ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: Blues & Rhythm Magazine Date: 05/2007 Writer: Waverley McTavish

This is Serbian born guitarist/singer Popovic’s debut US release and the first issue on the newly formed Eclecto Groove Records (an offshoot of Delta Groove). I’ve always thought of Popovic as an out and out blues-rock screamer, but with this new CD she displays others strings to her bow. Sure, she can still rock out, as demonstrated by the opening song, ‘U Complete Me’, however she funks things up with ‘Hold On’ and ‘Sexiest Man Alive’, knocks on the reggae door with ‘Between Our Worlds’ and nods to Santana on ‘Is There Everything There Is’ and ‘My Favorite Night’.

She demonstrates subtle jazzy phrasing on ‘Doubt Everyone But Me’ and ‘Shadow After Dark’, and turns her hand to the blues on Big Mama’s ‘You Don’t Move Me’, and Snooky Pryor’s ‘How’d You Learn To Shake It Like That’. And for the closer, ‘U Complete Me (Blues Version)’ is a real contrast to the opening version, a well crafted, bluesy take with rippling B3 and the Texacali Horns blowing sweetly.

‘Still Making History‘ came as quite a surprise, and a not unpleasant one at that, if you like what Ana Popovic has done in the past then this will appeal. If you are not familiar with her and this sounds like your kind of thing then it is worth investigating.