This
CD highlights a thicker-toned fender sound than Kenny's earlier
releases. This Menlo Park-based guitarist has widened the scope of his
styles to include material from Magic Sam, and a number that could have
come off an old Gatemouth Brown album from his early Peacock Records
era.
The
music starts off with a rhumba blues called "Strat Daddy," which leads
to a hard-edged cover of Magic Sam's "I Need Your Love So Bad." A
musical tribute to the Basketball great Hakeem follows, which is in a
fast Gatemouth Brown mode. A slow one comes next, followed by John Lee
Hooker's "Dimples," although done more as a Stevie Ray Vaughan would
have done it.
An
interesting "Liv-A-Mo' is next, which is a blues rocker but with an
almost surf guitar style opening. It contrasts nicely with "Lady By The
Bay," an atmospheric instrumental. A rocking cover of Freddie King's
"The Stumble," is next, followed by a good slow one, "West Helena
Woman."
"East
Texas Twister," an instrumental, has the flavor of a 60's era
Gatemouth, followed by a funky "I Believe." The set closes with a
laid-back, but rocking instrumental called "Saucy Mood."
Kenny's
music is remarkable for the variety of tone and dynamics achieved with
only a basic blues quartet; Charlie Chavez on harp, Burt Winn on bass,
and Jim Overton on drums. It's essentially a guitar and harp oriented
set, but doesn't get samey on you. Ray has put out another good one
with hot playing, varied influences, and an interesting choice of
covers.
"Just how good is Kenny "Blue" Ray? Well, all seven of his previously released solo recordings have been CBA "BluesNotes Picks"
and I can't ever recall seeing a negative review in any of the national
Blues publications. In fact, he's gotten some great reviews mostly
focusing on his incredible tone and control. But, I think his ultimate
compliment came in "Pulse Magazine" this Spring (March '98) when Blues
Guitar Hero, Joe Louis Walker had Kenny "Blue" Ray's Strat Daddy
(Kenny's third recording) on his list of 10 Desert Island Discs. That
says a lot!"
Ray
was a long-time fixture in the Marcia Ball Band while living in Texas
and teamed with Stevie Ray Vaughan on Ball's "Soulful Dress" album on
Rounder. He has also performed with Albert Collins, Ronnie Earl, Earl
King, Hollywood Fats, William Clarke, Big Joe Turner and Pee Wee
Crayton, to name a few.
Personnel:
Kenny "Blue" Ray (electric & slide guitar); Charlie Chavez (vocals,
harmonica); Burt Winn (bass); Jim Overton (drums). Producers: Michael
Pascaris, Kenny "Blue" Ray. Recorded at Sharkbite Studio, Oakland,
California on July 23, 1995
Tracks:
1. Strat Daddy
2. I Need You So Bad
3. Texas Rocket (For Hakeem)
4. Soul Control
5. Dimples
6. Liv-A-Mo
7. Lady By The Bay
8. The Stumble
9. West Helena Woman
10. East Texas Twister
11. I Believe
12. Saucy Mood
Details
.. Year: 1995
.. Label: Blue Ray Records BR103 (USA)
.. Bitrate: VBR
pass - bluestown