JAZZ REVIEW : Blues Sisters Stray Too Far From Blues at Memory Lane

The six women who are the Blues Sisters would do well to pay closer heed to what their banner implies, for when they strayed from the blues Monday night at Marla’s Memory Lane the effectiveness of the group diminished greatly.

That is a shame, considering that each one showed herself to be a capable instrumentalist in the blues genre. And an entire evening of the blues, when played as well as this collective is capable of playing, is not a bad night of musical entertainment.

Things got started during Monday’s first show with a rocking blues that provided neat unison voicings between guitarist Lady Mack and violinist Karen Briggs. Each soloed well and was supported staunchly by drummer Andrea Brown, bassist Nedra Wheeler and percussionist Elmira.

But when things turned Latin with a rendition of “Jobim’s Wave,” the band soured, with only pianist Rose Gales providing any sense to the classic tune. Lady Mack seemed lost, Brown couldn’t get a handle on the bossa rhythm, and Briggs, while offering some well-intentioned counter melodies, played annoyingly out of tune.

The Blues saved the night when the band launched into a hard-hitting version of “Goin’ to Kansas City.” Both Lady Mack and Briggs soloed admirably, their instrumental forcefulness and spirit infusing joyous life into the familiar tune. Wheeler took her only solo of the set and plucked magic from the strings of her acoustic bass.

Before a closing blues, “Listen Here,” the band offered a stilted reading of “Summertime.” A violin feature that again displayed Briggs’ intonation problems, the tune failed to swing under the rock rhythms of Brown.

At the very root of jazz is the blues, and the Blues Sisters could prosper by paying attention only to their roots.