CANDYE KANE "SISTER VAGABOND" Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Date: 08/2011 Writer: Jim White

"Sister Vagabond"

I just happen to have copies of the new CDs coming out in the next two weeks by Wheeling Heritage Music BluesFest artists Candye Kane (tonight) and Moreland & Arbuckle (tomorrow).

Kane's, titled "Sister Vagabond" (Delta Groove Records)  is a collaboration with guitarist-songwriter Laura Chavez, currently the guitarist in Kane's band. It's due out Tuesday (8.16).

The album is a set of mostly original material from Kane and Chavez; all the tracks sounding like they've been torn from heart-felt episodes in Candye's life -- "Love Insurance," "You Never Cross My Mind," "You Can't Hurt Me Anymore" and more.

There's a tasty, swampy-sounding cover of the old Brenda Lee hit, "Sweet Nothin's" and a gorgeous song by Steve White titled "Down With the Blues."

But mainly the CD is pure Candye-flavored, combining soulful sensitivity and bluesy toughness in a bold and brassy style that has won Ms. Kane nominations for five National Blues Foundation Awards, including the 2011 Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year.

This is an excellent album, filled with a strong vocals and arrangements, and a combination of sensitive and strong songwriting. It's got to be hard to lay your feelings bare in music like this, but Kane does it with style and grace.