Winnipeg's powerhouse performer, Mal Magorel, will take the stage tomorrow, Thursday, March 6, at 2:00 PM at the Rady JCC as part of the Music and Mavens Concert and Lecture Series. The concert, titled Super Ladies of the 60s and 70s, promises to be an unforgettable tribute to the iconic female vocalists of that era, including legends like Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, and Carole King.
Mal Magorel is no stranger to the Winnipeg music scene. Known for her versatile voice that blends jazz, funk, and soul, she has shared the stage with renowned local musicians, including Ron Paley, Danny Kramer, and Ariel Posen. With a career spanning over 16 years, Magorel has performed in various musical genres, and her project Super Ladies of the 60s and 70s promises to be a special one.
Magorel shared that her inspiration for focusing on the music of these decades stemmed from a past performance at another event produced by Music "N" Mavens producer Karla Berbrayer, where she covered notable female artists from the 60s and 70s. “Karla came up to me after the show and said, ‘Disco would be such a fun show to do at Music and Mavens.’ And then it was born,” Magorel recalled.
For Magorel, the music of these powerhouse women has been an enduring part of her career. “I’ve been singing I Will Survive forever,” she confessed, noting that her first professional experience in music was performing in cover bands. “One of the first songs that someone in the band threw at me was Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive,” she added. “I knew the song but had never performed it myself until then.”
Reflecting on her love for singing the music of iconic divas like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, Magorel shared, “It's just so much fun. I’m a fairly loud singer, I guess. I gravitate towards the more powerful voices. There’s just a lot of fun in singing that style.” She’s especially excited about performing songs that she’s long wanted to bring to the stage, including a song by Donna Summer and a Diana Ross track. “It just sounds great with the band,” she said enthusiastically.
When asked about the timing of the concert, coinciding with Women's History Month, Magorel acknowledged that while the focus of the show wasn’t directly influenced by the occasion, she recognized the powerful impact of these women in history. "There’s so many influential females that came out of this time. It was almost hard to narrow it down to an hour," she said, reflecting on the challenge of selecting the best of the era’s iconic voices for the concert.
Magorel’s diverse musical background also influences how she interprets these legendary songs. "It makes you really versatile and allows you to expose yourself to different versions of the same song," she explained. “I don’t claim to be Aretha, but Carole King made that song, and she created it, so my version of Natural Woman is a tribute to both her and Aretha’s interpretation.”
In terms of what the audience can expect at the concert, Magorel hinted at a variety of performances, saying, “You can’t really celebrate the 60s and 70s without including people like Carly Simon, Stevie Nicks, and, of course, Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer.” The band, consisting of talented local musicians, will back her up, with two backup vocalists—Jodi Borlie and Nadia Douglas—joining her on stage. “It’s going to be spectacular,” she added, especially when performing songs like Lady Marmalade.
As for the musical arrangements, Magorel shared that the charts for the show were a mix of recorded versions and original charts she provided. She noted that her band is a talented mix of formally trained musicians and those who learned by ear, which adds a fun dynamic to the group's performances.
Looking forward to the concert, Magorel expressed her excitement to perform live once again. “Just getting on that stage. It’s my sixth Mavens show, and it’s always a pleasure,” she said.
The Super Ladies of the 60s and 70s concert will take place tomorrow, March 6, at 2:00 PM at the Rady JCC, located at 123 Doncaster. Tickets and more details are available at radyjcc.com.
For fans of powerful vocals, funky grooves, and the music of iconic women from the 60s and 70s, this is a performance not to be missed!