ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: BVS Reviews Date: 09/2009 Writer: Bruce Von Stiers

Ana’s Hot Vocals and Hotter Blues Guitar

Ana Popovic has been making a name for herself in both the U.S. and Europe. Critics have been comparing her guitar playing to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Her vocals are at times smooth, others smoky and mostly sultry and sensual.

Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, this Eastern European beauty is much, much more than just a pretty face. Ana learned the blues from her father, Milutin, who is a respected guitar and bass player. At the age of 15, Ana started on a musical path that has cumulated into several albums, concerts venues on both sides of the Atlantic and gained her scores of dedicated fans.

Ana has a brand new album out that is being released on the Eclecto Groove Records label. The title of the album is Blind For Love.

Ana has pretty talented musicians on the album. Ronald Jonker plays bass. He was in the hit Dutch band Chaos before joining Ana’s band. Andrew “Blaze” Thomas is on drums on all but four of the songs on the album. He’s played with the Bernard Allison Group and the Shawn Kellerman Band.

Mike Finnigan was on the keys. This guy has a list of credentials that span way back to Crosby, Stills & Nash and Dave Mason. He’s currently touring with Joe Cocker and Taj Mahal. Tony Braunagel plays drums on three of the songs and percussion on yet another. He also provides backing vocals on a song. Tony’s known for his work with Taj Mahal and Bonnie Raitt. As for the percussion on the rest of the album, that is handled by Lenny Castro. He’s worked with Bette Midler and Brian Culbertson.

Another musician on the album with a long pedigree is trumpeter Darrell Leonard. From Stevie Ray Vaughn to Bonnie Raitt and Glen Frey, Darrell has worked on a lot of albums. On Ana’s album Darrell plays trumpet on four of the songs. And on sax for a few songs is Joe Sublett. He’s also played with Darrell on other projects and is well known for his studio work.

Backing vocals were handled by Julie Delgado, Kenna Ramsey and Billy Valentine. Julie’s an R & B and pop vocalist out of L.A. Kenna did backing vocals for the Sam Harris Obama tribute, Change Is on Its Way. And Billy is a noted songwriter as well as a vocalist.

Nothing Personal starts the album out. It has a blues attitude with some great horn thrown in with Ana’s vocals and guitar.  Steal Me Away has some guitar that makes it a fantastic blues tune.  The title track, Blind For Love has a sultry atmosphere that reminded me of Midnight at the Oasis.  More Real has smooth, yet smoky vocals. The guitar is bluesy, with just a hint of Latin.

Putting Out the APB has killer guitar to start it out. I’m not too sure how to characterize the song. It has a fast pace and has touches of R & B, Country and bluesy rock. See, I really have no idea how to define the song. But is a really fun piece with some tough guitar in the middle. It also has some great backing vocals and slick organ music melded into it.

Get Back To You has a killer rocking groove and tough smoky vocals.  The Only Reason has a definite blues torch singer styled tune.  Part of Me (Lullaby for Luuk) is a fairly gentle tune with some great key work.  Lives That Don’t Exist is a killer tune with guitar that is just too tough. Need Your Love has more of rock tone, with harsher, throaty vocals.  Blues For M is a sultry, seductive blues song. This song ends the album and was a perfect way to do so.

My favorite song on the album is Wrong Woman. The guitar smokes and Ana sings some very damning lyrics. It’s about her telling guys that that shouldn’t be checking her out but be paying attention to the woman they are with. Ana sings “you hold her hand but your eyes are all over me.” I know that I sometimes fall into the category of men that’s she’s taking down a notch. But with that sultry voice and how Ana looks, would you really blame a guy?

Hot looks, hot vocals and even hotter guitar are what Ana Popovic is all about. If you want to hear the latest and greatest rocking blues virtuoso, then Ana Popovic is it. Listen to Blind For Love and you will become an instant fan.