JACKIE VENSON "THE LIGHT IN ME"

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Venson further proves her endurance on her latest set, The Light In Me, which bursts with traditional blues aesthetics but upholds melodic soul for a rich blend that is tailor-fit for her spunky and witty style. As a fellow South Texan myself, she's pretty much kinfolk as she's knows that everything is in fact bigger here, and her sound reflects it in pounds as numbers such as the pew-stomping "Always Free," horn-peppered sway of "Best For Last" and her single "The Love I Give," are bold and infallible entries. And if it's subdued that you want, then Venson can whisper loving poetics this side of "Beauty Of Your Love" and the cushy acoustic title track to place you in the calm of her storm. Though there are many vibrant voices that come our way daily, a lot don't get to stand on a table and shout out loud, but Venson, on the other hand, has the boisterous attitude as well as the creative drive to create tunes her way without bending to any so-called rules, and those elements will spark and have her elbow her way to the front of the line without a misstep. JACKIE VENSON