Power to perform original songs at Memphis event
While the blues may seem like a fairly freewheeling genre, Debra Power discovered a few years ago there were some strict rules to abide by when competing at the International Blues Competition in Memphis.
While representing southern Alberta in 2016, the Calgary blues singer and pianist misunderstood one of those edicts. Specifically, it was that you were supposed to sign in 15 minutes before the venue opens. Power misunderstood, thinking sign-in was expected 15 minutes before she was scheduled to perform.
“Apparently, at the orientation, I only listened with one ear,” she says with a laugh. “I didn’t listen with two ears. So I had marks taken off. That’s what they do. That’s why this is called a challenge. If you screw up, you get marks taken off.”
Power has no ill feeling towards the competition and, more importantly, didn’t let it faze her. Sure she was docked points, but she still made it into the semifinals. Not bad at all given the hundreds of who compete from around the world each year.
Next week, Power is off to Memphis again for the competition, which will be held over five days from Jan. 16 to 20. It comes after yet another impressive win at the regional competitions overseen by the Calgary Blues Music Association late last year. Power took first place in the finals on Nov. 5 at Mikey’s on 12th Avenue in the solo/duo category. (Eric Volmers was one of the judges.)
Power says she doesn’t feel any real pressure to improve on her 2016 showing, but she does say she will likely feel less like a “deer in the headlights” this year when she competes. The experience in 2016 was a bit overwhelming, she says.
“Beale Street was full of musicians walking up the street,” Power says. “It was an amazing thing to see: to just stand there and take it in and think, ‘Holy crap, these people are from all over the world and they’re doing what I’m doing.’ What a feeling. I am more prepared for it this year because I already went through that.”
This year, Power will be performing all original tunes, unlike the mix of originals and blues covers she did previously.
On Sunday, she will be back at Mikey’s on 12th Avenue for the Road to Memphis Blues Challenge Fundraiser alongside Charlie B and the Groove Crew, who will also be going to Memphis after picking up the regional win in the band category.
While Power may be relatively new to the festivities in Memphis, she is a veteran when it comes to the blues, and music in general, having played everything from funk to rock to jazz to offering entertainment in piano bars.
So she admits there was some irony to picking up a Maple Blues Award nomination last year for best new artist.
“It only took me 40 years to get there,” she says with a laugh.
Born in Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., Power’s father was a big band leader and encouraged her to play piano.
But, initially, she wanted to sing opera and was one of the first students to study voice at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s.
She never finished her degree, opting instead to join a funk band in the late 1970s.
But after dabbling in all sorts of music, the blues continued to beckon. In 2016, the now Calgarybased singer finally released her debut CD. Even Redheads Get the Blues was steeped in the genre but also showed hints of gospel, jazz and funk. She’s planning a new album this year.
“The blues were always there,” she says. “It was always in the background for everything. It was the way I sang things. It was what influenced me the most. It was what I really wanted to hear.” The Road to Memphis Blues Challenge Fundraiser will take place Sunday, Jan. 14 at Mikey’s on 12th Avenue at 3 p.m.