ANA POPOVIC "STILL MAKING HISTORY" Source: Big City Rhythm & Blues Date: 09/2009 Writer: Roger & Margaret White

With this new Ana Popovic record “Blind For Love” from Eclecto Groove Records it may seem like a overnight sensations second CD but this young lady has spent the past eleven years touring and recording. Coming from Belgrade Yugoslavia, Ana recorded her first album "Hometown" in 1998. In 2003 she became the first European artist to be nominated and perform at the WC Handy Awards. In 2006 she was the first European to play on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and first artist signed to Eclecto Groove Records. In 2007 she made her American debut touring with her fifth recording “Still Making History.”  Taking time out for the birth of her first child, she kicked off 2009 with her second Rhythm & Blues Cruise and recorded her second Eclecto Groove album. This time Ana has her regular band in the studio, Ronald Jonker on bass, Andrew Thomas playing drums and returning from the first Eclecto Groove sessions Tony Braunagel's drums and Mike Finnigan's keyboards. On her web site Ana writes, “I play a kind of mainstream blues with a bit of everything; electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals, raw rock, tight blues grooves, acoustic slide and soulful guitar. My sets have something for everyone” and this CD delivers on that variety. Having written all but one song herself and co writing four with Mark Van Meurs, who she described to me as “my man”  love is the theme on “Blind For Love” whether lost, found or fantasized  its always heartfelt. 

Ana starts off strong as her own woman with “Nothing Personal” featuring the full band, organ, horns and back up vocals and then she tells the lady's man he's messing with the “Wrong Woman.” From there she tones things down with acoustic slide and backing vocals on “Steal Me Away” and switching to piano and acoustic guitar on “Blind For Love.”  The quite tale of a fantasy love seeming “More Real” uses a slide guitar and back up singers to give it a hauntingly lonely feel with the expressive bass leading the way. These slower quite interludes showcase the full range of her vocals and present a different side of Anna. The band is back hitting hard with a gospel steel sound on “Putting Out The APB” its electric slide screaming like a siren on a quest for love. Some jazzy guitar lines give “The Only Reason” its push as the horns add some funk while “Lives That Don't Exist” is about fame and the fantasy of a stage persona that only exists during the show.  With strong horns and guitar to toughen it up Ana sounds determined to “Get Back Home To You” as the backing vocals carry you there. Ana's most touching and personal songs are about the things she holds most dear, her child and her man. “Part of Me” (Lullaby For Luuk) has her voice quivering with feeling and the sweet slide guitar travels to the outer reaches of it's range.  In the heartfelt “Blues For M” Ana testifies “you are my joy, my pleasure” as the quite organ and guitar build in intensity until they climax and then fade away in release.

 Ms. Popovic shows the range of her talents on “Blind For Love” and the ability to do it all well. For those who are taken in by the music and don't pick up on the love theme the first go round the lyrics are included in the liner notes and reading them adds another dimension  to this fine work.