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- "No mournful whispers from Blue Willow on newest CD"
To-Nite Magazine (Toronto, Canada – Gary Tate)
Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle are a local duo whose self-titled CD has been turning a few ears around town with its groove-laden, craftily penned, jazz-inflected pastel of diverse musical shades. A lot of thought and energy went into these 13 self-penned tunes, and there are enough delightful twists and turns to satisfy the most discerning of musical taste buds.
Don't let the hazy blue tint and secluded setting on the cover mislead you into believing this is some sparse, minimalist excursion. On most cuts they're surrounded by a stellar contingent of Toronto's musical elite. Here's a sampling: harmonicist extraordinaire Carlos del Junco, Michael Fonfara (he handles the organ on three of the tracks while Lorraine does the piano work on the rest), Richard Underhill on alto sax, Gene Hardy is on tenor sax, Simon Wallis on tenor and baritone, and Sarah McElcheran handles trumpet duties.
A lot of territory gets covered, ranging from the soul-jazz fusion of the gospel-like "Fragile Fire", to the more jazz/pop sensibilities of "Sometimes I Wish", and onto the cheeky cabaret satire of "Mr. GQ". I'll confess to a slight prejudice for the more brassy, high-energy groove that predominates. Yet, I still found myself entranced by their daring, six and a half-minute long, "Cry". Its haunting mood acted as a quick and imaginative tonic for my initial hesitancy.
The hard to categorize, but irresistibly catchy "Almost Forty" is a high-spirited, bittersweet tome on the inevitable passage of time - from a female perspective. It's a guaranteed live showstopper! "Speed Demon" ratchets the energy level to an even higher fever pitch, as Hardy's raving sax and Aidan Mason's driving guitar run sidesaddle to Dawn DuVall's supercharged vocals. It's all about the perils of life in the fast lane, and it really smokes. Lorraine is a constant vocal presence too, with her shimmering background vocals.
"Noisy Neighbour Blues' is another favourite, a swingin' throwback to the thirties, with some added crowd noise lending it even more authenticity. Then there's the finale, "Let's Boogie Woogie", which ends the festivities with a frenzied, toe-stompin, horns-a-hoppin' exclamation point! It features some great stride piano work courtesy of Lorraine - and yes, the Mark Dailey heard shouting out Alan Freed-like words of encouragement is the same world-famous CITY newscaster we all know and trust. Dailey has built-in radar for a good story, and when he heard the gals in the studio he must have rushed over to do a feature!
This is a sure-fire winner, folks!
- "They display perfect rapport and enthusiasm in concert."
MapleBlues (Toronto-Canada - John Valenteyn)
Toronto's Blue Willow is Dawn DuVall on lead vocals and Lorraine Ingle on piano and vocals, although in performance the lineup can get to seven strong if the situation calls for it. They have just finished a self-titled second album that showcases a fine set of original songs and highlights the strengths of the ten years that they have been working together. The perfect rapport and the enthusiasm they display in concert are beautifully captured here by Jono Grant. The gospel fervor of Dawn's vocals jumps out immediately and each song is propelled along with Lorraine's keyboards. As with Greasy Talk, each song is carefully crafted with some 21 musicians on the credit list this time. The songs range from delightful vignettes of everyday life such as "Noisy Neighbour Blues" with its little dog opening line and sound effects, "Mr. G.Q.", "Fragile Fire", and “Almost Forty” to more serious ones like “Too Close To Home” with its string and horns to a plea for racial equality in “Sometimes I Wish”. Other highlights are “Gotta Let It All Go”, and “That’s Boogie Woogie” with Carlos del Junco on harp.
- "Blue Willow is full of rollicking, raunchy blues numbers that threaten to become standards in their own right."
Beach Metro News (Toronto, Canada- Bill MacLean)
Their new release, the self-titled CD Blue Willow, marks a coming of age so to speak for this Beach blues songwriting team of Lorraine Ingle and Dawn DuVall.
“Lorraine and I have been together just over ten years,” said DuVall. They met at a blues jam hosted by Downchild bassist Gary Kendall at the Black Swan on the Danforth. “We got together and decided that we would like to write original songs in the blues medium.”
And write them they have done. Blue Willow is full of rollicking, raunchy blues numbers that threaten to become standards in their own right. Tunes like “Mr. GQ” with its satirical lyrics poke serious fun at lounge-lizard pretty boys. And “Noisy Neighbour Blues” a good basic blues tune about what I imagine to be a common Beach problem – in the summer that is. “Almost Forty” is about an aging flower child of the sixties who has suddenly found herself a little older than she wants to be.
DuVall credits her strong vocal style to influences like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Bonnie Rait, and even comes off doing a excellent Tina Turner on “I Want Love.”
Lorraine Ingle is from a classical music background who drifted down to the Black Swan that fateful day to find out more about the blues, and pick up some improvisational techniques. Her influences include many of the boogie-woogie players, like Pine Top Perkins, whose left hand technique leaves most of us recreational piano pounders dumbfounded. She struts her stuff admirably on the final track “That’s Boogie Woogie” where she finally gets to really cut loose.
With a back-up band that includes fine playing by organist Michael Fonfara, bassist Bob “Omar” Tunnoch and harmonica player Carlos del Junco, a horn section to rival any around, Blue Willow makes great listening. Better yet, see the band live.
- "DuVall’s raunchy voice is a trademark which you can’t mix up with anybody else, and Ingle plays like the Queen of Canadian Boogie."
Vapaa Sana (Toronto – Matti Temiseva)
Masters (or Masterettes?) of boogie woogie are back again. After their fine debut CD “Greasy Talk” some years ago, Blue Willow is now out with a brand new independent self-titled production. Thirteen bluesy songs are all original babies by lead singer Dawn DuVall and keyboardist Lorraine Ingle, both well-known and well-like musicians from Toronto. Being together for a long time (the song title Almost Forty maybe tells some ageless secrets) makes this duo work perfectly. DuVall’s raunchy voice is a trademark which you can’t mix up with anybody else, and Ingle plays like the Queen of Canadian Boogie.
- "A very seriously talented musical partnership built on a shared vision and mutual wavelength."
Real Blues Magazine (Victoria, B.C. – Andy Grigg)
I believe Blue Willow have been in existence for almost 10 years, the musical creation/partnership of Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle. While not blues in the strictest definition of the term, their music is certainly blues influenced to a large extent and when they want to, they can lay down a jumpin’ boogie woogie or a rip roarin’ roadhouse/bar-room stomper with the best of ‘em. We get so many independently produced/released CD’s that suffer from the same maladies i.e., lack of talent or poor production values but this independent disc is one of those exceptional productions that come along every once in a blue moon. Right from the git-go one realizes that this is a very seriously talented musical partnership built on a shared vision and mutual wavelength. DuVall and Ingle work beautifully together to make some truly classy and magnificent music that transcends all genre boundaries and give them a very unique and distinctive sound. Excellent musicians, singers and songwriters, it seems a safe bet to predict that these ladies have a sure shot at major success not too far down the road. I find it very refreshing to come across female talent that is 100% legitimate. Too many female artists are stuck with images created by record company spin-doctors who play the sex appeal angel. Lorraine and Dawn let you know immediately that they are serious bona fide musicians with a covershot that conveys a message contrary to your typical female artist image. It’s a statement that says “Hey, we create the music and it’s real serious music.” And once you listen you have to agree. “Gotta Let It All Go” is a big, bold gospel delivery that showcases DuVall’s vocal abilities while “Fragile Fire” is a tune virtually every woman alive can relate to (“..she says she’s gonna wait ‘til the right one comes along, oh, but sleeping alone in this bed is too damn hard..”). “Sometimes I Wish” has a beautiful haunting melody with lyrics that show a serious side with a concern for humankind’s lack of spirituality.
- "Cheek-to-cheek soul"
Blue Revue (U.S.A. – Ed Ivey)
Blue Willow is the powerful duo of vocalist Dawn DuVall and keyboardist Lorraine Ingle, joined by a great cast of side players. This self-titled self-release has 13 cuts, with DuVall’s huge, low-pitched voice laying out a fervent gospel feel.. Best cut: “So Close,” a smoky ballad full of cheek-to-cheek soul.
- "There aren't many women on the Canadian R&B scene, but (Blue Willow) stakes out some solid territory
Two young Toronto singer/musicians, Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle, front a tough, rockin' R&B band loaded with hard-blowing horn players. The songs are all originals, but rock out in the spirit of Etta and Aretha and their lesser known early contemporaries. There aren't many women on the Canadian R&B scene, but this pair stakes out some solid territory with songs like No Time No Money, Always Come Back to You and the title track (Greasy Talk).
The Record (May 15, 1995)
- "The songs are original and unaffected, with creative melodies and arrangements. (Blue Willow's) Greasy Talk deserves wider attention."
Blue Willow - Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle - perform R&B, soul, and ballads with a full, brassy sound that borders on a New Orleans approach. The songs are original and unaffected, with creative melodies and arrangements. Greasy Talk deserves wider attention. -PRA
Living Blues (May/June 1996)
- "So many female blues singers in Canada are just 2nd-rate imitators of Joplin/Tina Turner/Etta James but DuVall has her own strong and natural style."
Toronto's Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle form a most unique duo, Blue Willow, that features Ingle's rollicking piano and DuVall's blues shouter vocals. So many female blues singers in Canada are just 2nd-rate imitators of Joplin/Tina Turner/Etta James but DuVall has her own strong and natural style.
Westcoast Blues Review,
Canada (June 1994)
- "Lorraine Ingle's sinister ayncopation something special"
Blue Willow's greatest asset is Lorraine Ingle's left hand. When the five-piece band appeared at Ruanne's in November, it was Ingle's joyous boogie woogie piano work that defined the group's musical character. As always with legitimate piano boogie, it is strength of left hand independence which allows the rolling low end eighth notes to keep recycling the bar-long patterns. While everyone listens to the right hand, everything depends on the left. Ingle attributes the rare ability to her classical training. She's wrong though. Most people who know their way around a piano have had classical training. Few possess Ingle's eight-to-the-bar hammer......DuVall is a strong-throated blues shouter. The two appear to be a compatible match. The group performs two originals on the compilation CD, The Great Canadian Blues Revue and their own album is now in the works. The original tongue-in-cheek humour of the Ingle-DuVall songwriting team appears up to it. So of course does Ingle's left hand.
Gig Magazine, Canada
(December 1994)
- "urban, gritty blues that takes a gutsy, no-nonsense approach"
Blue Willow is made up of the songwriting team of Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle who deliver 12 songs mainly of the rockin blues variety. The backbone (of Greasy Talk) is an excellent rhythm section and the piano of classically-trained Ingle, who adopts a boogie-woogie style that keeps the energy level high. Her earthy, rootsy vocals along with DuVall's lead, further define their style, an urban, gritty blues that takes a gutsy, no-nonsense approach........
Dirty Linen, James Morman, Kentucky, U.S.A. (September 1995)
- "Greasy Talk has substance and style"
The first full-length Blue Willow CD on the Peerless Music label is finally out and I'm happy to say was worth the wait. From the opening song it's clear the band, based around dynamic duo Dawn DuVall and Lorraine Ingle, is in its element and the result is an exhilirating romp through a dozen co-authored blues originals that are by turns tinged with honky tonk, delve into lounge blues and resonate with big band sounds courtesy of a real panoply of local talent in backup roles......This is great music for a party situation or even as a tonic for the blue funk on a down day.
T.O. Nite, Gary 17, Toronto, Canada
(May 1-16, 1995)
- "a set that swung 'n swayed throughout"
Dual vocalists Lorraine Ingle and Dawn DuVall led Blue Willow through a set that swung 'n swayed throughout. Drawn from current album Greasy Talk, the tunes allowed DuVall's jazzy style to stretch out, with lots of room for Ingle's foot-stompin' boogie-woogie piano moves. Among the stand-outs, "No Time No Money", the first single, and the older but still grabby "Mikey".
The Toronto Star, Lenny Stoute, Toronto, Canada (Club Crawl- April 27, 1995)
- "rockin' rhythm and blues.....show a careful attention to the craft of writing.....sly and tuneful songs, imbued with a broad mix of pathos and humour"
.....I was impressed by (Blue Willow's) repertoire of rockin' rhythm and blues, and the discovery of their latest CD Greasy Talk was a pleasant reminder of how well these two can find a bluesy groove and run with it. This latest collection of songs, all penned by DuVall and Ingle, also show a careful attention to the craft of writing. They are sly and tuneful songs, imbued with a broad mix of pathos and humour, that shows me that even when these girls are struck down with the blues, they are still primed to have a good time. All the elements you would expect from the blues are here delivered with the tough and brassy vocals of Dawn DuVall. She can dish out wry bitterness at the loss of a loved one ("It Would Be Easy" or "Letting Go"), see the lighter side of life ("Spend Money"), or take to task the duplicitous male ("Weasel Boy" and "Greasy Talk"). Greasy Talk also features a strong instrumental foundation that includes some catchy keyboard hooks from Lorraine Ingle, whose style of playing can range from the whisper of a tender ballad, to the shout of a barrelhouse romp....
Lakesider, Bryan Hachey, Toronto, Canada (November 11, 1995)
