She can wail like a Motown Soul Sister, or softly soothe you like a lullaby. She can rattle off a series of mean blues riffs on her Rickenbacker, or sit down and compose an orchestral arrangement for a string quartet.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Folk Rock, FOLK: Power-folk



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The way she can wail would make Motown proud. The way her falsetto rings could get even the toughest Hells Angel to cry. Her delicate phrasings would've made Nina Simone grin. And her carefully crafted lyrics that cover everything from heartaches to war to just plain lovin' her mama could render a wink from Bob Dylan. So, who is this soul-folk powerhouse, you ask? This is JoAnna James, and she is here to make a lasting impression on YOU.

Already garnering comparisons to the likes of Patsy Cline, Joni Mitchell and Jeff Buckley, this gem from St. Paul, Minnesota promises to be lifelong musician of substance and quality. "JoAnna James has the presence and the persona of a beautiful angel, a bright ball of bona fide music making. Her earthy, warm voice and guitar style rings true. She will move the industry with her work and leave the rest of us with an unforgettable music presence," says Dr. Bill Banfield, a distinguished composer, jazz-guitarist, author and professor.

On stage, JoAnna's songs come alive through her soulful voice and dynamic guitar playing. With a command of an array of instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, harmonica, piano, violin and accordion, JoAnna James is quickly becoming known for leaving her audiences with a feeling of satisfaction - the kind of satisfaction one feels after a delicious five course meal. Her fans constantly remark on how energized, enriched and enlightened they feel after leaving a JoAnna James show. She offers an authenticity that is both rare and craved in this age of "manufactured" pop stars. Her music documents her own struggles along with the harsh realities faced by others. But cutting through the suffering, is a paradoxical, sweet sense of humor and youthful passion that offers hope, consolation, and comfort. JoAnna James has a way of telling stories our society is trying to ignore, but in a fashion which beckons you to sit down and listen up. Through it all it is JoAnna's voice that carries the weight of her songs and the stories she tells.

Put simply, if experience and wisdom can be measured in music, JoAnna James has already lived well beyond her physical years. A gifted lyricist and a beautiful composer, and still in her early 20's, JoAnna is already leaving her mark - and the best is yet to come.