Comments on: Ana Popovic: Versatile Artist Making History

By: bluesemotion

bluesemotion — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:51:48 +0000

Great , cool artist. Thanks The Blues Blogger for all the great informative news you send !!!

By: John

John — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 07:49:08 +0000

Hopefully Ronald Jonker will be in the studio for Ana’s next recording. He played on Ana’s recordings for the BBC Paul Jones Blues show and did a great job.

He certainly adds visual punch to her live shows so I hope Ana will have a video done of the current band as it is an excellent line-up with Ronald and Michele Papadia on Keyboards. I don’t think Ana has yet really replaced Denis Palatin on drums though.

By: Hobson

Hobson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:18:36 +0000

Great artist (and great blog-just discovered it)

By: Duane

Duane — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:57:01 +0000

Thanks John for Ronald’s name. I have bookmarked his Web Site so I can keep track of his whereabouts. One of the things I have never fully understood about the music industry is the difference between touring bands and studio musicians (see Sidebar) – except for adding additional musicians (e.g., keyboard, organ, horns, etc.) in the recording mix.

Ronald’s bio says he joined Ana’s band in the summer of 2006 after the demise of the Dutch rockband Chaos. Yet, he did not play bass on 2007’s “Still Making History” nor is he mentioned in the “Ana Popovic Special Thanks” liner notes. What a shame this fantastic bass player goes largely unnoticed and unrecognized. IMHO, you cannot have a great band without a great rhythm section (especially the oft-overlooked drummer).

SIDEBAR: Last New Year’s Eve (going again), North Mississippi Allstars opened Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival show at the Fox in Atlanta. I was so impressed with guitarist Luther Dickinson that I purchased their “Hernando” CD and anticipated seeing them again. However, Luther joined the revamped Black Crowes on the “Warpaint” CD and tour. No more Allstars and brother Cody formed Hill Country Revue. However, Luther is now back and the North Mississippi Allstars are often on the same bill with opening act Hill Country Revue. So confusing.

My point – follow the musician not the band. Not all musicians obtain the status of an Eric Clapton where their various stints can readily be tracked. BTW, my favorite Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Cream) album is the self-titled super-group “Blind Faith” with Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic), Ginger Baker (Graham Bond Organisation, Cream), and Rick Grech (Family). Blind Faith was their only album and reached Number 1 on the Billboard Pop Album charts in 1969.

By: John

John — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:50:40 +0000

Hi Blues Blogger,
Thanks for an interesting and informative article on Ana.
In answer to Duanes question – the bass player is Ronald Jonker and he certainly adds impact to Ana’s live shows visually but also adds some awesome bass solos.

I’ve followed Ana on her German shows since she played on the RUF Records Blues Caravan in 2005. I knew then that she would be a special talent but was surprised how quickly she has developed – ‘Still Making History’ shows a level of experience and thought that I really expected maybe in five years time. I last saw her in Bonn last week and she is EVEN BETTER than when I saw her there last year.