Have a ‘Ball’ with the Sisters of Soul

By JESSICA BOTELHO
Special Writer

(NEW BEDFORD, MA) – Four-time Grammy nominated New Orleans style piano player Marcia Ball has teamed up with singers Maria Muldaur and Bettye LaVette to form the Sisters of Soul. The triple threat is on tour and will be taking the stage for individual sets, as well as a two-part collaboration, at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford, Massachsetts on March 13 at 8 p.m.

“I’ve played all around, but never played in New Bedford,” said Ball. “I’ve played in Fall River, Lowell, and all of Western Massachusetts, so this will be my first time.”

Ball said she came up with the idea for the upcoming tour.

“I’ve worked with both women a lot and we just decided to combine the three of us as a group and do some sisterhood,” she said.

Currently, the guitar player in her band used to play with Muldaur.

“We’re all sort of intermarried in a way and it’s worked out great.”

Ball said she has been a fan of Muldaur since she first broke out in the music scene with Even Dozen Jug Band.

“After that, she had her big hit with ‘Midnight at the Oasis’ from her very first solo album,” said Ball. “She’s had a very interesting and productive career.”

Muldaur has recorded albums in favor of peace and has supported many fundraisers and good causes over the years. She also sang in a Peggy Lee tribute band and, like Ball, was influenced by New Orleans style music.

“She’s always looking to have an interesting angle on what she does,” said Ball. “She has a new album out and she’ll be doing songs from that on this tour.”

The third female singer on the tour, Bettye Levette, originally made her debut as a solo rhythm and blues singer in the sixties. She recorded the hit soul song, “Let Me Down Easy,” and also worked with the James Brown Revue.

“She has really made a comeback since the 90’s,” said Ball. “Her live show is incredibly moving and emotional. She’s got this great delivery.”

While all three women have a different approach to music, Ball said they work very well together during performances.

“Often, [Levette] starts the show with her band and then I play. Then [Muldaur] joins in with me. That’s usually how it is,” she said.

Ball, who is working on a new album and hopes to release it by the end of the year, performs original material during her set. She describes her music as being heavily influenced by Louisiana artists she listened to as a child. Since her grandmother lived in New Orleans, she spent a lot of time there soaking in the style.

“I would go see all the New Orleans musicians play when I was just a kid,” she said. “I also had piano players in my family so it was if I had permission to be a piano player.”

She said she owes everything she plays to performers like Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Ray Charles.

“All I really had to do was kind of hold still and let the spirit fill me,” she said.

As a vocalist, Ball names soul singer Irma Thomas as a huge inspiration over the years.

“[Thomas] has kind of been my vocal mentor. I actually got to record with her and be friends with her.”

Ball also teamed up with other talented musicians like Pinetop Perkins, and actor, director, and piano player Clint Eastwood, for a movie he produced in 2003 called, “The Piano Blues.”

“It was very exciting to actually be in the same room as them,” she said. “Eastwood is quite the piano player. He’s certainly a music fan and it was very neat to be a part of that.”

Ball was especially excited to meet Perkins, as she won the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award four times in her career.

“He’s 95 or 96 years old and he’s still playing,” she said amazed. “It was fun to have the opportunity to really be around the master. My career has been a dream that came true.”

For now, Ball said is thrilled to be paying her first visit to New Bedford on March 13th.

“We’re coming to town and everybody needs to come and see us.”

You can check out all Sisters of Soul tour dates here.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center’s box office is located at 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. Box Office Hours: M-F 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and one hour before each performance. Parking is free in an adjacent garage. For more information, visit www.zeiterion.org.