Ana Popovic - Power (2023) {Deluxe Edition}

Internationally renowned guitarist Ana Popovic has built her career on defining and describing, on her own terms, the essence of American music, simultaneously pushing limits, bending genres, and reinventing her music and herself with each new record. Not surprisingly, she can claim any number of notable accolades and achievements from the highest quarters of the music industry. She's shown her commitment to celebrating her guitar-driven, eclectic music style through consistent touring, awards, and recognition for the past 25 years. In the process, she's emerged as one of the most thoughtful, dynamic, and committed performers in modern songwriting and guitar. Ana's new album, 'Power', on ArtisteXclusive Records, brings those dynamics to the fore and, in the process, turns this set of songs into both a powerful and personal tale of survival through faith, determination and tenacity. They were spawned from a decidedly tricky set of circumstances that tested Ana's devotion to making music and her perseverance. 'Power' symbolizes unity. Album cover art: two holding hands, black and white, is what this world needs. It's the power, and it's the force that's going to move this world forward. Without that power, there wouldn't have been so much remarkable music today, ideas, and reforms. And indeed, not this record. This story is about friendship and embracing yourself with everything life throws at you. The songs shared on 'Power' testify to her conviction. Recorded with an all-star line-up of topnotch musicians from Detroit, Dallas, and New Orleans, like the powerhouse drummer Chris Coleman (Beck, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder), she and bassist and musical director Buthel wrote and produced the album, which was then mixed and mastered by multi-talented Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning producer Jeremy Bishop Hicks. The results confirm the emotional investment that allowed each entry to become a testimonial to Ana's potency and prowess. With her masterful guitar solos, always in the service of the song, ranging from sizzling rock and blues guitar to smooth and sultry jazz licks, her vocals range from electrifying to soulful, Ana and company veer from hard stomping blues to relentless rhythms and searing soulful refrains. 'Our sound is so eclectic - it's a gumbo of rock, blues, gospel, soul, funk. It's black AND white, like the cover of 'Power'.' Ana Popovic: vocals, slide/electric/acoustic guitar; Buthel: bass guitar, b-vocals; Chris Coleman: drums, percussion, tribal drums; Jerry Kelley: drums, b-vocals; Michele Papadia: hammond organ / keys; Brandon 'Showtime' Bland: hammond organ; Jeremy Thomas: hammond organ / keys; Joe Foster: rhythm guitar; Jeff Bates: rhythm guitar, string arrangements; Claudio Giovagnoli: saxophone, horn arrangements; Davide Ghidoni: trumpet, horn arrangements; Mark Mullins: trombone, horn arrangements; Brad Walker: tenor sax; Bobby Campo: trumpet; Tasha Parker, Noel Burns, Nia Kelley: b-vocals; JaDell Burns, Luuk van Meurs - additional arrangements.