Rory Block’s Gospel & Blues Fest Weekend: Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy
The theme of this year’s Gospel & Blues Fest is “Power Women of the Blues” and Diunna Greenleaf embodies the tradition of powerful women blues artist from Bessie Smith through Koko Taylor. Diunna, the leader of Blue Mercy, is a native Texan with a background steeped in gospel music. Influenced by Koko Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Rosetta Thorpe, Sam Cooke, Charles Brown and her own parents Ben & Mary Ella Greenleaf, she has developed “Diunna’s style of Blues” in the same tradition as so many other great Texas blues men and women. She combines intricate patches of jazz, gospel and heartfelt soul to create her own brand of a powerful blues experience. Diunna and her band Blue Mercy have performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, Brazil and The Caribbean. She was the winner of the Koko Taylor Award at the 38th Blues Music Awards in 2017. Her recordings have reached the top of blues charts multiple times in the UK, Australia and the USA. Diunna will be accompanied by Russell B Jackson, bass, Pascal Fouquet, guitar, and Gavin Moolchan, drums.