Anna & the Consequences are jazzy torch blues, with a speakeasy feel and supper club panache.

You may hear music from anytime in the 20th century. Picture a New York cabaret in 1947.

Full menu, big wooden bar. Fabulous dresses, smart suits, polished shoes, hats and gloves. The trio features smoky songstress Anna Paolucci along with Dan Sagraves lending his hipster edge and slaphappy fingers to the musical mix on upright bass, and Rick Soriano’s varied musical textures on keys and drums. Sexy, sultry, swingin’ and fun! Anna’s line up may include Jim

Rupp on skins, Adam Smith on keys/Moog/organ, brass jazzers Michael Cox, Tim Perdue, Nicole Rachelle and Fred Gablick, Stan Smith or Dennis Hodges on guitar, John Zuck of Ishkabibble fame on bass, Dave Weibel with his tenor banjo just to name a few. The guest list of honorary Consequences is a representation of the outstanding pool of talented musicians here in Columbus. The song list spans popular music from over 100 years including jazz, pop, and blues forms. Compositions from Tin Pan Alley, the Great American Songbook, Vintage Gritty Blues, and even modern songs from the last decade with a twist, plus a few saucy originals.

1) Put together your fantasy band, members dead or alive. 

Start with the sassy vocals of Ruth Brown, add Willie Dixon’s weathered voice and thumping acoustic bass lines, Billie Holiday’s torch blues, slide guitar and the clear but gravely harmonies Bonnie Raitt lets loose, Ray Charles’ multi genre talent mixed with Stevie Wonder doing anything he feels like! The must have horn section includes: the Brecker Brothers and the Tower of Power making it impossible to sit still. Add drumming by Vinnie Colaiuta, percussion and vocal charm of Tito Puente, George Benson’s croon and guitar, the soulful vocals of James Brown, less his temper, and top it off with the multi-talented Prince and Freddie Mercury hitting high notes and supplying the designers for stage attire.

2) What's the best, most exciting concert or music event you've been to?

 Being lucky enough to travel and experience the ’79 World Series of Rock, ‘80 Montreux Jazz Fest, SXSW ‘96- ‘04, Chicago Blues Fest, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Lollapalooza’s, ’87 ComFest on…how the heck do you pick ONE?! Yet one all encompassing experience in 1978 stands alone. A winter storm dumped a foot of snow with zero degree temperatures while tens of thousands headed to a sold-out show at the Richfield Coliseum. That concert was the greatest show on earth, and it was Kiss. The band’s huge logo, blazing in white lights, seared our retinas as Kiss emerged in black spandex and leather at the top of the stage, descended on hydraulic platforms toward the crowd screaming so loud yet entranced at the same time. Kicking out song after song, Kiss treated us to a flame-throwing, explosion-rattling, fire-breathing, blood-spitting, rhinestone-sparkling, guitar-smoking, drum-levitating, confetti-showering extravaganza topped with the first pyrotechnics even seen!

3) What’s the best (or most important) thing about the music scene in Columbus?

 How fantastic is it that ANY night of the week in and around Columbus, a friend visiting from LA, NY, wherever, has access to world-class musicians, playing for an intimate crowd in an affordable venue. This doesn't seem to work the other way around...

4) What's the most important issue (political or otherwise) going on in Columbus?

 The cleanup and care of our once-beautiful rivers. We have taken them for granted for far too long. I’m proud the city is making a great effort and here are two pet projects. The Scioto Greenways Project has three facets: 1) removal of the Main Street Dam, 2) restoring the Scioto River channel, and 3) creating 33 acres of new, green space with public access. The 5th Avenue Dam Project includes removing a portion of the dam, constructing stream improvements along the Olentangy River from the dam to the Lane Avenue Bridge. This project will help restore natural river flow and function, improve habitat for fish and all water species and improve the wetland corridor adjacent to the river creating a high quality ecosystem. Best of all we can soon canoe and kayak these waters, enjoying our city from a totally different, non destructive vantage point, while the sounds of nature have there way with us. I can’t think of a better way to unplug and re-set my listening devices!

5) If you hadn't become a musician, what profession would have chosen?

 Webcam models. We’re still considering it; I hear the pay is better! But seriously, that’s a question I loathe to consider. Music has always been my passion, drive, my friend and my love.

I guess stage acting might be a distant second to music. I'd rather act on stage in the form of a song. “I gotta be me!”

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

∙ Saturday, Jul 19 - German Village Art Crawl RAIN OR SHINE! 6-10PM
Macon Alley between Frankfort & Whittier, Columbus

∙ Saturday, August 2 - India Oak Grill, 8-12AM
590 Oakland Park Ave, Columbus, OH 43214

∙ Saturday, Aug 9 - "Dinner on the Diamond" Huntington Park, 6:15- 7:45PM
(Clipper’s Stadium) Trio with Paul Revere & the Raiders

∙ Friday Oct 10 - Columbus Italian Fest, 5-7:30PM
Contemporary Stage on N 4th Street (Café del Mondo)

Anna & the Consequences 7 piece band with horns

CONTACT INFO

Anna Paolucci 614-893-2815
www.annaandtheconsequences.com also on Facebook