Janiva Magness had lived a life worthy of a classic blues song. And that was before 2010, when things again took a tough turn. As a young teen, she experienced the suicides of both parents, and by 17 she was pregnant and giving up the baby to adoption. Since 2010, she’s watched her 17-year marriage go bad, buried no less than eight friends and family members, including her foster mother, and suffered through an operation for a serious neck injury that left her unable to speak for several weeks and required a vocal coach to get her chops back. Here, the a cappella intro to “When You Were My King,” a Magness cowrite, proves that she’s back—and the fact that she’s now writing much of her own material indicates she’s also finding that voice inside of her. Working with longtime producer Dave Darling, who pushed her hard, Magness shows off the talents that have won her numerous Blues Music Awards. The duet with Dan Navarro on “With Love” is a powerful highlight, while songs at the end of this fine album like “Badass,” “The Hard Way," and “Standing” prove she’s also a certified closer.