Maria Muldaur

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Maria Muldaur is best known world-wide for her 1974 mega-hit “Midnight at the Oasis,”which received several Grammy nominations, and enshrined her forever in the hearts of Baby Boomers everywhere; but despite her considerable pop music success, her 50-year career could best be described a long and adventurous odyssey through the various forms of American Roots Music. During the folk revival of the early '60s, she began exploring and singing early blues, bluegrass and Appalachian “Old Timey” Music, beginning her recording career in 1963 with the Even Dozen Jug Band and shortly thereafter, joining the very popular Jim Kweskin Jug Band, touring and recording with them throughout the '60s.

In the 40 years since “Midnight at the Oasis,” Maria has toured extensively worldwide and has recorded 40 solo albums covering all kinds of American Roots Music, including Gospel, R&B, Jazz and Big Band (not to mention several award-winning children’s albums). She has now settled comfortably into her favorite idiom, the blues. Often joining forces with some of the top names in the business, Maria has recorded and produced on average an album per year, several of which have been nominated for Grammies and other awards.

Her critically acclaimed 2001 Stony Plain Records release, Richland Woman Blues, was nominated for a Grammy and by the Blues Foundation as Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year, as was the follow up to that album, Sweet Lovin’ Ol’ Soul. Her timely 2008 album, Yes We Can!, featured her “Women’s Voices for Peace Choir,” which includes: Bonnie Raitt, Joan, Baez, Jane Fonda, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, Holly Near and others.  In 2009 Maria teamed up with John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Dan Hicks. Maria Muldaur & Her Garden of Joy garnered Maria her 6th Grammy nomination, and was also nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year by The Blues Foundation.

In 2011 Maria released Steady Love, a contemporary electric Blues album that reflects the kind of music she loves to perform live - what she calls “Bluesiana Music” - her own brand of New Orleans-flavored Blues, R&B and “Swamp Funk.” Steady Love reached #1 on the Living Blues Chart, and garnered her another nomination for Best Traditional Female Blues Artist from the Blues Foundation.

In 2012, for her 40th album, Maria produced the critically acclaimed First Came Memphis Minnie, a loving tribute to the pioneering Blues woman who inspired and influenced so many female Blues artists who followed in her footsteps, many of whom joined Maria on this special project: Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Ruthie Foster, Koko Taylor and Rory Block accompanied by the amazing guitar work of Del Rey, David Bromberg, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Roy Rogers, and others.

In 2013, taking a brief hiatus from her yearly recording schedule, Maria focused on 3 special collaborations, performing worldwide with the 50th Anniversary Kweskin Jug Band Reunion concerts, teaming up with the Campbell Brothers, world-renowned Sacred Steel Gospel artists, for a very special presentation entitled, “Spirit & The Blues”, and touring as Special Guest Artist with Bill Wyman and The Rhythm Kings.

2014 marks 40 years since Maria’s big hit “Midnight at the Oasis” was riding at the top of the charts.  To celebrate this landmark, Maria has created a multi-media retrospective Way Past Midnight , which chronicles her 50 year journey “to the Oasis and Beyond”. This special presentation features all her hits and fan faves from every stage of her career, as well as fascinating, entertaining, (often humorous!) stories of her personal encounters, friendships, and collaborations with many of the greatest names in music.

Maria Muldaur continues to tour regularly world wide, and is available for festivals, concerts, club dates, workshops and residencies.

REVIEWS

  Maria Muldaur projects a bluesy sensuality. Her sugarplum roundness and sweet, spicy voice laced with a down and dirty eroticism places her in the camp of the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith. Muldaur's dark, rich voice. She had a sassy sound that ran the emotional gamut from sensual and erotic to sweet and sexy. The crowd didn't need any urging to join in on the chorus. - The Buffalo News

Muldaur is ... providing her mastery of blues, jazz, ragtime and just about every other indigenous American music you can name. The lady blends the smoky sensuality of Billie Holiday, the upbeat spunk of Ella Fitzgerald and the low-down gutsiness of Alberta Hunter. - The Willamette Week

Maria Muldaur is a genuinely visionary artist whose career has remained on the cutting edge of American music since her self-titled debut album went platinum nearly a quarter century ago. This lady has since managed to reinvent herself over and again, remaining fresh and unpredictable with each new album release. Her gripping passion and unwavering musical convictions have permeated each phase of her incredible history. She has unquestionably one of the strongest and sexiest voices in recent memory. - Beat Music

"The sultry singer returns to the sexy, bluesy confidence of her early '70's heyday. If Bonnie Raitt can be rediscovered, there's hope for Muldaur also... (she) has one of those sweet, spicy voices that drenches whatever she sings.. be it blues, jazz, folk, gospel or pop in soulful sensuality. She is in top form on the Louisiana Love Call album."- People Magazine

"Muldaur approaches her material with a jewelers precision, cutting each tune scrupulously into a fine gem, leaving plenty of room for solo work by members of her four-man band. Her perfectly quavery tones shimmer brilliantly above the bristling, blues rock sound of the group. Muldaur can sing circles around the young thrushes who dominate todays pop charts."- San Francisco Chronicle

"Muldaur who has sung folk, jazz, blues, gospel, and pop, is cheerful and bouncy, outgoing and sexy." - New York Times

"Muldaur coos and growls more eroticism into one inflection than Madonna can in an entire album. More than ever Muldaur conveys passion's subtleties. Too may people still expect Muldaur to trot out her one big hit 'Midnight at the Oasis'. In a better world, 'Louisiana Love Call' would bury that presumption forever." ****stars - Bam Magazine

Finally, the reins are off the chops we always suspected were inside of Muldaur's range and technique. She's alternately gutsy, soulful, smooth, sexy and sincere. What more could you ask? - The Music Paper

The Rogue Folk Club is pleased to provide great SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com