MARY JO CURRY BAND
The Mary Jo Curry Band
Author of Break on Through: The Life & Death of Jim Morrison, Stone, The Bishop of Rwanda, The Coming of the Walrus and former contributor to Rolling Stone, Cream, Crawdaddy, the Kansas City Star, The Chicago Daily News, and Musician.
There’s a sincerity to Mary Jo Curry’s singing. She’s not trying to show off her voice, she’s not trying to sound like someone else, she’s here to make you believe something – to feel something, to know in your soul the truth, the joy, and the pain she’s singing about.
This is music that is able “to find that line between old school blues and modern songwriting,”[i] where tradition brushes up against R & B, Rock and Roll, and Funk. It’s blues that move you, songs that take you for a ride. Mary Jo and guitarist, Michael Rapier, started performing together 9 years ago. Five years later, they enlisted Chris Rogers on bass and Rick Snow on drums. This powerhouse rhythm section provided that magical component that propelled the band’s sound. The four core members have grown beyond being a tight live band, into a quality recording and song writing unit as well. Mary Jo’s first album, simply titled Mary Jo Curry, debuted at Number One on the RMR Classic Blues Chart and held the top spot for three weeks, finishing with 23 weeks in the Top Ten and Number Five for the year 2016! The album had three Number One hits on the RMR Classic Blues Charts; When a Woman’s Had Enough, Steppin’, and Husband #2 while Ooooo Weeee reached Number 2 on the RMR Classic Blues Chart and reached Number 21 in the nation for all genres!
The Mary Jo Curry Band plays regularly in the Midwest and have developed a strong following in the western states after two tours through Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Northern Idaho.
The band has been widely embraced by the Blues Community. Mary Jo’s first big push came from international touring artist, James Armstrong, who told her, “We’ve got to get you recorded.” Armstrong was so confident in Mary Jo’s ability that he volunteered his time and talent to produce her debut album. The album allowed Mary Jo to be introduced to an audience outside of Central Illinois. Great artists like Albert Castiglia, Johnny Rawls, Andrew Duncanson and Tom Holland have sung the praises of the band. Albert Castiglia said it this way: “Mary Jo Curry’s time has come! Her new record will demonstrate that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the blues world. Look out!” Johnny Rawls said “I have sung with Mary Jo many times, and she delivers every time! She has a powerful and soulful voice.”
After the first album’s release, many top Blues publications were raving about Mary Jo and the band:
“Mary Jo Curry” is a powerful debut release of the first order, she’s definitely worthy
of a wider audience. Marty Gunther, Blues Blast Magazine.
“Mary Jo Curry” – what just might just be a “Best New Artist Debut” nominated disc.
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro, Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
“All l have to say at this time is “Wow Wow Wow”!!! This album is a revelation to say the least
….for me there is no downs to the album as it is absolutely top shelf ….will quickly appear on
radio playlists and music charts as people discover the majesty of Mary Jo Curry. I for one am
an instant fan! This is a faultless introduction to a new artist and man the bar has been set very
high indeed.” Peter Merrett, PBS106.7, Melbourne, Australia
“Mary Jo Curry is the real deal, from head to toe, beginning to end.”
Bill Wilson (Chicken Wilson Blogspot),
“Intoxicating. Her vocals are so very strong and she conveys emotions so well that
it’s almost like we become possessed by her. She manages to find that line between
old school blues and modern songwriting.
Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint, http://professorjohnnyp.blogspot.com
“This self-titled album is a powerful blues album. Mary Jo Curry’s exciting vocals,
accompanied perfectly by this amazing backing band. Highly Recommended.
4.5 out of 5. Philip Verhaege
At the close of 2019, Mary Jo Curry was named the Best Female Vocalist of the Year by the Illinois Times, and her band was runner-up as the 2019 Best Original Music Band.
The Mary Jo Curry Band calls Central Illinois their home base along with Kilborn Alley, Brandon Santini, James Armstrong, David Lumsden and others. With the release of their new album Front Porch, The Mary Jo Curry Band solidify their position in the top tier of today’s emerging blues artists. Writing nine of the eleven tracks themselves and having Castiglia, Holland and Duncanson lending their skills to several tracks promises that this CD will indeed join the previous one as an instant blues classic.
The album has a strong “live” feel to it in an effort to capture the excitement the band generates on stage. So exciting in fact, it seems limiting to use the term listening regarding their music. You feel it. You sense it. It’s an experience.
[i] Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint, http://professorjohnnyp.blogspot.com (Review of “Mary Jo Curry” Aug. 18, 2016
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MARY JO HAS A NEW DISCOGRAPHIC WORK ! :
ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM
FRONT PORCH by the Mary Jo Curry Band with Special Guests: Albert Castiglia ~ Andrew Duncanson ~ Tom Holland.
Author Jim Riordan says, “There’s a sincerity to Mary Jo Curry’s singing. She’s not trying to show off her voice, she’s not trying to sound like someone else, she’s here to make you believe something – to feel something, to know in your soul the truth, the joy, and the pain she’s singing about.”
This is music that is able “to find that line between old school blues and modern songwriting,”[i] where tradition brushes up against R & B, Rock and Roll, and Funk.
It’s blues that move you, songs that take you for a ride.” And that is what you’ll discover on the band’s latest release, “Front Porch.”
"Front Porch" by the Mary Jo Curry Band.
CDs and downloads are available for sale at CD Baby. Click here to order!
This powerhouse rhythm section provided that magical component that propelled the band’s sound. The four core members have grown beyond being a tight live band, into a quality recording and song writing unit as well.
“Front Porch,” the second release from Mary Jo, (the first release from this band line-up) is a truly self-produced album, made up of 10 original songs and one cover. Nine of the originals penned by the members of the band, and the tenth original was specifically written for Mary Jo by legendary Chicago drummer/composer, Andrew Blaze Thomas.
After the first album, produced by James Armstrong, was completed and finding its way onto the charts, blues great Albert Castiglia, a friend of Mary Jo’s asked her why she didn’t include him on the first album. Later good friend, and Chicago great Tom Holland, and then Andrew Duncanson from Kilborn Alley, made similar comments to Mary Jo. With these offers, songs were written, tailored with these great artists in mind. The three guest stars delivered stellar performances on the tunes. Castiglia and Holland enjoyed the songs so much they added their fire on 2 additional songs.
The songs cover a broad pallet of blues showing the blues influences each member has absorbed. This is a blues album, but the styles vary, no groove is the same. The song transitions keep you engaged, and you’re allowed to flow from each blues mood to the next seamlessly.
The album contains strong songs from beginning to end, there is no filler. From the opening high intensity “Nothin’ is Easy” to the New Orleans funk / Gospel Rave-up “Joyful” at the end, you’ll want to let the CD to continue to playing through over and over again. Amid the flow of tunes, the listener will discover the dramatic showstopper, “Explaining the Blues,” written by Andrew Blaze Thomas for Mary Jo. The tight powerful rhythm section provides the foundation for Mary Jo to “open up,” to reveal the expansive dynamic and emotional range of her incredible voice.
Mary Jo’s first album “Mary Jo Curry,” was her introduction to the world. This latest release, “Front Porch,” reveals what she and the band have been up to the past four years and shows the direction they are heading. From the time James Armstrong told Mary Jo, “We’ve got to get you recorded” through the completion of “Front Porch” you hear the evolution of a working band and you are able to get a view into the blues heart of The Mary Jo Curry Band.
Great artists like Albert Castiglia, Johnny Rawls, Andrew Duncanson and Tom Holland have sung the praises of the band. Albert Castiglia said it this way: “Mary Jo Curry’s time has come! Her new record will demonstrate that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the blues world. Look out!” Johnny Rawls said “I have sung with Mary Jo many times, and she delivers every time! She has a powerful and soulful voice.” Andrew Duncanson adds, “Mary Jo brings it every night with heart and soul. Great voice, great talent, and a great friend.” Chicago blues great Tom Holland says, “Mary Jo Curry is a force of nature and one of my favorite singers on the scene today.”
Whether listening to her recordings or attending her live shows you can hear why Mary Jo Curry was named the Best Female Vocalist for 2019 by the Illinois Times.
Jim Riordan continues, “The album has a strong “live” feel to it, it captures the excitement the band generates on stage. So exciting in fact, it seems limiting to use the term “listening” regarding their music. You feel it. You sense it. It’s an experience.”
“Front Porch” the newest album from The Mary Jo Curry Band. Available February 21, 2020. Pre-Sale begins at www.maryjocurry.com on January 31, 2020
[i] Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint, http://professorjohnnyp.blogspot.com (Review of “Mary Jo Curry” Aug. 18, 2016
James Riordan
author of Break on Through: The Life & Death of Jim Morrison, Stone, The Bishop of Rwanda, The Coming of the Walrus and former contributor to Rolling Stone, Cream, Crawdaddy, the Kansas City Star, The Chicago Daily News, and Musician.
Reviews for the debut album “Mary Jo Curry” are praising the singer and band. Here’s what they had to say:
“What just might just be a “Best New Artist Debut” nominated disc” — Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro, Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com. Read More…
“Mary Jo Curry is a powerful debut release of the first order.” Marty Gunther, a writer with Blues Blast magazine. Read More….
“All l have to say at this time is “Wow Wow Wow”!!!” Peter Merrett, PBS106.7, Melbourne, Australia. Read More….
“Mary Jo Curry is the real deal, from head to toe, beginning to end.” Bill Wilson, Chicken Wilson Blogspot. Read More….
“She manages to find that line between old school blues and modern songwriting.” Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint. Read More….
“This self-titled album is a powerful blues album.” Philip Verhaege. Read More….
Mary Jo Curry CD cover
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro,
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
With this self titled CD being her debut release, I’d like to take this opportunity to say “Welcome to our world, Mary Jo”. On the recording, Mary Jo Curry – on the vocals – is joined by: (husband) Michael Rapier and (producer) James Armstrong on guitar; Darryl Wright and Lawrence Baulden on bass; Andrew Blaze Thomas on drums; Brett Donovan on keyboards; Dick Garretson on trumpet; Mike Gillette on sax; Larry Niehaus on trombone and L. A. Davison on background vocals. “Mary Jo Curry” (the disc) contains nine tracks of which two of the four originals were written by Mary Jo with the other two being penned by Michael.
So you wake up one morning and find that your mate has vanished during the night. Yikes! Panic strikes and you immediately call the police to report a missing person, right? Wrong! In Mary Jo’s case “hell must have froze over” and her “ship must have come in”. As a matter of fact, she’s so happy to be free she jumps up and starts singing “Ooooo Weeee“. This humorous and clever original track is highlighted by impressive lead & background vocals and outstanding horn blowing headed up by Dick’s piercing trumpet leads.
Immediately following is “Husband #2“, the term she uses to let her current husband (ironically, the writer of the song) know that he’s basically got one foot out the door and the other foot on a banana peel. With good support from the horn section, it’s Lawrence (bass) and Andrew (drums) heading up the tight rhythm on this one. That, combined with several nice guitar leads from Michael, along with lots of vocal sass-itude from Mary Jo, and this is another of the disc’s best.
With the first few songs being light and upbeat, it’s time to hear the serious side of Mary Jo, and damn…can she get serious! “Wrapped Around My Heart” is a slow blues ballad on which she just belts the vocals clear out of the park. Talk about range – she’s smooth then rough, soft then powerful, calm then stormy and compelling throughout it all. Now you know with these kind of slow and low down blues songs you’ve got to have some scorching guitar leads to bring it all together and Michael did indeed bring it all together. By far, the disc’s best track and I want more of this. Wow!
Well, my wish was granted because the very next track is another scorcher. On this one, her man has been “Steppin’” out and I pity the fool ’cause he’s about to feel the wrath of Mary Jo. Anger, frustration and ferocity never sounded so good. Musically it’s a monster as well. James is masterful on lead and slide guitars; Darryl and Andrew have an intense rhythm going on; and Brett’s relentless organ chords are adding just the right edge to the track.
When a married guy comes home late from a night out on the town he’d probably not get in too much trouble if he smelled of booze. Why I’m pretty sure reeking of weed might not even raise an eyebrow. But fellas, you come home “Smellin’” like sex and you’re in a heap of trouble. Mary Jo ain’t taking that crap and your lady won’t either. With this track being the funkiest of the lot, you know Darryl (bass), Andrew (drums) and Brett (organ) are creating a fuss and this time, it’s Michael (the songs creator) killin’ it on slide guitar.
Other tracks on “Mary Jo Curry” – what just might just be a “Best New Artist Debut” nominated disc – include: “Little By Little“, “Voodoo Woman“, “When A Woman’s Had Enough” and “Homewrecker“.
Want to know more about Mary Jo Curry? Of course you do, so just go to www.maryjocurry.com and find out. You can also check her out on Facebook by simply searching Mary Jo Curry. Once you find her, please tell her the Blewzzman sent you.
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Marty Gunther, a writer with Blues Blast magazine
Usually, when a theater company decides to perform a play involving the blues, it recruits a vocalist from the music scene to carry the load. It’s highly unusual for an artist to take the reverse route. But that’s the case with Mary Jo Curry.
The Central Illinois resident studied voice and theater in college before taking her strong, sultry alto on the road with touring theater companies. She toiled before discovering her true love five years ago and making the jump to the blues.
Judging by this tasty eponymous debut CD, which was produced by guitarist James Armstrong, it was the right choice. She delivers this collection of four originals and five covers in addition to contributing six-string herself. She penned two of the songs and hubby Michael Rapier, who shares guitar duties with Armstrong, the two others. Rounding out the sound are bassists Darryl Wright and Lawrence Baulden, drummer Andrew Blaze Thomas, keyboardist Brett Donovan, a horn section of Dick Garretson (trumpet), Mike Gillette (sax) and Larry Niehaus (trombone) and backing vocals from L.A. Davison.
The Mary Jo original “Ooooo Weee” kicks off the set. It’s a loping shuffle that opens with a brief guitar instrumental before she opens her mouth and proves without a doubt that she means business. The song’s a celebration about waking up to discover that the man who’d shared her bed was gone and she was finally free. It features a swinging mid-tune solo from the horns with Garretson taking the lead. Curry’s attack is slightly and perfectly behind the beat.
Rapier’s “Husband #2” follows. It’s a medium-paced blues that features the guitars and is delivered as a full-throated threat to hubby No. 1 that the singer’s on the hunt for a replacement. A traditional take on Junior Wells’ “Little By Little” is up next, followed by a cover of the Tom Hambridge/Richard Fleming number, “Wrapped Around My Heart,” which appeared on James Cotton’s star-laden Cotton Mouth Man CD. It’s a slow, grinding ballad, and Mary Jo holds her own with Ruthie Foster, who handled the vocals on the previous release.
Curry obviously won’t back down to anyone. The next two numbers have been fixtures in two more female blues stars. Written by filmmaker/guitarist Byl Carruthers, “Steppin’” was first performed by his band, the cult favorites Café R&B, and featured dynamic powerhouse Roach on vocals. “Voodoo Woman” was part of Koko Taylor’s arsenal.
A cover of Dennis Walker’s “When A Woman’s Had Enough” precedes two more originals to conclude the set. Mary Jo’s “Homewrecker” is a straight-ahead walking blues sung from the view of one woman singing to another after the first lady’s man has hooked up with the vocalist. Curry’s lyrics make it quite clear that the real homewrecker in the situation was woman No. 1, and not her. The uptempo “Smellin’” brings the action to a close. Written by Michael, it’s delivered from the position of a woman whose nose tells her that her man’s been cheating again.
Available directly through the artist’s website (address above) Mary Jo Curry is a powerful debut release of the first order, she’s definitely worthy of a wider audience. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m pretty sure you will, too!
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Peter Merrett, PBS106.7, Melbourne, Australia
All l have to say at this time is “Wow Wow Wow”!!! This album is a revelation to say the least….for me there is no downs to the album as it is absolutely top shelf ….will quickly appear on radio playlists and music charts as people discover the majesty of Mary Jo Curry. I for one am an instant fan! This is a faultless introduction to a new artist and man the bar has been set very high indeed.
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Bill Wilson, Chicken Wilson Blogspot
Mary Jo Curry is the real deal, from head to toe, beginning to end.
Professor Johnny P’s Juke Joint
Curry’s album progresses from happy bouncy tunes to the darkest parts of a woman’s soul and the journey is intoxicating. Her vocals are so very strong and she conveys emotions so well that it’s almost like we become possessed by her. She manages to find that line between old school blues and modern songwriting.
Philip Verhaege, www.keysandchords.com/
This self-titled album is a powerful blues album. Mary Jo Curry’s exciting vocals, accompanied perfectly by this amazing backing band. Highly Recommended. 4.5 out of 5.
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