Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Musically, Roy Book Binder is difficult to fence in or categorize. His eclectic repertoire includes blues, country tunes, bluegrass, folk, and popular songs that originated on Tin Pan Alley. He fantasizes that if he had been born 50 years earlier, he would have become a minstrel man. One of his musical heroes, Dave Van Ronk, once described himself as a songster. That title might suit Roy as well, his music, a reflection of his long musical journey through the rich American cultural landscape of the last half of the 20th Century.

 

Roy will be performing at Hideaway Café in St. Petersburg.

The show is on January 30th 2021

 

Visit the Hideaway Café website for ticket information.

Jose Ramirez & Anson Funderburgh On Tour

Jose Ramirez & Anson Funderburgh On Tour

Jose Ramirez & Anson Funderburgh On Tour

(The following appeared in a recent edition of Suncoast Blues News. If you are not a subscriber and wish to keep up-to-date on blues happenings on the Suncoast, click this link and join the fun!)

Back by popular demand, Jose Ramirez and Anson Funderburgh are on tour and have a few dates in our area.

1/23: Blue Rooster, Sarasota

1/27: Englewood’s On Dearborn, Englewood

1/30: The Palladium, St Petersburgh

About Jose Ramirez

30 years old, At Jose Ramirez is Costa Rica’s premier Blues artist and has played with some of the biggest names in the Blues industry. These artists include Anson Funderburgh, Mark Hummel, Bryan Lee, Shawn Holt and Albert Castiglia. Jose experienced the American Blues scene for a couple of years and played some of the best Blues clubs in the country including Buddy Guy’s Legends and Rosa’s in Chicago, and The Bradfordville Blues Club in Florida. He also played some of the biggest Blues festivals in the U.S. such as the Washington D.C. Blues Festival and the Bonita Springs Blues Festival in Florida. The Jose Ramirez Band finished second at the 2020 International Blues Challenge.

About Anson Funderburgh

There’s a yin and a yang to Anson Funderburgh. His electric guitar burns with Texas fire that Guitar Player Magazine compared to Otis Rush and Magic Sam. But his guitar can also soothe as the subtle support for Delta blues vocalists who have included Sam Myers, Nick Nixon, and Alabama Mike. Anson has that Austin strut, but his Delta creds are highlighted by being the only artist to have played all 31 of Arkansas’ King Biscuit Blues Festivals.

 

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

Background

Harlem is a coming-out party for Solomon, a nod to the legends that came before him in the vibrant musical community that is Harlem, NY, and is full of threads connecting to Harlem.  Solomon’s talent shows well on this recording.

At the age of 13, King Solomon Hicks became the lead guitarist at Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club. His resume includes with playing with world-class talent in Jazz, Rock and Blues, such Tony Bennett and Lee Riteneour; George Thorogood; Sam Moore, fellow young blues artist Marcus King, and Jimmy Vivino.  Solomon is a member of The Blues Foundation and served as an International Blues Challenge (IBC), judge where he scored Suncoast Blues Society’s entry Someday Honey.

Solomon first came to this reviewer’s attention by performing on Joe Bonamassa’s cruise, when he performed acoustically during a “Blues in the Morning” event. Acoustic is about the only thing that is missing from this musically diverse and most enjoyable recording.

Cover to Cover

Harlem begins by paying homage to Freddie King in a neat remake of I’d Rather Be Blind. This up-tempo rendition quickly became one of my favorite versions of this classic tale of love gone astray.

Continuing with “The Blues Kings” and covers, the next song on the recording honors B. B. King with Solomon’s version of Everyday I Sing the Blues.  Much like the first track, “Everyday” fades away during a solo that left me wanting more of Solomon’s licks.

Blood, Sweat, & Tears is honored with I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know. This recording interjects elements of Solomon’s jazz background, both with the guitar work and vocals. Intentional or not, Solomon continues to weave Harlem, NY touchpoints through his choice of songs. Whether it’s having the listener recall BB King’s classic Live at The Apollo recording, or the fact that Harlem native Normal Rockwell  designed a 1968 album cover for BST’s Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. The connections to Solomon’s Harlem roots are delightful if sometimes subtle.

Love is Alive

Most welcome, and inventive, is a version the 1970’s hit by Gary Wright Love is Alive.  Solomon brings to this song a fresh bluesy feel.  Treating it as a funk blues instrumental Love is Alive is much different than Gary Wright’s #2 hit on Billboard’s chart. Clearly one of the “keepers’ on this recording, if not my outright favorite.

Riverside Drive

Marginally connected (physically) to Harlem NY, Solomon’s instrumental Riverside Drive continues the theme of weaving Harlem touchpoints into the recording, and where his guitar playing takes center stage and shines. One can imagine the juxtaposition of the opulence sometimes found on Riverside Drive and a much different world in Harlem, NY.

Wrapping Up

Have Mercy on Me is a jump-blues gospel feeling song that is much at home on this recording.  It’s Alright is a neat toe tapper with a rock feel. Some of my most memorable guitar licks come from this song.  Solomon shares What the Devil Loves as a link on his website; click on the link and enjoy!

Bookending the recording is the finishing cover of Sonny Boy Williamson II’s (Rice Miller) Help Me. Solomon’s vocals and soulful guitar playing bring honor to this blues classic.

Conclusion

One complaint with the recording is the tendency to fade out of songs, especially with a guitar solo. This is a standard recording technique, and left me wanting more. I can only imagine when performed live extended versions of the songs await the audience.

Well done, young Mr. Hicks. Harlem is leaps beyond previous recordings by Solomon. For this reviewer, Solomon has earned a seat at the table within the “club” of young blues artists that is bringing this musical genre into the future.  

Links

Be sure to check out Johnny B Goode, and the extended behind-the-back guitar playing.  While walking through the crowd.

King Solomon Hicks Quartet

Interview on American Music

Johnny B Goode (2015 Crown Guitar Festival)

Have You Ever Loved a Woman (courtesy of Joan Mallotides aka BluesBroad)

 

  • For Suncoast Blues Society, Scott Morris
Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

As 2020 rolls to a close we are looking forward to the start of the new year of change. We all hope for some normalcy in our future but there is still much uncertainty. The new vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus is on the way. We must stay vigilant and patient, be cautious and safe, wear masks and continue to social distance – do not let your guard down. We are resilient, we adapt, and we will survive and be stronger for it.

We all want our live music back in our communities and we want the musicians to be successful as well. Music connects us and we want more. We had a successful ‘Drive In’ event at the Hudson Library recently. About 30 cars and 50 attended, some in their cars, some sat outside in front of their cars enjoying the live music event. We are working on other opportunities to find safe venues with the space to spread out comfortably. It is incredibly challenging to try to plan future events. The Board is working on some tentative arrangements for March 2021. We will keep you posted as we get closer.

In the meantime, please visit our web site, our Facebook page and read your weekly Blues News for CD reviews, Feature Articles, and event information.

If you have not renewed your membership, please check your card to see if it is time to renew. We know it has been a tough year but we do not want to lose our loyal members. We wish you a healthy and happy holiday and a New Year that holds peace and hope for unity from a year of conflict and division in our country. Cheers for a speedy recovery for our nation.

Your SBS Board

CD Review – “Stone Crazy” – Kevin Burt

CD Review – “Stone Crazy” – Kevin Burt

CD Review – “Stone Crazy” – Kevin Burt

“Stone Crazy” – Kevin Burt

 

It is my privilege to review Kevin Burt’s newly released CD. This is his first release since he joined the team at Gulf Coast Records.  Kevin recorded Stone Crazy in Nederland Texas where Mike Zito resides in June of 2020 at MARZ studios. Mike produced this release and plays lead guitar on most of the cuts.

“I Ain’t Got No Problem With It” is a nice upbeat tune to get started with featuring Kevin’s great lyrics and a catchy melody leaving one with good expectations of the production quality.

“Purdy Little Thang” speaks to something we have all witnessed about how a certain kind of “pretty” can control a whole room. Undeniable! Fun stuff.

 

 

Kevin often writes that his wife and partner Nicole provides inspiration for much of his work. “Stone Crazy” the title track is one of the finest examples of this. Love it is!!

On “You Get What You See” Kevin is joined by fellow Gulf Coast Records artist Jimmy Carpenter with some great saxophone work and a jamming horn section. Once again great production quality.

“Something Special About You” provides a great blend of Mike Zito’s electric guitar and Kevin on acoustic.

Then there are messages inspired by the times we are living in like in “Same Old Thing” that will have you singing along with Kevin. On this cut with the help of the studio Kevin plays all the guitars. The most heartfelt message comes in “Got to Make a Change” speaking about social change from within.

Then there is “Bustin Out” Kevin’s personal status song about where he is headed. With talents like Kevin Burt possesses we all hope he is headed “to the top”. This was the other song on the CD that Kevin plays all the guitars, studio magic.

Well recorded, very well mixed, good job everyone at Gulf Coast Records.

-Lafayette Reid