Effusive blues diva Heaven Davis checks in with a collection of righteous and raucous wailin' on the aptly titled Steamy. Wasting no time with set-ups or intros, she jumps right into the fire with the swingin' "Heartless" penned by longtime Atlanta rock and R&B guru, Tommy Dean (League of Decency, Thermos Greenwood). From the start, the blues queen steams up the joint with her sassy delivery. Confident and firmly in control, Davis helms the proceedings with the relaxed assurance of Aretha Franklin and the street smarts of KoKo Taylor.

The album quickly shifts to a gritty Stax-Volt groove with the Donnie McCormick-Tommy Carlisle "Daydreamin' 'Bout You," a tune that wouldn't be out of place on any good Memphis soul record from the late '60s. Is that Booker T and the MG's backin' Davis? Nope, it's a collection of fine players including Marty Kearns, Oliver Wood, Ken Gregory and Davis Labruyere. The talented Kearns multi-tasks like crazy on this outing, juggling production, engineering and mixing duties, in addition to playing some mighty tasty keyboard and percussion parts.

Whether it's players or material, Davis sure can pick'em. Each tune showcases a different aspect of her range. Her take on EG Kight's "Steamy" struts and grinds like an old, lost '78 on the O'Keh label. Then without missing a beat, the early-'70s"Regrets" recalls Gladys Knight and the Pips and easy-riding Philly soul. The album offers something for just about everyone.

Throughout the set, blistering and blustery blues remains the framework and the seed, and the record rocks and sways in all the right places. Kearns' production is especially impressive, and sounds as sharp and focused as a big-budget, major-label release, while it retains all the down-home appeal of a scrappy indie. Alligator Records would kill for something this good.
A large part of the enjoyment reviewers receive from their jobs comes from discovering talent tucked away in a certain city or region. Since not all blues acts can (or want to) tour, immensely talented artist often stay hidden. On this 14 track, nearly hour long disc, Davis shows she's one of the best Southern R&B singers on the scene. Steamy finds her comfortable in a variety of genres rooted in the muggy, sweaty grit of "60's soul. Imagine a singer who combines the guts of Ann Peebles, the country sensuality of Shelby Lynne, the you-done-me-wrong sass of Millie Jackson, the strut of Betty Wright, the sensitivity of Gladys Knight, and the pipes of Mavis Staples. Davis traffics in music reminiscent of all of those legends while never sounding like any of them. The songs convey a hurt yet defiant stance that mirrors Davis' emotional interpretations. "Regrets," an ideal single if radio played this king of music anymore, is a natural successor to "Rainy Night in Georgia." It's a stunning statement from an artist who has obviously paid her dues. They do still make'em like they used to. Road trip to Atlanta, anyone?

HAL HOROWITZ
blues views
By Rick Galusha

Heaven Davis has no history with the middle class white fans of blues music. Her lack of presence is going to hurt her ability to get fans to pay attention to such an impressive album. Able to sing AND carry a tune, Davis walks through 14 songs including a comedic one she wrote entitled, "Sell My Jewelry." The second track on the album, "Daydreaming "Bout You" has the stylings of a mid-60's soul song. While the temptation to draw a wider .... audience is ever present, Davis' keeps a working class R n' B sound that is tasty and accomplished. She is clearly comfortable within her own skin. Davis' song, "Regrets" is vintage Glady's Knight and exceptional. If you enjoy Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" more than Michael Bolton's then chances are quite strong you are going to immediately "get" Heaven Davis' sound. Yes, it's a purists flavor and you know I usually stray far from that restraint but in this case Davis has the goods and delivers them in full.
"Vocalist Heaven Davis is based in Georgia" "but on this outing she sounds like a natural-born daughter of the Gulf Coast. Her keening soprano wail evokes a more robust Shirley Goodman." . . . "Davis sounds like she is spinning her tales from atop a bar stool in a juke in Houston's Third Ward or a backstreet Austin roadhouse. " "Fatback horns, burnished organ swashes and sanctified-girl choirs contribute appropriately soulful seasonings throughout." " Heaven Davis has already become popular overseas - much of her touring in support of this disc will be in Europe-but she has yet to make much of a name for herself in the U.S. Let's hope this disc helps"

David Whiteis - Living Blues
Heaven Davis is a difficult artist to categorize with Blues, soul, gospel & rock influences all evident in her material. A total of 27 musicians & singers, including no less than 5 drummers, are listed as contributors in the liner notes . . . big, go-fer-it production by Martin Kearns. I predict that Ms Davis will become much better known as a Blues & soul mama . . . if she gigs near you anytime soon then steal, rob, lie & do whatever it takes in order to be there.

Charlie Gray - Blues Freepress
United Kingdom
How lovely it is to discover a Pearl! Davis offers classic to modern blues with a
soul influence; in short just what a diverse audience wants. But that isn't to say
Davis is just one among many U.S. singers; to the contrary, she is vocally quite
remarkable. For fans of modern, female blues a recommendation.

Dirk Fohrs - Blues News Germany
HEAVEN DAVIS: STEAMY: (Wildchild Davis Records) Here's a brand new recording that could so easily date from the late sixties or early seventies- the sound is bob on the old, real, organic sound of Blues and Soul. And that's exactly what the 14 tracker contains - lashings of both. Heaven Davis (great name) hails from Georgia and "Steamy" is right out of the old Etta James/Ann Peebles bag. Big blues numbers vie with steamy soul, with "Regrets" taking honors as the standout.

Bill Buckley, "Soul Cafe" Blues and Soul magazine UK
Somewhere in the Atlanta area Heaven Davis is probably putting on a hell of a show even as you read this. She'll be mixing blues and soul, belting cajoling or husking out the songs as appropriate. At the end of her set she'll offer copies of this CD for sale and will find plenty of takers. She's adept at phrasing which enhances a song's lyrics and, though she can belt, she does so sparingly. A real grower of an album this. When is she coming to the UK so that we can catch her live act?
  • Mike Atherton
Heaven Davis is a new discovery for me and I can say without reservation, she will be a star. Her new CD, Steamy (Whildchild Davis Records), was recommended to me by several folks whom I have a lot of respect for, and I now owe them a debt of gratitude. This is one of the more polished and professional indies I have heard in quite some time. I wish Heaven all the best with this release and hope that it gets the recognition it deserves.
  • Alan Shutro
I have had a good listen to the CD over the past week, and I think it is sensational!! Heaven has a great soulful voice, suited to bluesy, gospel songs and the musicianship on the CD by all contributors is first class. Now that I have heard the CD a few times (and I am loving it more every time) there will be more airplay. It will be a hard decision which tracks to programme first, but I am spoiled for choices. I really like the shuffle of Dead Letter File, the provocativeness of Dance of Love and the aptly titled Steamy (phew!).
  • Peter Cummins Melbourne Australia
Ms. Davis, who has a really big voice (performed at The Bullingdon Arms Oxford, England). Her material featured songs from her brand new album, which is aptly named Steamy. - Wow!

-Fran Leslie, Blues in Britain
Heaven Davis' CD Steamy has been a Bluesville "Pick to Click for 8 weeks"
Reminiscent of legendary blues favorites, Heaven Davis follows in the tradition of soulful predecessors with her latest release.
From a review of her new CD "Steamy"

in the April 2005 edition of Blueswax.

Ms. Davis turns out a great performance on this CD. Heaven Davis' simple, pretty style is a pleasure to hear. There are 14 tunes on this CD and every one is a statement The best thing about her is her perfect blend of Blues and Soul feeling.

-Gary W. Miller is a contributing editor at BluesWax

www.blueswax.com

Heaven Davis has what it takes to captivate an audience. She's extremely engaging, ridiculously talented and knows all the right songs to get the crowd going. We were delighted to introduce her to the Macon audience and we cannot wait to have her back.
- Jessica Walden-Griner - Georgia Music Hall of Fame
This labor of love has been a long time comin' and worth the wait. Heaven has contributed background vocals on numerous CDs over the years for other musicians and finally steps into her own well-deserved spotlight. Her passion for the blues is the fuel for this sensual, intimate recording that will be hard to eject from your CD player.

Heaven "Wildchild" Davis' debut CD is several BTUs
above hot -- it's Steamy.

-Black Jack & AJ - Good Morning Blues WRFG/89.3 FM,

"Adhering to the old saying that if Mohammed won't come to the mountain then the mountain will come to Mohammed, Davis brings the party to her audience, literally, with a little help from her cordless microphone. Spending time with Heaven Davis and her band will have you singing the blues-with a smile on your face."
  • Cathy Best Mock
"Unquestionably she can belt out a tune unlike anyone else"
  • Pat Kreeft
BLUES NOTES
Davis' blues are upbeat with a healthy dose of soul, blues and rock. Heaven is the "real deal" with a style of blues to get you on your feet.

-Gary Weeks
" 'Steamy' the latest release from Atlanta, Georgia vocalist Heaven Davis is a collection of powerful, soulful, groovy and smooth blues cuts. Instantly appealing are tracks 11, 12 or 13, but don’t stop there as there's many other tasty morsels to discover on this fine release".

Georgina Reed, "Soulscope" on FM99.3 Rhythm & Jazz, Sydney, Australia.
"Heaven Davis most definitive characteristic is that no single characteristics best defines her. Davis will sing just about anything, from classic rock to funk to beach to country"
  • Bryan Powell
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