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ANA POPOVIC
Source: Montrose (CO) Daily Press
Date: 08/2007
Writer: Dave Bowman |
The ever growing music world shows how small the world is with Ana Popovic. This thirty something blues guitarist and vocalist was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, now Serbia. She grew up on her dad’s record collection and watched him and his friends jamming. By the time she was a teenager she had her own guitar. Before she was twenty she had her own band and as communism collapsed Popovic and her band , Hush, had the opportunity to tour in Europe where she began meeting American blues artists, particularly Luther Allison. Allison brought Ana to the attention of blues label Ruf Records. In 2000 Popovic came to Memphis for her first American recording. Ruf Records brought in Jim Gaines who previously had worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Santana among others. For her fourth album, Still Making History, her new label, Delta Groove hired John Porter (Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Buddy Guy).
Blues are a touchstone for Popovic, but as many of the younger blues players like Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shephard, these youngbloods are anxious to experiment with other genres pushing the boundaries of contemporary music. Borrowing liberally from Hendrix, Popovic flexes her muscles on “U Complete Me”. Looking at the US from a European point of view, with a band that slides from R&B to funk to gospel, “Hold On” rocks from a different perspective. Flowing with a breezy reggae beat, “Between our Worlds” expands her view of the world and musical influences. With a jazz arrangement, Popovic gets playful on the sultry “Doubt Everyone But Me”. Rock and roll can come from the unlikeliest places, but who would of figured Serbia. The best part is this is an incredible fine album and Ana Popovic will be on the main stage Saturday of Telluride Blues and Brews.
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