It is evident from the opening song “Can’t Keep A Good Woman Down” (also the title of the CD), that this collection of songs is a reflection of Sista Monica Parker’s triumph over illness and adversity, a journey that has left her stronger in her faith, passion and dedication to her music. This is a wonderful CD, with most of the songs written by Sista Monica, arranged and produced by Sista Monica and Danny ‘B’ Beconcini (with the exception of tracks 3, 5, and 9, written by Willie Nelson, Monica Parker and Susan Boer and Sam Cooke respectively). In her liner notes Sista Monica acknowledges her recovery from cancer (Synovial Sarcoma, a rare and severe type of cancer which was diagnosed in 2002) and notes that a portion of the proceeds of this CD goes to Healing Journeys (www.healingjourneys.org), for “Cancer As A Turning Point” Conferences. In the liner notes Sista Monica says, “surviving has given new power and freedom to my lyrics. Yes! God has granted me favor. Music heals! It is a blessing to be able to write, sing, produce and perform music.” Sista Monica grew up in Gary, Chicago and Detroit and her wide musical influences range from “Sam Cooke, Luther Allison, Ray Charles, Ken ‘Big Papa’ Baker and Katie Webster…Mavis Staples, Jackie Wilson, Tina Turner, Roberta Flack, Al Green, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Natalie and Nat King Cole, Gladys Knight and Shirley Caesar”. Sista Monica comes into her own on this CD and establishes herself as a Star Level artist, songwriter, lyricist and producer.

Sista Monica and Danny ‘B’, who has worked on her 7 CD releases, show remarkable skill in the excellent arrangements and production of this CD. Every song is a Jewel and is indeed an inspired collection of “electrifying Chicago Style Blues, Soul, R&B & Gospel Music” that reflects Sista Monica’s powerful and polished talent.

From the opening notes of the first track “You Can’t Keep A Good Woman Down”, it is clear that Sista Monica is not only a gifted vocalist, but that she combines it with passion, emotion and a wide range of expression – in this song her voice soars with pure beauty and raw power. This song could be her anthem and she sings it with righteous intention –“well I been working hard to come back strong, I never knew things could go so wrong, two long years I get some good news, keep singing Blues, that’s my attitude”. This song Rocks with the passion of this “soul survivor, walkin’ through the fire …never lost my desire, never lost my game!” The great band, chorus, arrangements and production are evident and set the calibre for all the tracks on this CD.

“Cookin’ With Grease” is outrageously completely WILD! You won’t be able to keep your feet still – the incredible driving drums (Stewart Burr), soaring sax (Doug Rowan), great organ and piano (Danny ‘B’), lead guitar (Terry Hiatt) and bass (Chris Akin) drive this song along – it is superlative! Great boogie’n piano riffs and Sista Monica’s fabulous vocals carry this song into the stratosphere!! This is non-stop total dancing music – it will put Huge smile on your face – Total JOY music that should be TOP of the Charts!

“Funny How Time Slips Away” demonstrates the depth and range of Sista Monica’s artistic and vocal talents. Her vocals are pure beauty, subtle, haunting and full of sweet sadness. This song demonstrates that she has taken her gift and refined it to the most exquisite level of expression and she takes Willie Nelson’s song (also performed outstandingly by Al Green) and makes it her completely her own. The piano and organ (Danny ‘B’), lead and rhythm guitar (Chris Cobb), bass (David Jones) and drums (David Tucker) are beautifully arranged and produced. This is a True Artist in every sense, her interpretation, vocalization and sensitive, powerful delivery is pure beauty.

“Show Me What You’re Working With” is a fun, seductive, rocking song – great for dancing! A woman’s anthem and challenge that throws down the gauntlet in a very joyous, fun way. The piano, organ, sax, trumpet (Mike Olmos), drums, lead (Sam Varela Jr.) and bass (Mike Schermer) guitar are gorgeous, rollicking, full-bodied and sassy, just like the lyrics! “you’re high maintenance and too much fuss, I’m getting ready to kick you off the bus, you better show me what you’re working with, yeah, show me what you’re working with, you oughta know - I been around way too long, I see the future honey and in it you’re gone, you haven’t showed me enough to be impressed, I’m not the one to settle for second best” – this is irreverent, full-strength woman confronting a two-timing lover with a wicked sense of humour in the delivery!

“Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”, is another great grooving song – powerful vocals, a driving beat, wonderful guitar riffs (Mike Schermer) and boogie piano anchored by GREAT drums! This is music filled with wild abandon, another stellar song!

“Leave The Door Open” is more of a Jazz Blues oriented ballad – amazing vocals, subtle but powerful, great instrumentals, beautiful lead guitar (Chris Cain), organ (Danny ‘B’), bass (David Jones), drums (David Tucker) and rhythm guitar (Chris Cobb) lay out a slow dancing beat with raw power packed into a delicate package, sweetly seductive - this is a such a beautifully produced album in every way, on every level. If you buy one CD this year, this should be the one and you should buy it for everyone you know! Sista Monica and her band belong at the Top – of the charts, festivals, and everyone’s list of who to see and hear!

Oh My! And then there’s “Put It In The Crock Pot” – This is supreme dance music! This is Raw Primal Rocking Soul! Wonderful funky beat led by the terrific sax (Doug Rowan), trumpet, drums (David Tucker), bass (Paul ‘Polo’ Jones), piano and organ! Sista Monica’s vocals are so great! This is such a talented group of musicians and they play (and sing) with such passion and joy! This song COOKS!

“Surrender To Love” is another beautiful glorious surging song of joy, an ode to love and romance. A great fast loping beat charges this song along with great drums (Ron E Beck), bass (Skylark), harp (Tumbleweed) and stellar guitar riffs (Mike Schermer) – wonderful dance music that is totally infectious, incredible sax swings in and carries us through to the end of the song. Absolutely rocking song that calls on us to take the plunge and “surrender to love”.

“A Change Gonna Come” – a haunting, subtle rendition of Sam Cooke’s song, there is such pleasure just in hearing these beautiful lyrics so movingly and purely expressed. Sista Monica deserves world recognition for the wonderful artist that she is. Gorgeously arranged and produced with great organ, piano (Danny ‘B’), lead & rhythm guitar (Chris Cain), bass (Paul ‘Polo’ Jones), drums (David Tucker) and rhythm guitar (Terry Hiatt). Beauty and power in equal measure.

“The Truth” has a funky rockin’ beat that underscores this call for Social Action and Change – a plea for people to face the Truth individually and collectively and realize their potential - “you will succeed in what you will believe in, that’s the truth”. Great lead guitar (Mike Schermer) solos and organ (Danny ‘B’) echo the vocals to great effect, with a solid beat laid down by the drums (Ron E. Beck), bass (Skylark), and rhythm guitar (Dan Caron). “Hey Mister, why can’t you see the things that the people need, living on the street they got no food to eat, where are the weapons for waging war, where are the tax cuts, who is the tax cuts for…our children are dying, our mothers are crying for the truth…Sista’s how can you stay with a man that’s not into you, telling you things you know is not true?..Fellas, life ain’t reality TV, true to yourself the way you oughta be, make a plan to heed the call, and let go your ego, ‘cause crime comes before the fall…Brothers you will succeed in what you believe in that’s The Truth”. There is a raw primal energy to this song, with a great solid core of integrated sound and energy, beautifully produced and arranged. Monica sings “Why I sing the Blues? Well, Webster said ‘the truth is a fact, a body of real things, events, sincerity in action, a spiritual reality’…now if you singing a song or writing a song and the lyrics aren’t true, dealing in deception for entertainment? Than what does that say about you? Now Brownie McGhee said ‘the Blues is truth’ and that’s why I sing my Blues”. This is a very poetic, moving and profound song about the power of Social Change occurring on a personal and a political level through conscious awareness and knowledge of “the Truth” of the spirit (and the power of staying true to one’s own spirit).

“Lip Service” has a Jazz flavour with a Latin beat and boogie piano, a Great combination! Wonderful drums (David Tucker), percussion (Jim Greiner) and bass (David Jones) centres this song and sidles it along beautifully with the piano and rhythm guitar (Sam Varela Jr.) weaving seductively and sinuously around the beat. Another wry commentary, this one on a fair-weather friend “I learned to listen for the words between the lines cause fair-weather friends are easily found when it comes to good times, when the storm arrives you can get off then, well I don’t have time to chase you round to find out where you went”. These are great lyrics - wry, droll and exquisitely delivered in this extremely well-crafted song.

“The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall” is a beautiful, mournful treatise on the changing fortunes of life’s journey and love lost “is it all a game, this fortune and fame? Wish I could hear you calling my name, well I know you never call, the bigger they are the harder they fall, that’s all”. This is pure poetry; “when I needed you, you stood the test, made the sacrifice better than the rest. I miss you so, you never call” is a haunting and tenderly painful reflection of a deeply felt loss. This song is full of smoky warmth and the huskiness of yearning and longing echoes in her beautiful voice. Again, wonderful arrangements and production, the piano, keyboards, bass, guitar and drums (Lee Neal) are subtle and played with great skill and sensitivity. This is a very moving, gorgeous song – a lush sound gently underscores the beautiful lyrics.

“Good To Be Alive” in the end, through this journey, the vibrant joy and triumph of surviving is raised up in this rollicking, rocking Gospel praise celebration of life “now everyday is special, just to be here, with love in our hearts we have nothing to fear”. Pure joy, pure glorious passion for life radiates through this song – great organ, piano, organ, drums, and chorus, this is a wonderful song of praise and thanksgiving. “Open up your heart now, open up your mind, let’s get a new start now – it’s good to be alive”. Thank you to Sista Monica Parker for sharing your journey, experiences, and the radiant love and passion for life that is evident in your spirit through your beautiful songs and lyrics. 6 Beautiful Candles for a magnificent CD!