DUKE ST. DIARY HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A SEMIFINALIST BY THE BLUES FOUNDATION FOR 2009 BEST SELF PRODUCED CD.
Ann Kerstetter put on a performance - a show! -She let the crowd know all about herself and what she does. My hat goes off to her for her drive and spunk. The Williamsport Community Arts center was lucky in that the venue offered TWO terrific concerts last Thursday night, Bonnie Raitt and Taj's "BonTaj" and Ann Kerstetter.
My Aunt Nancy sang to me all the time. She taught me my first song. As a toddler to my adulthood we sang. She would teach me her favorite music of the 30-50's. We watched old movies and we sang the songs from the movies. We sang everywhere, in the car, in the kitchen....we just sang. I don't care what music I listen to, if it makes me happy it will influences me. Country to Classics and everything in between.
Some of my favorites include Billie Holliday, Koko Taylor, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughn, Bonnie Raitt, EG.Kight, Ann Rabson, B.B. King. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, Delbert McClinton, The Beatles,Cream, Jefferson Airplane w/Grace Slick, Peggy Lee , Rosemary Cloney,Count Bassie, Duke Ellington, The Glenn Miller band, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Prima, Placido Domingo, Mario Lanza, Pavorotti. Ah Never mind there are just too many great singers and musicians to mention.
Ann Kerstetter is a fabulous singer with personality, wide emotional range, and a welcome lack of affectation. And the arrangements provided by the band are praiseworthy."
Norman Davis, Midnight Flyer Blues Show. Portland Org
Most of the blues CDs that come my way are fairly average...okay, but not great. So I wasn't expecting a lot from an unknown in Pennsylvania. Well, one should never assume and I was knocked out by Ann’s album. She sings with authenticity and passion and has a marvelous voice.
MORE BUZZ ON ANN KERSTETTER and The BAND
DUKE ST. REVIEW- BONNIE TALLMAN. Aug. 2009
After listening to Ann Kerstetter's first release, Classics, and now this her latest, _”Duke St. Diary) - -I am convinced the girl can sing! Ann has complete control over her voice - generating a colorful palette of vocal textures and nuances to effectively grab the listener and relay her message. While Ann opted for musical variation with strong influences of jazz and pop, the release is dominated by the blues. The production is first rate...as are the arrangements. This is a great recording in every possible way. Bonnie Tallman, BC Productions Artist Management Group.
BLUES REVUE June/July 2009 - TOM HYSLOP
" An uptown beat pulses through Classics, a wonderfully produced self release from Pennsylvania's Ann Kerstetter Band that covers deep soul (William Bell's Stax classic "You don't Miss Your Water"), the Beatles ("Don't Let Me Down"), and roadhouse R&B ( Delbert McClinton's "Every time I Roll The Die") but favors jumping blues and boogie ( "Louella," "Boogie Woogie Blues") and elegant ballads ("Dangerous Mood," "God Bless the Child"). KERSTETTER is a fabulous singer with personality, wide emotional range, and a welcome lack of affectation. And the arrangements provided by the band (Sean Farley on guitar, Greg Burgess on piano, Andy Seal on bass, and Steve Mitchell on drums) are praiseworthy."
-- Brett Fleming "Soul Stew" WEVL FM 89.9 Memphis, Tenn
"I had the pleasure of hearing Ann Kerstetter's Band at the International Blues Challenge this year and was really taken with their performance. Great musicality combined with Ann's beautifully rendered vocals had the crowd hooked and wanting more. I wondered if that energy would translate well to recorded material. My answer came shouting at me in the form of their CD, "Classics", a very well done compilation of blues/soul/R&B covers. My particular favorite track is their rendition of William Bell's signature ballad, "You Don't Miss Your Water". Other singers have covered this and Ann's version is simply one of the best I've heard.
Ann has assembled an excellent band to back her smoky vocals and this is a dynamic combination. I understand some of their original material is due out in the near future and I will be ready for another fine CD from this band. Don't miss an opportunity to hear them live when they play in your town."
"GOODTIME CHARLIE LOCKHARD" The Blues Foundation "Keeping the blues alive award winner" and host of Goodtime Charlie's Blues Brunch says of "CLASSICS"
"Take a passionate vocalist, at one with her music, add four extremely talented musicians who blend as a single unit, and "CLASSICS" really is a classic - the vocalist, the song selection, and the musicians combine together for one great listening experience."
BILL WILSON says of "Classics" in the Fall 2008 Billtown Blues Notes,
"The covers performed here are exceptionally well done. The musicianship on this disc is flawless, the arrangements are impeccable and the vocals are strong, powerful and emotionally charged. Frankly, it gets no better than this."
Al LUNDY / Highway Blues / KZUM 89.3 Lincoln ,Neb.
Ann Kerstetters vocals are powerful, and filled with emotion. The musicians surrounding her are tight and work very well together. Here is a group of artists whos talents seem to have no boundaries, The Ann Kerstetter Band delivers a refreshing mix of jazz, blues, and rock that is guaranteed to satisfy.
"Classics" is one of the best surprises of the year. With covers of some of the biggest names in the industry. "Classics" is truly an instant classic.
GREG "DOC" LEFEBRE "Doc's Juke Joint" Jazz 901 FM Rochester, NY
"I recently found a great new blues act hiding in Northumberland,
PA. Ann Kerstetter and her band bring
new life to some well known and forgotten blues hits on her latest
CD - CLASSICS. Whether its a boogie number
or a slow one, Ann and her band deliver.
Congratulations on the new CD, Ann! Best wishes. Hey - If you can come to Wexford on Nov 1 you can sing a bit with us! We'd love to have you. 'Love me like a man' or, oh my goodness, 'Dangerous mood'
! It's our 4th annual charity for the food bank. we have five bands performing at a martini bar in the north hills of pittsburgh for the afternoon when the steelers have a bye week sunday. Tomorrow (thursday) we're at the Carnegie Blues Festival on Main Street in Carnegie at 5pm. Hope all is well marcy -the diva in new castle pa (pictured: Too Tall Billy and downtown marcy brown at a benefit in Carnegie for Adagio Health 08 23 2009)
Jajajaj papa? not yet! Till April I hope! I've listen the song, may be you need some grammatical help Ann. Some things are directly translated from english and ther's some mistakes that makes it dificult to understand. If you need some help with that gramma i can help you, for shore!.
Listen my new song "Anna" heehe it's no too ready to publish but it is something to get an idea! For all of your music, congratlations! It's fantastic blues! I love it too much!
awee senora i miss you so much. too everytime i sit in spanish class i think of how amazing of a teacher you were/are. i have corbin at selinsgrove now and she said she knows you..? but anyways im doing good, getting used to all of this highschool drama. but i wish you the best of luck in all you do, and when do you play at front street or somewhere around here next, olivia and i have been trying to plan a date to come watch you,,
aww senora!, i love you reina, haha<33 hope everythings going good for you. and yes im doing good, except selinsgrove is filled with drama haha but im having fun( :
i want a cool ann kerstetter band shirt. come to the high school again senora i missed you. olivia was showing off her shirt and i was jealous. come back and give me one!
Hola mi Tia'! Enough of the Spanish, I get enough of that everytime I walk into a Walmart here in San Antonio!I finally got to your site! I like the songs! Sounds great! I can't wait to see your "E! True Hollywood Story". I have a few pics of your favorite Nephew and Great Nephew enjoying your show when we were in PA last. Maybe you could post them on your site. It was great talking to you and Kyle the other day, hope your New Years was Great! I love you, Doug!
heyy. sra. umm i put those pics of us up you should most definately use them. and feliz navidad. hope you liked my message on the chalk board! [: **your favorie student.
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