Can't Find No Heaven

Alice Stuart

Burnside
www.burnsiderecords.com

review by Tony Engelhart

The unglamorous photo on the cover of this CD tells the whole story of a woman who has been living the blues for close to four decades. While she may not have Diva status at this point of her career, Alice Stuart has experience and wisdom with an impressive resume to match. The Blues Lady’s fourth release, Can’t Find No Heaven, is an eclectic and comprehensive piece of work as Ms. Stuart offers straight ahead electric shuffles to more acoustic folk-driven blues.

Originally from Chelan Washington, Alice Stuart was initially one of many folkies to emerge from Seattle in the early 1960’s. While she still retained her folk roots, after hearing records from such legends as Bessie Smith and Blind Willie, Stuart’s attentions turned towards blues. After playing the largest folk festival on the west coast, the Berkeley Folk Festival, in 1964, Alice Stuart was in high demand to open for many notable artists such as Joan Baez, Muddy Waters, Jerry Garcia, and Van Morrison, just to name a few. In 1968 she joined legendary experimental and art rocker Frank Zappa and was a founding member of his Mothers Of Invention. The 70’s found the guitar player/singer blazing a trail into Rock and Roll. Stuart has been credited with influencing such other women rockers as Joan Jett, Chrissy Hynde, Melissa Ethridge, and Bonnie Raitt.

Alice Stuart comes full circle on her latest recording.

From the foot high powered electric ‘Big Boss Man’ (featuring Paul Delay on harp) to the acoustic version of the Furry Lewis tune ‘Turn Your Money Green’, the veteran covers the gamut of musical expression. Duffy Bishop lends her sassy vocals to the Stuart rockin original ‘The Man’s So Good’. ‘Drop Down Daddy’ (a Fred McDowell song originally titled Drop Down Mama) features Terry Robb on acoustic slide guitar.

Aficionados of the thriving Northwest Blues scene are already well aware of Alice Stuart’s dynamic live performances and musical range. If you are unfamiliar with this gifted musician, Can’t Find No Heaven would be a great introduction to the varied facets which Alice Stuart is capable of delivering.