Valvulado: Sari Schorr

With a screeching guitar intro on the track “Ain’t Got no Money,” the album Force of Nature starts off like a hawk and gets better. A recent inductee into the New York Blues Hall of Fame, Sari Schorr cut her ravenous teeth in the blues scene touring with renowned blues artists such as Popa Chubby, and Joe Louis Walker. With a voice like an operatic volcano it’s easy to see why Sari Schorr has received the notoriety that she has.

The album begins with hurricane like force and follows the pattern of the storm with the eye in the middle and then even the calm after the storm, which includes my favorite track, “Ordinary Life.” The track is a welcome calm, the soothing ointment after a Band-Aid has been ripped off. The track “Aunt Hazel,” written about Schorr’s dog trainer and her addiction to heroin exemplifies the personal nature of the album.

While Schorr herself writes most of the album, the album also has a few covers done with a sparkling new style, including the Lead Belly original, “Black Betty,” which Schorr truly makes her own. As well as “Stop in the Name of Love,” which might be recognized as the number one billboard hit from the Supremes in 1965. Legendary producer Mike Vernon convinced Schorr to roll the dice on this track, and she came up with a jackpot.

Playing with several guitar players throughout the album, including Walter Trout, Innes Sibun, Oli Brown, and other accompaniments as well, the bass playing of Nani Conde, and the Drums of Jose Mena, are consistent through out the album. A deeply personal album for Schorr, Force of Nature is a hailstorm of an album sure to go down in blues history.

Backing Vocals – Rietta Austin (tracks: Track 11)

Bass – Nani Conde

Drums – José Mena (3) (tracks: 3)

Guitar – Innes Sibun (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 & 12), Oli Brown (tracks: 3, 8 & 10)

Keyboards – Jesús Lavilla (tracks: 9, 11 & 12), Julián Maeso (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7 & 8)

Lead Guitar – Walter Trout (tracks: 6)

Organ – Dave Keyes (tracks: 10), John Baggott (tracks: 6 & 7)

Percussion – Mike Vernon (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 & 11)

Piano – Dave Keyes (tracks: 6)

Producer – Mike Vernon

Rhythm Guitar – Quique Bonal (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 9 & 12)

Vocals – Sari Schorr