Lisa Biales: REVIEWS

Lisa,

The more I listen to that new CD (COME TO ME) the more it rivals or surpasses all the others. You are a talent extraordinaire. Your voice, style, and delivery are other worldly! And, I have to say, not enough gets said about that guitar pickin’ and strummin’! Your home performances both evenings were fabulous. I am honored each and every time I get a chance to play with you. Also, the YouTube stuff was a gas! http://www.youtube.com/LisaBiales for everybody who has not seen these videos) I laughed like crazy the other night when I saw them. What enjoyment and fun! You are an exceptional performer. You took me by the horns and lead me to one of my better impromptu performances. The energy and performance contained in those
videos are precious moments displaying your songwriting ability, that angelic voice, and the ability to wield that guitar about at will.
Outstanding!

Friday, July 27, 2007

With more than 200 people in the audience, Oxford artist Lisa Biales didn't miss a beat; the release concert for Biales' third album, "Come to Me" was a hit July 21.

Numerous attendees walked out of the Oxford Community Arts Center ballroom with CDs in hand after two sets and an encore of stellar music. Accompanied by Bike Wise owner Doug Hamilton on violin and bassist Noah Cope, Biales delivered a night of entertainment complete with humor, soul and personality.

"Wow, you all showed up, thank you," said Biales, after finishing "Connected" from her 2006 album, "Chasing Away the Blues."

The show was a pleasure to attend as Biales played superior versions of nearly every song on "Come to Me." At the show, Biales gave each song the attention it deserved in an atmosphere that can't be replicated. "Come to Me" is a great album, but it can't compete with the live performance.

Not only does Biales perform her songs better live, but she also knows how to keep them interesting. Biales took this opportunity to preview songs for her next CD, a "standard" album she plans on recording over the next year. I'll be buying it based on "You Can't Do That" and "Hey There," Biales originals, alone.

Fans also can look forward to a Biales spin on "Angel From Montgomery," by John Prine (1971); "At Last," by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren (1942); and "Summertime," by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin (1935), which were all used for her three part encore after a standing ovation.

With some help from Hamilton and Cope, Biales earned every clap of the night. Cope provided deep tones throughout the night with a playful solo during the second set on "Woo Woo" from "Chasing Away the Blues." Meanwhile, Hamilton infused the night with some high-energy violin work culminating in a near jazz experience during "Where the Buckwheat Blooms," Biales' hit song that broke the top 40 of the International Folk Playlist at No. 32 last August.

"Her voice reminds me of a fine violin; it's sweet but it's strong," said Hamilton. "It's inspiring to play with her."

The highlight of the concert came at the end of the first set. Biales introduced new never-before-heard lyrics to "Chop Wood," from "Come to Me" with an apologetic tone, explaining that "this has never happened before ... I thought it was done!"

Chasing Away The Blues CD Review

The album kicks off with "Take Time" a Melodic voice Lisa Biales has, expressing how she really feels in one woman’s aspect. Lisa gives you a taste of soul and the blues in one sensuous voice. A voice soft, and can take you away to a distant country with rivers, meadows and breath taking mountainsides. Elements that have ensured true musical art. "Peace and Quite" is descriptive and amusing with the acoustic guitar driving the song. Lisa will most definitely have you "Chasing Away The Blues." Beautiful. YOU GO GIRL!!! Keep it up!!!!! -

In the first place there is the crystal-pure voice with which she sings the ASTRE of the sky.

As if you think about looking through an impressive collection of Norman Rockwell paintings with the soundtrack being scored by the little sister of Alison Krauss and Rory Block.

Lisa Biales groeide op in een muzikaal nest. Met een vader en een oudere broer die muzikanten zijn en een moeder die zich uitleeft op toneel is het niet verwonderlijk dat ook Lisa de richting van de podiumkunsten koos. Na de leerschool van familiefeestjes en schoolopvoeringen werd het serieuzer toen ze met Sarah Goslee het duo Prairie Orchid vormde. De twee waren succesrijk genoeg opdat er tevens een aantal cd’s volgde. In 1992 bracht Lisa dan haar eerste eigen werkstukje uit (Like The Light Of the Moon). Andere cd’s volgden en in 2003 begon het avontuur met Tre Lunas (in gezelschap van Laurie Traveline en Bonnie Allyn). Ondertussen houdt ze er nog heel wat muzikale nevenactiviteiten op na in de wereld van theater, film en tv. Chasing Away The Blues is haar vijfde album. Drie kwartier lang vertoef je hiermee in het walhalla van singer-songwriters. In de eerste plaats is er de kristalzuivere stem waarmee ze de sterren van de hemel zingt. Veel extra omkadering heeft deze dame dan ook niet nodig om de luisteraar in de ban te houden. Er is de obligate akoestische gitaar en daarnaast blijft het instrumentarium beperkt tot wat interventies met piano, percussie, bas en mandoline. Enkel in Lascivious Itch (waarin we een verre verwantschap met Gloria ontwaren) zorgt een elektrische gitaar voor wat stroomstoten maar voor het overige is dit een heel intimistisch en akoestisch schijfje met zinnige verhalen uit het leven gegrepen. Alsof je naar een verzameling prenten kijkt van Norman Rockwell waarbij de soundtrack verzorgd wordt door een zusje van Alison Krauss en Rory Block. (GTB)

"Lisa is honest and real . . . a compelling songwriter."

". . . a soulful bluesy voice that reminds me of a young Bonnie Raitt, and songs to match."

"Top shelf, lyrically emotional, a pure hybrid."

" . . . this level of imagery and the subject of your lyric is fresh"