Artist:     Suzie Vinnick

Album:     Shake The Love Around

Label:     Self Released

Release Date:     3/9/2018

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Ontario-based musician Suzie Vinnick has achieved critical acclaim for her solo acoustic work which mixes folk and blues.  Vinnick’s newly released Shake The Love Around aims for a fuller sound that’s firmly rooted in the blues.  Accompanied by a group of seasoned musicians, Vinnick shines as a performer and a songwriter.  As a vocalist, Vinnick has extraordinary range.  She can turn on a dime from a jazzy, Rickie Lee Jones tone to a blueswoman’s growl.  Given Vinnick’s Canadian roots, Joni Mitchell comparisons are inevitable.  Indeed, Mitchell’s trademark swooping high notes and half-spoken asides make their way into Vinnick’s vocal style.  Vinnick handles all the guitar work on the album, and her deft touch shows on both acoustic strumming and electric leads.

“Happy as Hell” and “Lean Into the Light” showcase Vinnick’s skill performing electric blues.  Her rhythm playing is in the pocket, and lead lines are terse but powerful.  Saxophonist Johnny Johnson fleshes out the sound.  “Watch Me” is a stripped-down electric boogie built around a Billy Gibbons-style guitar riff.  It’s great to hear Vinnick inject a little rock and roll swagger into her music.  The energetic “All I Wanna Do” adds some New Orleans Second Line funk into the mix.  Vinnick accompanies her playful, sultry vocals with her usual expert touch on guitar and bass.  Reed man Johnny Johnson adds Big Easy atmosphere with his saxophone and clarinet.

While ensemble playing is a clear focus on Shake The Love Around, the tracks that highlight Vinnick’s vocals are just as powerful.  “Danger Zone” features Vinnick accompanied only by an electric bass—her  powerful performance makes the listener feel privy to her innermost emotions.  A sultry reading of John Fogerty’s “A Hundred and Ten in the Shade” may fog up listeners’ living room windows.  Suzie Vinnick’s music has a warmth and intimacy that should win the hearts of blues lovers.  She’s a talent to watch.

—Jon Kleinman