When I stumble across bands like Mindi Abair And The Boneshakers it makes me think I need to widen the “sweep” of my musical radar. The next step, of course, is adding more hours to the day.
For those of you who, like me, are arriving late to this party, Mindi Abair is
a two time Grammy Award nominated saxophone player, vocalist and author who has been recording music since 1999. As a solo artist, she has had ten #1 radio singles, two #1 Billboard Jazz CD’s and four more solo CD’s that have charted at #5 and above on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. She was the featured saxophonist for the 2011 and 2012 seasons of American Idol, toured with Aerosmith in 2012, performed with Bruce Springsteen, and played with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.
For those of you who, like me, are arriving late to this party, Mindi Abair is
a two time Grammy Award nominated saxophone player, vocalist and author who has been recording music since 1999. As a solo artist, she has had ten #1 radio singles, two #1 Billboard Jazz CD’s and four more solo CD’s that have charted at #5 and above on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. She was the featured saxophonist for the 2011 and 2012 seasons of American Idol, toured with Aerosmith in 2012, performed with Bruce Springsteen, and played with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.
Now I know what you’re thinking… Grammy Awards? American Idol? Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra? What gives? You’re right, these are all associations that don’t mean that much to me, but I understand how they can be important to someone trying to validate a professional career in music. What’s really important to me, of course, is the music, and in this case I think the music speaks for itself in a way that eclipses all of those associations and achievements.
Funny enough, none of those things had anything to do with what brought Abair’s music to my attention. I have Mr. Serendipity to thank for that. I was trolling through eMusic last year, looking for a way to spend the last 49¢ from my account’s monthly allowance, and I came across a single by Abair and her band The Boneshakers entitled “Pretty Good For a Girl.” |
I was intrigued by the band’s badass name and cover photo — but again, it was the song that sealed the deal. Far from jazz, this is crunching, thumping R&B with wonderfully sardonic lyrics and amazing interplay between Abair’s screaming sax and guest Joe Bonomassa’s fiery guitar. “Pretty Good For a Girl” takes a demeaning comment that Abair and other women must have endured a thousand times and musically kicks the living shit out of it with a little tongue-in-cheek attitude. This isn’t vengeful rhetoric and blues. This is the sound of a woman happy to let her music do the talking and confidant that anyone who hears it will come face to face with the undeniable fact that it’s not just “pretty good for a girl” — it’s fucking amazing, period. That’s why it’s the Happy Medium Song of the Day and another track on my “Best of 2017” compilation. Much more importantly, this song is a battlecry of empowerment that inspired the timely launch of PrettyGoodForAGirl.net. — a website where women are celebrated, appreciated, supported and motivated. That sounds more than just “pretty good” to me. (Please use the comments box to share your thoughts.)
And speaking of amazing women… happy birthday Cath — you still fly like thunder!
And speaking of amazing women… happy birthday Cath — you still fly like thunder!