Female Brit icon rocks Center

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

By Aaron Davis

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Can you name an artist who has only sung the songs that they have written—no cover songs—through their entire career? British singer-songwriter-guitarist and three-time Grammy nominee Joan Armatrading falls into this rare category.

Reading through her accolades—which also include being nominated twice for Best Female Artist at the BRIT Awards, being on VH1's 100 Most Influential Women in Rock, and being the first ever female UK artist to have debuted at number one in the Billboard’s Blues chart—doesn’t really do justice to her singular career. Although her music is often pigeon-holed as pop, her foray into folk, rock, jazz, even reggae and new wave, puts her in a category of her own.

“I'm not constantly playing blues, rock, or anything, but I'm very conscious of music,” Armatrading recently told the Huffington Post.  “When people ask me who my influence is, I don't go on about that because it's not really a person, it's just the music.”

Armatrading’s deep, rich voice is spellbinding (reference YouTube for a 1979 version of “Down to Zero”). And whether she’s pounding out strong rhythms on an acoustic guitar or nailing thoughtful solos on an electric, her weathered performances are genuinely Joan Armatrading.

Born in the West Indies and moving to Birmingham, England in 1958, she began writing music and lyrics at age 14, eventually releasing her debut album, Whatever’s for Us, in 1972. Through the late 70s and early 80s, she produced a string of hits including “Love And Affection,” “Willow,” “Drop The Pilot” and “Lovers Speak.”

Her 19th album, This Charming Life (2010), is a lyrically positive and pop-rock effort in which Armatrading played every instrument less drums—something she has also done on two previous records.

“It's a very ‘up’ album,” she said. “I believe there are always things conspiring to not let things work, to bring you down, making it seem like things are not possible. But even being in that position, you need to be thinking positive to get yourself out of that bad position. You can change the equation.”

Not only does Armatrading feel very comfortable in the role of writing, arranging, producing and playing multiple instruments, she thrives within the extra mile. At age 59, her favorite thing to do is write songs. In the liner notes of This Charming Life, she explains her lifelong fascination with music—the different emotions and genres that can be coaxed from a very small amount of chords, and the remarkable challenge of creating. 

The Center for the Arts presents Joan Armatrading at 7:30 p.m., Sunday in the Center Theater. $65 orchestra, premium balcony; $45 for balcony. 733-4900. JHCenterForTheArts.org.

photo by JOEL ANDERSON
Joan Armatrading hits the Center Theater with positive pop-rock.

PERMALINK:
Female Brit icon rocks Center | Planet JH News Article: Music Box

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