The Nouvellas

Trio + Duet = the 5 Nouvellas

It happens so infrequently that when it does happen one feels compelled to note the fact. The Nouvellas. I stumbled on their set at the J.C. Art Fest, sometime in the early afternoon. I had no idea who they were. I was basically just taking in the fest in the afternoon, with no plans to stick around. I had a thing I had to do and was planning to return for the evening closer.

I was wowed. Garage Band playing Rock & Soul, they reminded me of some of the non-psychedelic Jefferson Airplay or the early Big Brother with Janis, but in reality, continuing my references, they reminded me most of Jeanne & the Darlings—with a hint, only a hint, of Deborah Harry. Soul Pop, but with the muscle of Muscle Shoals and Stax, especially the latter, with a rock steady rhythm section. Heavy on the Soul, Sprinkle it with blues, go light on the pop—just how I love my R&B served!

The guitarist is hot, ripping into Steve Cropper leads, then backing up the rhythm section with fat chunky chords. Tasty player. But the centerpiece is the feisty vocals of the dual female lead singers of Jamie and Leah. These are singers that bring out the best in each other, and while they capture the feel of famed girl groups, I can’t recall any of them being configured as a female duet. Why shouldn’t the Indigo Girls sing soul? Given the right back up, that’s so crazy it just might work.

The crowd loved them, they lined up for the CDs to be signed. The line was too long for me. The CDs sold out at the show; never saw that happen at Groove on Grove. What a fabulous record. I’ve played it a couple times the next day. I expect it will be in the rotation for the rest of the week.

The Nouvellas display some serious chops; the two singers are amazing. Close Harmony, Counter Harmonies, Trading lyrics, sly, sexy and robust voices. They do all the variations of harmonies. Soul duets in this context that add a sublte bi-curious titalation to the songs, but a feeling of sisterhood solitary prevals, alongside a more subdued but playful, competitive cattiness.

The songs are about romantic love—this is Soul Music after all—so sexuality is certainly not out of place. But the female duet brings an added dimension. Since they’re backed up by just a trio—no keyboards, no horns—and because as listeners of soul music we tend to think in terms of girl groups, more than two women, a lead and back up, there’s Martha and there are the Vandellas, each consigned—and confined—a specific caste. Either solo, or in a group, but duets are usually with a guy. But sisterhood now, sisterhood forever. These two gals sing with equality, sharing the spotlight. It’s an original idea, and it works.

It compels. The arrangements are spare and pointed. The singing has a powerful, expressive vitality, creating a captivating interplay between the voices and the guitar. The combination is fun, dynamic. It’s endearingly audacious. You can’t believe the largeness of their ambition and hearing them achieve that ambition is thrilling.

I particularly liked the song, I’ve Got a Feeling, sung from the point of view of the dumpee, who is the last to know—realizing: “The number’ been change, my ring was in the mailbox, you’re acting funny, locked all the doors, I got a feeling..”

The opening CD track was the closing song of the set, “Baby, you Changed your Mind,” where the narrator is asking her lover to show commitment. The song raves up into crescendo spiced with stinging guitar licks and the singer counts down “three more chance to love me, two more chance to love me, one more chance to love me, none more chance to love me.”

I’ve noticed this about the neo-soul songs that seem to be emerging in our new century. The woman singing the song, the narrator, portray a lot more confidence, not as inclined towards romantic victim-hood of the golden era ditties. She might stay too long, but she ain’t going to stay forever if you treat her like that. Watching them perform this line, capping one of the best J.C. sets I’ve ever seen, had the audience breathless. They sped it up some, more of a soul rave-up then the studio cut, that by its end, live, you couldn’t help but be moving whether it was just clapping along or a full out shimmy and shake of the hip bone region.

First chance I get, I’m catching them again.

Great band. They had me in their groove for the entire set. I bought their CD. I gave them their own blog. Need I say more? Well, like a character in a soul song, I don’t always do what I need.

This is a stop on a dime trio plus duet breathes new live into the soul and R& B tradition of the post-Gospel 60s. They bring on the Funk and know how to Rock. Remarkably polished, totally infectious. The real deal, original and authentic. They don’t just revive; they move the story forward. More please!

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