Janiva Magness – 7/18

With Back for Me, seven-times Blues Music Awards winner Janiva Magness continues to renew and redefine her relationship with the music on a powerfully engaging, emotionally rich collection. Produced by her longtime guitarist and collaborator Dave Darling, the album is a treasure chest of lesser-known gems by well-known artists (Bill Withers, Ray LaMontagne, Allen Toussaint, Doyle Bramhall II, Tracy Nelson) and deep-dive discoveries found through Magness’ wide-ranging searches for songs that connect with the deep feelings embodied in her voice and music.

It’s the 17th album for Magness, who has been named B. B. King Artist of the Year and earned a Grammy nomination for her 2016 album Love Wins Again. It follows her 2019 memoir, Weeds Like Us, and her 2022 album Hard to Kill.

Dave Darling anchors the album’s core band, featuring drummer W. F. Quinn Smith and bassist Ian Walker, with keyboardists Sasha Smith and Phil Parlapiano, and guitarists John Schroeder and Robert “Chalo” Ortiz. Nick Maybury and blues harp player TJ Norton also appear on various songs. Special guest guitarists include Joe Bonamassa, Sue Foley and Jesse Dayton.

The set moves from the Chicago-via-Texas churn of “Masterpiece” (written by Darling, featuring Bonamassa) to the gospel-soul-funk of Bill Withers’ “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh,” to the resignation of Bramhall’s “November,” Nelson’s torch ballad “Down So Low,” and Toussaint’s sly “Hittin’ on Nothin’” (originally sung by Irma Thomas, here with Dayton).

There’s heartache and heartbreak, alongside self-awareness, accountability, and the strength that comes from that. While Magness has stepped forward more as a songwriter in recent years, this album echoes her strengths as an interpreter and is a rejoicing in how far she’s come. “I’m happier in my life in many ways than I’ve ever been,” she says. “I’m more peaceful in my life than I’ve ever been, which I think will always be a surprise for me. But it doesn’t mean the experience of heartbreak in these songs goes away. It doesn’t go away. It just lives in a different spot in me.”

Date: July 18
Doors: 5:30 PM Show: 7:00 PM (approx. 7:00–9:00 PM)
Venue: The 443 Social Club & Lounge, 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

Ticket information:
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.
- Green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables; orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most seats are sold as “Tables for Two” — the ticket admits TWO people.
- A limited number of single seats are available; single attendees may share tables with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for VIP Patron members.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements (walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party), please EMAIL US after you place your order.
- All tickets are WILL CALL — no need to print anything, just give your name at the door.

Links:
- Website: https://www.janivamagness.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanivaMagness
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janivamagness/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3igRFmvurYBLvQ4aYliwXg?si=iqaoBqleTJqYccH06sg-LA
- Tickets on EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/janiva-magness-at-the-443-social-club-tickets-1985672077637?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/TOhmttTKdFI?si=_RLoQJYowo_1JrQs