Its a rare joy to discover an artist whose music adds to, or at least enhances, the meaning of life. A rare joy, a relief, and also an underlying apprehension; what if you had never happened upon it? What if you had been just plain lazy about listening to it? And then finally you did and fell in love with it and then wondered how you ever managed a day without it. Thats when you know its The Real Thing.
Peach isnt exactly a new artist and this isnt exactly her Blues Rock Records debut. But when you have the singular pleasure of discovering this ever-fresh, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter-guitarist, whether its with her current masterpiece (no exaggeration) The Real Thing, her acclaimed live underground release Peach Live! (2002), which won her a coveted distribution deal with Morada Music, or her first recording, the EP The Cure for You (2001), then it doesnt matter that youre coming to the party a little late. As long as youre here...
The prestigious L.A. Music Awards have been dialed in to Peach from the not-so-long-ago beginning, naming her Blues Artist of the Year in 2001. Noting the Anderson, Indiana natives consistent quality as a musician and performer, this music industry arbiter of talent followed it up with an Award of Excellence in 2002. But the L.A. Music Awards wasnt the only one to give credit where its due.
With no artificial anything, The Real Thing is a historical record, sounding the return of the lost art of music with an unmitigated whos-who of blues and jazz players showing up to back Peach on this truly spectacular collection of songs produced by Marty Grebb (The Band, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James).
She duets with Taj Mahal on the title track, and serenades Beyond My Wildest Dream, backed by Reggie McBride (Tony Bennett, Keb Mo) on upright bass, whom she admiringly calls the Mack truck of bass. Theres The Bands Garth Hudson (keys, sax, accordion); James Gadson (The Temptations, Beck) and Gary Mallaber (Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen) on drums; Peachs own drummer/percussionist Maria Martinez (Barry White); baritone sax player Cece Worrall Rubin (Diana Ross, Guns n Roses); Paul Barrére (Little Feat), Jon Woodhead (Leon Russell), and Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac) all on slide; guitarist Amos Garrett (Stevie Wonder, Maria Muldaur), the worlds most bendy-note guy, according to Peach; and horn arrangement by Lee Thornburg (The Tonight Show Band, Tower of Power) on Someone Else is Steppin In.
The list is long on power players, but to Peach, what really mattered was who was right for each of the lucky 13 tracks, half which she wrote, including the gorgeous ballad, The Cure for You, featuring a sax solo by smooth jazz superstar Mindi Abair. The balance were written by the likes of Bobby Charles, who says he adores her rendering of his 1972 classic I Must Be in a Good Place Now; Danny Timms and Jodi Siegel, who penned the Triple A radio emphasis track, the sultry Come Up and See Me Sometime; and Jerry Lynn Williams (Eric Clapton) and Grebb, who conceived Beyond My Wildest Dream.
They're songs that I dug up by local songwriters that I thought were incredibly great pieces of music, explains the former University of Denver voice major, whose accompanist was Condoleezza Rice, who left the piano for politics as National Security Adviser. Its all pretty sexy music, but its also really real.
A tireless philanthropist, Peach is the co-founder of Rock n Cure, an annual event she produces and performs in to benefit Cedars-Sinai Medical Centers breast cancer and stem cell transplant research. The organizations 2003 flagship concert format fundraiser, which Peach headlined with special guests The Delgado Brothers at the House of Blues in Los Angeles raised $78,000 not bad for a first run production.
Just as Rice didnt know at that time that she was destined for The White House (She was on her way to being a great starving musician, Peach laughs), Peach didnt know she was a blues player.
But the real thing always shines through. She found her voice, and heres to everyone else discovering it too.
Band Members
Maria Martinez, drums Maria Martinez is originally from Camaguey, Cuba and was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a respected drummer, percussionist, clinician and educator, living and working in Los Angeles since 1981.Maria has performed with many artists and groups including; the late, great Barry White, El Chicano, Rita Coolidge, Angela Bofill, Klymaxx, Emmanuel, Trini Lopez and Johnny Paycheck.
Eric T. Ward, bass Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Eric started playing guitar in high school. In the early 70's, Eric toured with Renaud and The Junction and was the opening act for the Jackson 5. After moving to California, Eric played and recorded with Marvin Gaye, Diane Reeves and toured with the legendary Thelma Houston. Today, in addition to playing with Peach, Eric still plays with Ike Turner, Carl Carlton (Bad Mama Jama) and Luther Ingram (If Lovin' You Was Wrong, I Don't Wanna Do Right) and the Los Angeles based blues band New Breed.
Cece Worrall Rubin, saxophones A native Californian, Cece was born in Los Angeles and has been playing the woodwinds since the age of 10. Cece has performed with dozens of great musicians including Guns & Roses, John Tesh, Michael Bolton, Jack Mack and the Heart Attacks, Chuck E. Weiss, Jimmy Wood & The Imperial Crowns, the Four Tops, the Temptations and the Fifth Dimension. She has appeared with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of "Aerosmith," Ron Wood of "The Rolling Stones" and Elton John on an M.T.V. awards show. Recently, Cece performed and appeared on the ABC television show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" hosted by comedian Drew Carey.
Alicia McCracken Morgan, keyboards Keyboardist Alicia McCracken Morgan is a New York-born, Florida-raised singer/songwriter/musician. Her credentials include performing with such artists as Al Wilson, Bobby Womack, actress/singer Sally Kellerman, rock-n-roll duo Don & Dewey, Billy Vera & The Beaters (At This Moment), Matthew & Gunnar Nelson, R&B/Gospel singer Tata Vega (The Color Purple), blues singer King Ernest, Peter Tork, and Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night). She performed on TV shows including Roseanne, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, The Naked Truth, Almost Perfect, Phenom, and Sibs. She has also been a cartoonist, a circus performer and a fire-eater.
Additional band members:
Jimmy Roberts, tenor saxophone Jimmy was born in Suffolk, Virginia where he first studied sax in the school band. Later, he went to Toronto, Canada, where he learned the fundamentals of the music business. After moving to Los Angeles, Jimmy became one of the soloists in the band of Bobby Keyes (of Rolling Stone fame), which allowed him to network and led to triple scale sessions with the likes of Harry Nilsson, Van Dyke Parks and Trevor Lawrence. While working with Etta James, Jimmy was invited to join the European tour of Greg Allman and Cher, by sax player Gene Dinwiddie. Jimmy would tour Europe again with Paulinho DaCosta, playing the summer Jazz festivals Montreux and the North Sea. Soon after, Jimmy met Jackie Lomax, who was the first artist signed to the Beatles' record label, and became the horn arranger for Jackie's next four records. Jimmy subsequently recorded and toured with Rod Stewart for nine years. Currently, Jimmy records and tours with artists such as Sade, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Rick Braun. "Bless My Soul" is Jimmy's most recent release on Soultone Records.
Gina Segall, drums, piano, vocals The youngest member of Peach's band is 9 year old Gina Segall, who was born in Los Angeles. On occasion, Gina "sits-in" as drummer and counts fellow drummer Maria Martinez, as one of her influences. In addition to being a drummer and avid pianist, Gina also sings. Most recently, Gina's voice can be heard on the soundtrack to the Dreamworks film The Ring, singing a song written by Hans Zimmer.
Ahaguna G. Sun, drums Ahaguna was born in Pulaski, Tennessee where he began his career singing in his father’s Baptist church. He is a self-taught drummer and an established singer and songwriter. Ahaguna has toured the world playing with some of the most well-known R & B acts of our time and has an impressive list of credits, including two gold albums with Warner Brothers recording artists Frankie Beverly and Maze, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Bo Diddley, Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Friends, and President Clinton’s First Inaugural Ball. Most recently, Ahaguna toured with President Clinton's brother, Roger Clinton in North Korea.
Marty Grebb, music director/producer Marty Grebb, born in Chicago, Illinois, began studying music at age 8 and after playing with several bands in his early years, he attended the American Conservatory of Music. From that point on, Marty was asked to play in numerous successful bands alongside many accomplished musicians. Marty’s early resume includes playing with The Buckinghams, Lovecraft, and The Fabulous Rhinestones. In 1972, Bonnie Raitt asked Marty to play on her second album, "Give it Up." Over the years he would play on many of Bonnie's albums including, "Nick of Time," "Longing in Their Hearts" and her most recent "Fundamental." In 1974, Marty moved back to L.A. and divided his time to play with Leon Russell, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James and Greg Allman. While touring with Willie Nelson, Marty was asked to join the group Chicago, which he did for a couple of years. Later, Marty became part of a T.V. houseband, backing up great musicians like Les Paul, Jeff Beck and Steven Stills.
Recently, Marty's solo album was released on the Telarc label, and many of his old friends and bandmates like Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Jim Keltner, Steve Cropper and Amos Garrett added their sounds to the album. Telarc also produced his last album "Smooth Sailin," and his newest work "High Steppin" will be released soon. Marty produced and arranged on Peach's latest album The Real Thing.
Background song playing: " The Real Thing" with Taj Mahal
1. Lie Down 2. Come Up & See Me Sometime 3. Someone Else Is Steppin’ In 4. Love You 5. Beyond My Wildest Dream 6. Won’t Be Long 7. The Real Thing 8. Dance With Me Henry 9. Starin’ You in the Face 10. The Cure for You 11. Might Have a Move or Two 12. Big Back Beat 13. I Must Be in a Good Place Now
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