Es gibt Alben, die einen schon beim ersten Hören verblüfft innehalten lassen. Mit "This Is The Life I Choose" haben Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion eine Scheibe veröffentlicht, die sich von Song zu Song immer mehr entfaltet und eine Bandbreite zwischen Blues, Jazz, Soul und Rock vor dem Hörer...
Read more of Wasser-Prawda 'Musik und Meer - Kulturmagazin', 'This Is The Life I Choose' Album Review March 2017
Zoe Schwarz ist eine britische Sängerin und mit ihrer Formation Blue Commotion hat sie nun am 3. März 2017 ihre 4. Bandalbum und ihr persönlich 9. Album veröffentlicht. Zoe Schwarz ist nicht einfach einzureihen: Sie singt Blues nicht mit der Bluesröhre, sie singt Jazz nicht mit dem Swing...
Read more of Munich Talk, 'This Is The Life I Choose' album review, March 2017
For me it is already clear, this CD is up high at the end of the year.
Deze zeer ervaren Britse band verwerkt zowel blues, jazz en rock in hun muziek. De klassiek getrainde zangeres Zoë Schwarz werkte in het verleden met iemand als jazzpianist Keith Tippett (King Crimson). Gitarist Rob Koral trad bijvoorbeeld op met een andere, voormalige King Crimsoncoryfee,...
Read more of Music That Needs Your Attention Blog, 'This Is The Life I Choose' album review, Netherlands
"Very nice song, beautifully delivered with superb guitar from Rob Koral". Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2, 6th March 2017
Read more of Paul Jones Blues show BBC Radio 2, played 'My Baby Told Me So' from the album 'This Is The Life I Choose'
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Is The Life I Choose, by Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion and it's quite interesting. Opening with Hold On, a driving rocker with a definite British flavor, ZSBC starts where they left off on their last release with solid vocals and...
Read more of Bmans Blues Report, USA, 'This Is The Life I Choose' Album Review
What a voice! What delivery! What style!. Nuff said! Awards? I think so!
This is Blue Commotion’s 4th studio album. Here we have eleven brand new original songs, (more about them later) plus two bonus tracks, both covers: 'Feeling Good', which has often been a tour-de-force the band on gigs, plus 'We're Going Wrong', a Jack Bruce song from the 60's.
The...
Read more of Blues In The South (BiTS), Ian McKenzie, Feb 2017, 'This Is The Life I Choose' Album Review
Black and White Blues Commotion pick some Peaches…
Zoë Schwarz in a Stranglers t-shirt isn’t the only surprise on this the band’s sixth album in five years and to Plunger’s ears the most stylistically varied.
There are still ‘classic’ ZSBC upbeat canters, like the opening trio of the gutsy snare-driven soul a go-go and...
Read more of Plunger Music Blog, Feb 2017, 'This Is The Life I Choose' Album review.
'This Is The Life I Choose'
“Blue Commotion is a breath of fresh air on a contemporary music scene too often dominated by image, the bottom line and the need for an instant hook.
They refresh the blues genre with mostly self penned material, hugely original arrangements, virtuosic playing and of course Zoe...
Read more of 'Get Ready To Rock', Online Magazine, Album Review Jan 2017
Half Moon Putney, Blues Sisters Double Headline show with Rebecca Downs Band
Often tagged as "jazzy", that doesn't really do Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion's varied material justice. Zoe's pre-show remark (and her Stranglers t-shirt!) hinted at the rawer nature of many of their uptempo numbers: 'Come Home Sweet Baby' and 'Your Sun Shines Rain' both...
Read more of Blues In Britain Magazine, Issue 181, Jan 2017, Blues Sisters Live Gig Review
Ealing Blues Festival
"Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion brought a different level of class to the main stage: a rattling 'Liberated Woman' with lovely fluid guitar from Rob Koral; 'Take Me Back''s breakneck speed call-and-response shuffle, while a driving 'Your Sun Shines Rain' showed Zoe's powerful, impassioned vocal....
Read more of Blues In Britain Magazine, Issue 177, Sept 2016, Live Gig Review, Ealing Blues Festival
Bottleneck Blues Club, Rochester, Kent
"Wow, it is great when we have a new band at the club, even better when the singer can really sing, some of the audience compared her to Beth Hart, rocky one minute, big bluesy ballads the next. Zoe stamped her own personality to the songs, a lot written by her guitarist and husband Rob Koral....
Read more of Live Review: Bottleneck Blues Club, Rochester, Kent 26th Jan 2016
"A top-class band playing some great songs"
Scratchers at The Three Lions, Farncombe
A packed crowd turned out to catch Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (husband Rob Koral on guitar, Paul Robinson on drums and tonight Phil Mulford on bass) play in the intimate setting of Scratchers at the three Lions in Farncombe: It was well worth braving the weather.
This band is tight...
Read more of Blues In Britain, Issue 169, Jan 2016 - Live Gig Review, Scratchers Farncombe
It is tempting to compare her sound to other famous lead singers, but on further reflection her unique tone, diction, and inflection truly make her voice unique (in a good way).
Sometimes band release live albums when they have not recorded anything new in a while and they need to get something new on the market quickly. This is not the case with Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion's new live disc, I'll Be Yours Tonight, which has been released not on the heels of their...
Read more of Blues Blast Magazine, USA, Issue-9-40, 1st Oct 2015, Live Album Review