Album Notes

When was the last time you heard a WOMAN play MEAN blues harp? Octavia is one of the worlds most unique artists.

If you are a harmonica and/or blues lover, you deffinatly want this CD! Octavia playes two harmonicas inhancing the "emothinal" level felt. You will hear notes you aren't accustomed to hearing from other harp players, that promise to touch you. In her live show, she holds one note through an entire verse of a slow blues, making you "uncomfortable" thinking she will turn blue and drop, but she just continues with a powerful vocal after that feat. Her sultry blues voice has texture and dimention.

Octavia has been singing and performing on stage since 1955. She started playing the guitar in 1963, and the harmonica in 1966. There was something special and magical between the harmonica and Octavia. Octavia attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and majored in painting, and sculpture. She found the acoustics to be wonderful in the lovely old building, and always kept her guitar and harmonicas close by in her locker. Octavia's music has always been a major driving force in her life.

Octavia has led and been in various bands across the United States most of her life. She toured with Etta James in California in the mid 70's, and played with Freddie King, as well as The Meters (Funky Meters/Neville Brothers). To name a few of the many festivals and venues she has appeared at: BB King's Lucille's Lounge, THe Cafe Wha, The Village Underground, and Catch a Rising Star in New York, The Stone Pony in Asbury Park NJ, Bimbo's in San Francisco, the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster, the Keystone in Berkley, Lancaster Jazz Festival, the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Kapona Festival Harrisburg, and has performed at the Cambridge Folk Festival in Great Britain, where she resided and toured extensively for two years before returning home to the states.
Octavia performed a blues jazz mix at the Kimmel Center For The Performing Arts in Phila., and will be appearing this enriching show at the House Of Blues In Atlantic City.

Octavia is currently touring with her group "Octavia And The Earthblood Blues Band" as well as her classic vocal jazz standards band "Infusion With Octavia." "Driven By The Harp" Octavia's first album, reissued due to popular demand, is also available at all of Octavia's performances. The CD consists mainly of original compositions. Octavia also has a second blues CD of mainly original music "Down In The Hollow" as well as a live CD with her jazz band "Infusion with Octavia."