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Another inspiring show this past weekend with Mavis Staples, this time in the concert hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music, a room that looks and sounds great and is therefore fitting for a performer who sounds and looks so beautiful herself.

Mavis Staples’ live performances took a big change after the release of her 2007 album, We’ll Never Turn Back.  At the core of this album, produced by Ry Cooder, are songs of the civil rights era.  Ry brought different singers and musicians to the recording studio and added his own guitar sound that has been shaped more than just a little by the playing of Mavis’ father, Pops Staples.   When touring in support of this album, Mavis had an all-new band that could compliment the sound of this new release. This show at the Old Town School was essentially the same set she performed at Orchestra Hall, The Pritzker Pavilion, and The Hideout, except that each time it just keeps getting better.  Mavis seems so much a part of the songs she sings that she often just keeps going after the song itself is over. Now, she’s dropped a couple of the new songs and added a couple of gospel songs.  I’m not the biggest fan of Gospel music, usually I just don’t relate personally to it, but when Mavis is delivering the message it’s one of love, peace, hope and an individual’s strength that really hits home.  The band is amazing and an amazingly good fit for Mavis.  Guitarist Rick Holmstrom can play Blues and Gospel, and can sound eerily like Pops when he wants to.  About two thirds of the way into the show it’s time for Mavis and back-up singer, sister Yvonne Staples, to take a break.  They don’t leave the stage but rather sit down at the rear of the stage and let the band take over.  What happens then is beautiful, subtle, and sort of mysterious voodoo magic music.  Gone are the oldies except for “I’ll Take You There,” and covers of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and The Band’s “The Weight.”

Last month (January 2010), Mavis finished recording a new album produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. We look forward to a release date this spring for the new album that I’m told will include a few songs written by Jeff.