Showing posts with label Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band. Show all posts

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band - Better Days

Size: 101.1 MB
Time: 43:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. I'm That Kinda Woman (3:25)
02. Better Days (5:42)
03. Change My Name (3:39)
04. Lolly's Place (3:06)
05. Looking Back (3:55)
06. Mister Calhoun (3:47)
07. Are You Gonna Do Right (4:42)
08. Lovin' Only Keeps A Man (3:33)
09. Creeping Going On (3:11)
10. Better Days Radio Edit (4:49)
11. Shake Off Dem Blues (3:20)

Michele Denise, known as Sugar Queen, is a versatile American vocalist and songwriter, who performs blues in Europe, US, Asia and is currently based in the Netherlands/Belgium.

Her family roots are in northern Florida which explains her affinity with gospel and blues. In her early years, Michele played classical piano and received a university scholarship. Never straying from her blues and gospel roots, she continued to perform in churches of the Southern USA. Whilst touring various parts of the United States, she was singled out to perform in a historic “Mandela Released” event. During her time in the US, Michele worked a dual role as director/vocalist for several gospel and classic choirs in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

Relocating to Asia in 2006, Michele formed in Malaysia the blues and classic rock band Deuces Wild. During the Miri Jazz/Blues Festival of the same year, she performed with the Singapore based Universal Blues band. During 2007 while performing blues, she worked as a jazz singer with internationalist jazz pianist, Yiang Yi Sock in Malaysia.

In 2008, Michele had the distinction of performing for King Tuan Yang Terutama in Malaysia. In 2009, Michele recorded with blues/rock artist, Wang Wei (Rock Rhino) on his self-titled CD “Wang Wei” in Beijing, China. In 2016, Michele formed “Sugar Queen” in Belgium. It was collaboration between Belgian and Dutch blues artists and of course, the American Sugar Queen. Directing their sound toward Chicago blues, the debut CD “340 Blues” reached the number 4 position on the Chicago Blues Roots Music Charts with 5 of its debut songs ranking in the top 10, the album stayed in the charts for 12 weeks.

Better Days MP3
Better Days FLAC

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band - Sugar Queen Live

Size: 97,7 MB
Time: 41:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Give Sugar (Live) (3:20)
02. Wanna Take My Man (Live) (5:31)
03. Big Mama Told Me (Live) (3:43)
04. Bullock Blues (Live) (3:47)
05. Twos And Fews (Live) (4:47)
06. Nothings Gonna Hold Me Back (Live) (3:57)
07. Travelling Man (Live) (2:43)
08. I Can't Wait (Live) (4:55)
09. Big Leg Girl (Live) (4:31)
10. Hold Your Drank (Live) (4:36)

Michele Denise, known as Sugar Queen, is a versatile American vocalist and songwriter, who performs blues in Europe, US, Asia and is currently based in the Netherlands/Belgium.

Her family roots are in northern Florida which explains her affinity with gospel and blues. In her early years, Michele played classical piano and received a university scholarship. Never straying from her blues and gospel roots, she continued to perform in churches of the Southern USA. Whilst touring various parts of the United States, she was singled out to perform in a historic “Mandela Released” event. During her time in the US, Michele worked a dual role as director/vocalist for several gospel and classic choirs in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia.

Relocating to Asia in 2006, Michele formed in Malaysia the blues and classic rock band Deuces Wild. During the Miri Jazz/Blues Festival of the same year, she performed with the Singapore based Universal Blues band. During 2007 while performing blues, she worked as a jazz singer with internationalist jazz pianist, Yiang Yi Sock in Malaysia.

In 2008, Michele had the distinction of performing for King Tuan Yang Terutama in Malaysia. In 2009, Michele recorded with blues/rock artist, Wang Wei (Rock Rhino) on his self-titled CD “Wang Wei” in Beijing, China. In 2016, Michele formed “Sugar Queen” in Belgium. It was collaboration between Belgian and Dutch blues artists and of course, the American Sugar Queen. Directing their sound toward Chicago blues, the debut CD “340 Blues” reached the number 4 position on the Chicago Blues Roots Music Charts with 5 of its debut songs ranking in the top 10, the album stayed in the charts for 12 weeks.

Sugar Queen Live

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band - 340 Blues

Size: 102,6 MB
Time: 43:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Crab Boil Shuffle (3:53)
02. Give Sugar (3:21)
03. Wanna Take My Man (5:07)
04. 15 Dollars (3:31)
05. Hey Guys (3:29)
06. Handfast Love (3:09)
07. By The Law (6:20)
08. Moonshine Bill (4:01)
09. I Can't Wait (3:45)
10. Sugar Queen Blues Groove (4:03)
11. I Miss You (3:08)

This album is the result of a collaboration between musicians from the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands. This is the debut CD of Sugar Queen & The Straight Blues Band. Sugar Queen is the nickname of the American singer Michele Denise. Of course she also started her musical career in the church and then appeared in various gospel choirs.
Then she founded the blues band Deuces Wild and toured through China and Malaysia.
Now she has settled in our country and is accompanied by the Belgian-Dutch Straight Blues Band, which consists of bassist Rico Hagemeijer, guitarists Andy Aerts and Jean Raven, drummer Thierry Stievenart and Wim Heirbaut on the harmonica.
Everything on this album can be heard here as very experienced musicians. The voice of the Sugar Queen is soulful and at times jazzy and reminded me most of Mavis Staples.

The atmosphere on this album is very relaxed. You can hear that in the shuffle Crab Boil Shuffle in which guest Wim Degeest delivers a burning harmonica solo. The funky shuffle Give Sugar swings as smoothly. Bassist Rico Hagemeijer subtly covers the entire neck of his bass. The guitar solo also creates a jazzy atmosphere in this song, which is completely brought to taste by the ripping harmonica. The slow blues Wanna Take My Man is musically somewhere between Koko Taylor and Mavis Staples. So wonderfully soulful!
The funky blues 15 Dollars are performed in a relaxed way, so that the soulful vocals come out fine. The same relaxed atmosphere stays in the shuffle Hey Guys.
Guest Dirk Dekenne excels on his acoustic slide in Handfast Love. A shuffle with a laidback JJ Cale feeling. Wim Degeest can also be heard with his pumping harmonica. By The Law is a slow blues against the Chicago blues, which is very similar to T-Bone Walker's "Cold Cold Feeling". Sugar Queen Blues Groove is a song that gives exactly what the title promises, namely a nice funky wah wah blues song.
The album ends with I Miss You, a song that reminds of the early 60's girl doll from The Shirelles (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow).

Sugar Queen and her band deliver with this debut a very pleasant blues album where the experience drips. (translated from dutch)

Thanks to MB.
340 Blues