1		Gone So Long	4:11
2		Carry On	4:24
3		Bad Version Of Myself	3:23
4		What Did You Expect	3:08
5		Either Way	3:07
6		Predator	4:35
7		Dirty Rotten Guy	2:57
8		Come On Baby (Take Me Dancing)	3:26
9		Fool For You	3:55
10		Hit Me Like A Train	3:54
11		Out Of The Dark	3:50

Joyann Parker - vocals
Mark Lamoine - guitars, backing vocals
Brad Schaefer - bass
Bill Golden - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Rich Manik - saxophone, flute
Dave Budimir - trombone
Dave Foley - trumpet
Laycey Dreamz, Patricia Lacy, Kenny Britt, Rory Hoffman - backing vocals
Greg Byers - strings

Minneapolis-based powerhouse vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, Joyann Parker is set to release Out of the Dark on February 12, 2021, on Hopeless Romantic Records, the rootsy, genre-bending sequel to her acclaimed debut, Hard to Love.

With 11 songs written by Joyann Parker and guitarist Mark Lamoine, Out of the Dark is a blend of roots music, blues, rock n’ roll and R&B, led by a superb, soulful vocalist who owns every note. What a voice. Parker also co-produced the album with Lamoine and Kevin Bowe (Etta James, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Mayall and more.)

Multi-faceted and versatile, Joyann Parker is a song-slayer, her feet firmly planted on the floor, her vocals emanating from a deep and centered place. With a voice and range like hers, she could sing just about anything but you can hear on Out of the Dark that she’s deeply committed to each track.

Parker says, “It’s a great time to release the album. People need music right now.” But not just any music, but Joyann Parker’s music, which will lift you out of any dark place and set your soul afire.

Album opener, “Gone So Long” starts with ‘a cappella’ backing singers, joined by acoustic slide guitar. Spare instrumentation showcases Parker’s beautiful, rich voice. The band kicks in, only to draw back again, after a slice of mournful slide guitar.

A classically trained pianist with a degree in music from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Parker scored the song arrangements herself. There’s nothing like an artist who does so much for her albums and has the chops to pull it off.

Shifting gears to blues/rock with groove and a wah-soaked guitar, “Carry On” is about when times get tough, and you keep going. That takes strength and guts, both of which Parker possesses. You can hear it in the way she approaches her songs, wrangling each with soul and fire.

Parker sings about love gone wrong on the funky/R&B, “Bad Version of Myself,” a catchy tune with insightful lyrics and interesting chord changes. An innovative take on how a love just out of your reach can turn you into a bad version of yourself. Her voice—its dynamic, it testifies, and all with beautiful tone.

The melodic and rootsy “Either Way” blends acoustic guitar and beautiful lap steel, intertwining with Parker’s soaring voice. This is a peaceful, moving song if there ever was one. Kudos to the songwriting team of Parker and Lamoine.

Joyann Parker has been a steadily rising star on the Minneapolis music scene and is an artist, I’m convinced, who puts on a heck of a live show. A musical dynamo.

Not unlike Beth Hart, Parker diggs deep into her lower register to belt on “Fool For You,” a rock n’ roller with guitar, horns, a thumping bass line and toe-tapping rhythm. Snappy lyrics abound on this tune and it takes an experienced singer to wind them up and spit them out.

On another well-written rock n’ roll tune, “Hit Me Like A Train,” Parker is fierce and feisty, her vocals so strong it’s as if she grabs the tracks with both hands and blows fuel into the energy of the song. Of course, she’s backed by a well-oiled band with slide guitar, piano, expert bass and drums to support her.

Title tack “Out of the Dark” closes the album and takes a breather from the high-energy tracks. Piano is the foundation for this moving track about emerging from a place of struggle and pain. A master class in soulful singing and songwriting, it features Parker’s impressive vocal range and cadence. Even after repeated listens, the hair on my arms stood on end. Highly recommended. ---Martine Ehrenclou, rockandbluesmuse.com

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01. Bluer Than You 3:07
02. Dizzy 2:43
03. Envy 3:40
04. Evil Hearted 3:59
05. Hard To Love 3:19
06. Home 6:26
07. Jigsaw Heart 5:06
08. Memphis 4:07
09. Ray 3:23
10. Take My Heart And Run 2:17
11. What Happened To Me 3:17
12. Who What When Where Why 4:02
13. Your Mama 3:46

Joyann Parker - vocals, guitar, piano, trumpet
Mark Lamoine - guitar, back vocals
Tim Wick - piano, organ
Michael Carvale - bas
Alec Tackmann - drums, percussion
Gunhuld Carling - horn on "Who What When Where Why" 

When does Joyann Parker’s voice sound sassy, commanding, strong and/or beautiful?…Whenever she moves her lips. Her voice, music and lyric writing aren’t average, there is something major league brewing here. The combination of her powerfully controlled voice in tandem with well written and performed songs is really something special. Guitarist Mark Lamoine is spot on and he is the co-writer here. Tim Wick’s keyboards along with a sturdy rhythm section prop up the proceedings.

A thumping bass intro leads into “Memphis”, a greasy honky-tonk burner that benefits from Joyann’s sassy in command vocal that locks in with the lyrics. Mark Lamoine adds some nicely slithering slide for good measure. A funky guitar riff enlivens the Memphis style soul of “Envy”. Her voice takes on a deeper tone on “Home”, A gospel tinged slow burner enhanced by a beautifully toned guitar solo, not to mention Joyann’s usual powerful vocal.

Way funky rhythm & blues is the stuff of “Dizzy”. The earnest and strong vocal over funky wah-wah guitar enhance the dynamics of “Jigsaw Heart”. Gunhild Carling contributes horns to “Who What When Where Why”, a song with a tough vocal and Memphis style guitar. A nice piano intro kicks off “Bluer Than You” that includes trumpet courtesy of Joyann. The New Orleans shuffle of “Ray” portrays a love-hate relationship. Of course it has the necessary New Orleans piano to create the proper atmosphere. “Evil Hearted” is a smoldering heart felt confession.

Down home blues slide guitar meets R&B in “Take My Heart And Run”. Jazzy guitar underscores the meddling mother-in-law has to go saga of “Your Mama. It has a great vocal with lots of swagger. The barrel housing R&B “What Happened To Me” has Mark Lamoine cranking out Chuck Berry guitar riffs. Great boogie-woogie piano as well. Joyann puts on her lovely voice for the piano fueled ballad “Hard To Love”. The narrator describes her lover as “like a beautiful mess”. Yes, this is the same lady that delivers those powerhouse vocals. Talk about versatility.

What a find here in this Minneapolis, Minnesota based dynamic vocalist. The singing and music gel perfectly with the creative lyrics. There is absolutely no reason why this gem of a singer doesn’t rise to the top among the current crop of R&B influenced singers. Do yourself a favor and get this CD as soon as possible. ---Greg "Bluesdog" Szalony, bluesblastmagazine.com

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