Monica C. Parker
b. April 27th, 1956 in Gary (Indiana)
d. October 9th, 2014 in Modesto (California)
RECORDED LIVE
MCP (only on cassette)
1994
GET OUT MY WAY
Thunderbird
Mo' Muscle
1995
Pour son premier album studio, Monica Parker délivre un disque vraiment excellent et prometteur. Elle est entourée de superbes musiciens comme David Torkanowsky, Vasti Jackson, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Johnny Mars, Danny Beconcini parmi d'autres. Elle produit elle-même avec l'aide de Vasti Jackson, Danny Beconcini et Ron Beck. Monica chante brillamment sur cette tracklist intense et inspirée : des compositions originales "Windy city burner", "California blues", "Behind my back", et de belles reprises de "Love & happiness" et "I don't care no more".
For her first studio album, Monica Parker delivers a truly excellent and promising record. She is surrounded by superb musicians like David Torkanowsky, Vasti Jackson, Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Johnny Mars, Danny Beconcini among others. She produces herself with the help of Vasti Jackson, Danny Beconcini and Ron Beck. Monica sings brilliantly on this intense and inspired tracklist : original compositions "Windy city burner", "California blues", "Behind my back" and beautiful covers of "Love & happiness" and "I don't care no more".
SISTA MONICA
Mo' Muscle
1997
Sur son propre label Mo' Muscle, Monica a choisi la voie de l'autoproduction bien accompagnée par son groupe régulier : Danny Beconcini (claviers), Ron Beck (batterie), Artis "A.J." Joyce (basse), Ken Baker (saxophone), Sam Varela (guitare) et Michael Osborn (guitare). On trouve d'excellentes compositions comme "What difference does it make", "Sista don't play", "I'm falling anyway", "Stop talkin' bout me stalkin' you", "Where is my teddy".
On her own label Mo' Muscle, Monica chose the path of self-production, well accompanied by her regular band : Danny Beconcini (keyboards), Ron Beck (drums), Artis "A.J." Joyce (bass), Ken Baker (saxophone), Sam Varela (guitar) and Michael Osborn (guitar). There are excellent compositions like "What difference does it make", "Sista don't play", "I'm falling anyway", "Stop talkin' bout me stalkin' you", "Where is my teddy".
NOTODDEN BLUES FESTIVAL
Bluestown
August 1999
Une bonne version de "The sista don't play" sur la scène du fameux festival norvégien.
A good version of "The sista don't play" on the stage of the famous norwegian festival.
PEOPLE LOVE THE BLUES
Mo' Muscle
2000
Un beau programme entre Blues, Soul et Rhythm & Blues où brille la voix puissante de Sista Monica, capable de s'adapter à tous les styles. Encore une fois, la tracklist contient de remarquables compositions comme "You got to pay", "You're only good for one thing baby", "It's not what you say", "Somebody gonna give up something tonight", "People love the blues".
A nice program between Blues, Soul and Rhythm & Blues where the powerful voice of Sista Monica shines, able to adapt to all styles. Again, the tracklist contains remarkable compositions like "You got to pay", "You're only good for one thing baby", "It's not what you say", "Somebody gonna give up something tonight", "People love the blues".
LIVE IN EUROPE
Mo' Muscle
2000
Sur cet album live enregistré en Belgique, on se rend compte de la force et de la puissance de Sista Monica sur scène. Un bon panorama de sa musique entre Blues et Soul bien supportée par son groupe régulier (notamment Danny Beconcini, Noel Catura, Ron Beck).
On this live album recorded in Belgium, we realize the strength and power of Sista Monica on stage. A good overview of her music between Blues and Soul well supported by her regular band (notably Danny Beconcini, Noel Catura, Ron Beck).
GIMME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION
Mo' Muscle
2001
Excellente chanteuse de Blues, Monica se consacre ici entièrement au Gospel qui l'a énormément influencé, reprenant les grands standards du genre avec goût. Elle se montre à l'aise vocalement et ses musiciens également. On apprécie "Bye and bye", "Down by the riverside", "Walk all over gods heaven", "When the saints go marching in", "Don't knock".
An excellent Blues singer, Monica devotes herself here entirely to Gospel, which has had a huge influence on her, covering the great standards of the genre with taste. She shows herself at ease vocally and her musicians too. We appreciate "Bye and bye", "Down by the riverside", "Walk all over gods heaven", "When the saints go marching in", "Don't knock".
LOVE, SOUL & SPIRIT vol.1
Mo' Muscle
2004
En 2003, on lui diagnostique un cancer. Après sa guérison, elle enregistre cet album de reprises uniquement composé de morceaux au tempo lent. Un programme un peu répétitif et ennuyeux.
In 2003, she was diagnosed with cancer. After her recovery, she recorded this album of covers only composed of slow tempo songs. A somewhat repetitive and boring program.
CAN'T KEEP A GOOD WOMAN DOWN
Mo' Muscle
2005
Retour au Blues avec cet album produit par Monica et son fidèle Danny Beconcini. Un programme assez classique duquel on peut ressortir "Can't keep a good woman down", "Cookin' with grease" et "Put it in the crock pot". A noter la participation des guitaristes Chris Cain, Larry Mac Cray et Danny Caron.
Back to the Blues with this album produced by Monica and her faithful Danny Beconcini. A fairly classic program from which we can stand out "Can't keep a good woman down", "Cookin' with grease" and "Put it in the crock pot". Note the participation of guitarists Chris Cain, Larry Mac Cray and Danny Caron.
SWEET INSPIRATIONS
Mo' Muscle
2008
Dans cet album que Monica dédie à sa mère, il y a surtout des reprises de standards (Blues, Pop, Soul, Gospel et même Reggae) et bien peu de compositions originales. On navigue donc d'un genre à l'autre dans ce programme trop long (17 titres et plus de 75 minutes). Trop hétérogène malgré quelques bons moments.
In this album that Monica dedicates to her mother, there are mostly covers of standards (Blues, Pop, Soul, Gospel and even Reggae) and very few original compositions. So we navigate from one genre to another in this too long program (17 titles and more than 75 minutes). Too heterogeneous despite some good moments.
SINGIN' IN THE SPIRIT
Mo' Muscle
2010
LIVING IN THE DANGER ZONE
Mo' Muscle
2011
Hormis les reprises de "The forecast calls for pain" de Robert Cray et d'un superbe gospel, il n'y a que des compositions originales de "Sista" Monica Parker (et de son claviériste Daniel Beconcini). Un programme intense et consistant de Soul-Blues cuivrée : "Living in the danger zone", "No shame in my game", "Fierce force of nature", "Unstoppable", "Once loved twice bitten". Participation des guitaristes Mike Schermer, Vasti Jackson, Danny Caron, Terry Hiatt.
Apart from covers of "The forecast calls for pain" by Robert Cray and a superb gospel, there are only original compositions by "Sista" Monica Parker (and her keyboardist Daniel Beconcini). A intense and consistent program of brassy Soul-Blues : "Living in the danger zone", "No shame in my game", "Fierce force of nature", "Unstoppable", "Once loved twice bitten". Participation of guitarists Mike Schermer, Vasti Jackson, Danny Caron, Terry Hiatt.
THE LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE
Alligator
2011
Une version live de "Never say never" avec le guitariste Tommy Castro.
A live version of "Never say never" with guitarist Tommy Castro.