Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? Marlena Shaw

• 1You Me And Ethel/Street Walkin' Woman06:23
• 2You Taught Me How To Speak In Love03:54
• 3Davy05:29
• 4Feel Like Making Love05:02
• 5The Lord Giveth And The Lord Taketh Away01:10
• 6You Been Away Too Long03:09
• 7You03:48
• 8Loving You Was Like A Party04:20
• 9A Prelude For Rose Marie02:00
• 10Rose Marie (Mon Cherie)04:21
• Total Runtime39:36

Info for Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?

„A record as fierce and blunt as its title portends, Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? vaults Marlena Shaw into a brave new world of feminism and funk, updating the sophisticated soul-jazz approach of her previous records to explore a fast-changing musical, political, and sexual landscape. Opening with 'You, Me and Ethel,' a hilarious satire of the singles bar culture, the album dissects modern romance with uncommon insight and candor, addressing lust ('Feel Like Makin' Love') and loss ('You Been Away Too Long') without pulling any punches. The music is similarly direct and progressive, running the gamut from luminous soul to scorching funk grooves. Not only Shaw's best-selling Blue Note release, Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? represents her creative apex as well.“ (Jason Ankeny)

Marlena Shaw, vocals
Mike Lang, piano
Bernard Ighner, piano, bass, flugelhorn
Larry Nash, Fender Rhodes piano
David T. Walker, guitar
Larry Carlton, guitar
Dennis Buidimir, guitar
Chuck Rainey, bass
Chuck Domanico, bass
Jim Gordon, drums
Harvey Mason, drums, percussion
King Errison, congos

Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California

Digitally remastered

Marlena Shaw
While everyone agrees that Marlena Shaw is a national treasure, it’s difficult to categorize her. Both Downbeat and Record World have named her “Best Female Singer,” and many have compared her range, class and swing that of to eternal jazz lights like Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, and Nancy Wilson. She’s also been called a “soul legend.” The critics use words like “astonishing,” “peerless,” “radiant” and “powerful,” and marvel at her “soaring sensuality.”

Given her 40-year plus boundary-busting career, such labeling confusion is inevitable. It’s easier and more descriptive to think of Marlena as a natural element: like water. Marlena’s music is unmistakable. Whether she’s singing jazz, R&B, pop, rock, soul, blues or gospel, her originality makes such distinctions irrelevant, and each song becomes intimate and new.

Marlena is universally admired for her warm, supple voice and relaxed charm; a natural storyteller, her spoken words before, during, and between songs is often hilarious. Marlena’s smiling; spontaneous interplay with both her band and her audience invites the listener in like a valued friend.

Using the experience she received with the Count Basie Band, Marlena has become a favorite singer for big bands. Witness her work with Frank Foster at Lincoln Center and with Diva. But despite her long experience, there’s no slickness or pretense in Marlena’s style. Communicating directly from her heart and soul to yours, her undiminished creative vitality has no artificial ingredients. Like water – or a welcome breath of fresh air – Marlena is an all-natural element.

This album contains no booklet.