largest Music Festival" in Milwaukee, WI - 07/04/06
• "Ooh Baby" and "To my future husband" receive honorable mentions in the 13th Billboard World Song Contest – March, 2006
• "One brother" receives honor award in the 7th Annual Great American Song Contest - 03/14/06
• Carolynn receives MAMA nomination for Best Female Vocalist - 02/20/06
• The new Carolynn Black Band debuts at The High Noon Saloon for a MAMA's (Madison Area Music Awards) Best New Artist Showcase. - 02/15/06
• Carolynn is asked to join the Black n' Blues All-Stars - she gleefully accepts. - 1/30/06
• Carolynn joins both The Clyde Stubblefield Band and Vibe Syndicate, Madison, WI - October, 2005
• "One Brother" becomes a finalist in the folk category in the January 2005 Song of the Year contest.
• "Get it while you can," and "Ooh baby," air on WORT's Rolling with Scissors, Madison, WI - 2/22/05
• "Amsterdam," and "The Bloomberg Blues" air on WORT's The Whatever Show, Madison, WI - 1/19/05
• livin' in a ball factory release party at The Bitter End, NYC - 12/04/04
• C. Black performs at the Rally at the Railyards benefit for Develop, Don't Destroy, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY – 3/28/04
• C. Black peforms “Big Yellow Taxi” in protest at Borough Hall, Brooklyn, NY and on the steps of City Hall, NYC. Coverage by CBS 2 news, and NY1 – March 04
• Carolynn Black & The Blues host EMINIENT DOM-AID benefit for Develop, Don't Destroy at Freddy’s Bar & Backroom, Brooklyn, NY - 2/22/04
• In-studio interview & performance on WAPJ’s Simply Devine, 89.9FM Torrington, CT - 5/24/02
• C. Black performs “Empty Skyline” with Pete Margolis at BWECC Tribute to Local Heroes, Brooklyn, NY - 4/26/02
• C. Black guest DJs with Michael Bourne on WBGO Jazz88.3FM Newark, NJ - 7/20/01
• “Go Home” debuts on WBGO Jazz88 - 7/20/01
• Carolynn Black & The Blues performs at Bikers 4 Kids 1st Annual National Ride for Missing Children, Cunningham Park, Queens, NY - 6/30/01
• In-studio interview & performance on EYADA.com’s The Lionel Show - 5/17/01
• “Think of You” debuts on Q104.3’s Ground Zero with Jonathan Clarke (104.3FM New York, NY) - 4/08/01
• C. Black guest DJs with Michael Bourne on WBGO Jazz88 - 7/25/00

4/1/05
" Livin’ in a Ball Factory "
Genre: folk
With a ferocious opener of a spitfire, in your face, rockin’ start, it immediately grasps your attention and causes your feet to start tapping! Carolynn Black is ripping up the music scene with edgy lyrics and a voice that can only be described as an in between of Janis Joplin and Joss Stone. Her sultry voice rests comfortably in a jazzy inspired blues tone while showing a gentle side of a tough girl with her songwriting. “Yeah, she’s the girl, I always wanted to be,” she sings in the song “That Girl” about the inner goddess any woman wants to be, one that lives carefree, doing everything right and is admired by everyone. Listeners will be able to relate with her lyrics, they are fun, fast, furious and completely fearless. Carolynn Black is the ripe olive in a martini, to be enjoyed alone or with friends, this CD is sure to stay in your CD player for a long time!

Hit Picks: "That Girl" and "Get it while you can"

September 2005 review
Livin’ In A Ball Factory

Brash and boisterous, Black's buxom vocals will remind blues-hounds of Chicago's “Bombshell” Bonnie Lee. A frequent guest performer with Clyde Stubblefield at the King Club, Black is originally from New York City. The song, "Bloomberg Blues,” cites her frustration with New York's mayor, in a piano-duet setting typical of the Big Apple's seedy lounges. Driven by funk and rock tunes, “Ride” incorporates the former on intricate bass-work while “Ooh Baby” is very characteristic of the latter 80's feather-hair generation. Her sophomore effort, “Livin' In a Ball Factory” has the vocal power and drive to push her soulful alto-tenor range to broader planes of existence. A newlywed, she duets with husband Tom on a few tracks for R&B support on duets, and adapts chameleon-like to the supporting band.

This is taken from a longer article about weekly live music shows in Madison. January, 26th, 2006.

Funky Monday with Clyde Stubblefield and Friends
Mondays, King Club, 10 p.m.

All you really need to know is that Clyde Stubblefield was James Brown’s freaking drummer, and that on Brown’s 1969 opus "Funky Drummer," Stubblefield taught us everything about playing a drum solo. No gongs were necessary (regardless of what KISS’s Peter Criss might say), just a simple, exuberant beat. On the track, you can hear Brown inquiring of Stubblefield’s drumming, "Ain’t it funky?" Yes, Godfather, it is.

But don’t take James Brown’s word for it. Answer the question for yourself any Monday evening, when Stubblefield holds court at the King Club. Funky Monday, they call it, and it is a thrilling start to the workweek.

Does Stubblefield ever stop smiling? At last Monday’s performance, he transmitted his enormously likable stage presence all the way to the back of the room. "Welcome to the King Club, baby!" he announced into the microphone hanging over his head. His seven-piece band — horns, guitar, congas, bass, keyboard — shuffled about the stage amiably.

The vibe was loose and relaxed, and Stubblefield eased into the first set with the old Shep & the Limelights ballad "Daddy’s Home." As the horns blew big chords, he sang: "I’d like to thank you for waiting patiently, Daddy’s home to stay." And the crowd at the King Club, already filling up by 10 p.m., was glad Daddy was home.

Next was "Jabo’s Groove," the sprightly instrumental composed by drummer Jabo Starks, another James Brown alum. Then the playing of keyboardist Steve Skaggs was featured on "Time Is Tight," the familiar Booker T. & the MG’s tune. After it was over, Stubblefield warned, "From what I understand, times are going to get tighter." Then, grinning broadly, he waved a sweater menacingly at saxophonist Brian Husk.

Till now the audience members — mostly in their 30s and 40s — had been standing or sitting quietly, but at last a woman in an ankle-length skirt began twirling on the dance floor. The ice was broken, Funky Monday was fully under way, and Stubblefield made it official by singing the crowd favorite "Sweet Home Chicago."

Then he pulled down the microphone to welcome another performer, singer Carolyn Black — or, in his words, "The goddess of soul, the princess of funk." Black, in miniskirt and knee boots, sang Aretha Franklin’s "Baby I Love You," then "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Route 66."

The floor was filled with dancers by now, and I was seated and writing furiously when, suddenly, a woman in jeans and a red scarf grabbed my wrist. What did she want? My watch, my pen? Oh: She wanted to dance. Startled, I smiled bashfully, apologized, shook my head no. I wanted to explain that mostly the only dancing I do is the occasional polka. But she was gone. Why am I so lame?

What a marvelous party, this Funky Monday. What great music, and what a friendly crowd. Private to the scarf lady: Ask me again sometime.

5/24/2002: Carolynn Black & The Blues is a band that creates a bluesy folk rock style that bleeds with an intense energy and soulful aura. Carolynn's vocal style is sexy and sultry with a lot of passion and feeling. Just the way I like. Carolynn makes the music stand up and take notice with her powerful presentation of the groove that she represents. The music has a smart dose of pop sensibility that is much like a Bonnie Raitt style of blues. In fact, if there is one popular artist that Carolynn reminds me of, it's Bonnie Raitt. The lyrics seem to have the same power that the music and vocals do. This is a deep, honest, and emotional portrayal of not only Carolynn, but just about everyone else. This is music that can be felt by just about anyone who is alive. I really did enjoy this album for the most part. It's good music with a broad range of appeal. It's one of those albums that just makes sense. What else do you need?