Kenny' Blues Boss' Wayne Go, Just Do It!

Kenny' Blues Boss' Wayne
Go, Just Do It!
Stony Plain Records

"Go, Just Do It!" is the latest album by the veteran blues and boogie-woogie pianist, Kenny' Blues Boss' Wayne. Backing the keyboardist, who was inducted into the Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame in 2017, are former B.B. King bassist Russell Jackson, guitarist Yuji Ihara, drummer Joey Dimarco, and horn players Jerry Cook and Vince Maie. There are also appearances by Sherman Doucette on harmonica, and vocalists Dawn 'Tyler' Watson, Julie Masi, and Diane Schuur. Wayne's son SeQuel — Cory Spruell — infuses rap cadence and a fresh verse on one tune. There are ten originals from the Blues Boss and three covers.

Musically, this is a mixed bag. Wayne is an affable singer who is heard best in a relaxed boogie and blues approach like Fats Domino and Amos Milburn. There are tunes such as the relaxed boogie shuffle "You Did a Number On Me," where his voice seems to show a bit of wear. His piano shows little diminishment of his skills. His duets with Dawn 'Tyler' Watson, including the title track, are stronger performances that do benefit from her presence.

Arguably the finest selection is Percy Mayfield's "You're In For a Big Surprise," a duet with Diane Schuur, who has a vocal authority that matches Ray Charles and Johnny Adams, among the best interpreters of this song. Other stand-out performances include the brassy blues shuffle, "Motor Mouth Woman." Then there is the rocking Chicago-styled blues, "They Call Me the Breeze," with Doucette's saucy harmonica, in addition to the Blues Boss' piano. "Bumpin' Down the Highway," is a relaxed instrumental that allows Cook and Maie to stretch out before Wayne plays a sterling piano solo. Then there is a boogie train blues, "T & P Train 400," and the rollicking closing number, 'Let the Rock, Roll," with some Amos Milburn style boogie-woogie piano.

Given that this an election year, one can't be surprised that someone would cover the Percy Mayfield-Johnny 'Guitar' Watson song, "I Don't Want to Be President." But that song came out of the post-Watergate era, and Wayne's amiable vocal doesn't convey the wry, sport-spoken quality of Mayfield's recording nor the street-savvy wisdom of Watson's. SeQuel's rap on this track adds a fresh gloss on the performance. It is not a poor performance, just not outstanding.

I have been a fan of Kenny' Blues Boss' Wayne since his first album came out in 1998. This album may not be one of his best recordings, such as 2018's "Inspired By The Blues." That said, I doubt anyone buying this recording would be disappointed by the good times Kenny' Blues Boss' Wayne provides.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is "That's The Way She Is" from this CD.

 

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne Inspired By The Blues

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne
Inspired By The Blues
Stony Plain Records

The grand master of blues and boogie-woogie piano, Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne is back with his fourth album for Stony Plain (and I believe his tenth overall). He has written eleven new songs along with a live cover of "Georgia on My Mind." His vocals, piano, and organ are backed by a band including former B.B. King bassist Russell Jackson; Joey DiMarco on drums; Yuji Ihara on guitar; Dave Babcock on saxophones; and Bob Tildesley on trumpet. There are guest appearances from Billy Branch on harmonic; Duke Robillard on guitar; and Lynne Chwyl on backing vocals. Recorded live in Mexico, there is a different backing band for "Georgia."

Wayne is a strong blues and boogie-woogie piano player, primarily influenced by Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Johnnie Johnson, but also Amos Milburn and Bill Doggett. He is able to handle a straight Chicago Blues like the opening "I Knew I'd Be Playing The Blues," on which Billy Branch adds his expertise. Then its a bit of rock and roll boogie-woogie on "Start Rockin'," with the lyrics having a bit of his musical philosophy with a choice guitar solo as well. Even though it sounds like he is playing an electric piano on "I Like That Woman," Kenny's playing evokes Amos Milburn. There is some fine guitar that evokes early 50's jazzy blues guitar (is that Robillard playing here), before Wayne takes an organ solo to take this performance to its close.

There is "Jimmy and Johnny," a boogie-woogie rooted song that has a lyrical theme in the vein of "Frankie and Johnny." Tildesley plays outstanding muted trumpet solo, while Wayne plays some of his best, relaxed boogie-woogie playing here on a recording where he consistently plays strongly, "Make Up Your Mind" is a rollicking Chicago blues-styled shuffle that especially shows how solid Russell Jackson and Joey DiMarco are in keeping the groove. After his relaxed, yet rollicking, boogie-woogie piano on the instrumental, "Lake Country Boogie," which also has a booting tenor sax solo, the Blues Boss pays tribute to Fats Domino with "Mr. Blueberry Hill." Wayne's lyrics, as well as his vocal and piano, captures the spirit of the Domino's legendary Crescent City recordings.

The album closes with the live recording from a Mexican concert of "Georgia," with Mati Vaarman's organ adding color as well as a greasy chicken shack solo along with Wayne's electric piano. His vocal, which is in the shadow of Ray Charles, is one of his best here, and guitarists Raul Ukareda and Jevgeni Lamba both take strong solos. Like the rest of this album, this selection is wonderfully played, and Kenny Wayne, a very affable singer, sings and plays wonderfully throughout this splendid new release.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a promotional video for this release.

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne is Jumpin' and Boppin'

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne
Jumpin' and Boppin'
Stony Plain

Blues and boogie woogie pianist and vocalist, Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne has a new recording, his tenth album, and third for Stony Plain, "Jumpin' and Boppin'." It is certainly another album that will enthrall fans of jump blues in the vein of Amos Milburn, Little Willie Littlefield, early Ray Charles, Johnnie Johnson and Fats Domino. Duke Robillard is a special guest and spices up a number of tracks here. Others supporting Wayne here include Russell Jackson on bass, Charlie Jacobson on guitar, Joey Dimarco on drums, Sherman Doucette on harmonica, and Dave Babcock on saxophone.

With the exception of "You Don't Know Me," best known from Ray Charles rendition (which Wayne covers) the songs are Wayne originals. Highlights include the rollicking Amos Milburn flavored "Jumpin' & Boppin' With Joy," the Johnnie Johnson flavored wry "Ciao, Ciao Baby," the rollicking "Look Out! There's a Train Coming," with hints of Fats Domino and MIlburn, the Ray Charles flavored topical blues "Bankrupted Blues," the late night blues of "Back To Square One," and the hot rock and roll of "Rock, Rock Little Girl," where he shouts out if you don't known how to rock, you don't know how to roll.

The rhythm section is terrific throughout, Robillard is superb where featured and Babcock's saxophone playing is spot on where adding punchy honking on "Blues Stew," or ripping out supportive rifts. Along with choice, idiomatic original songs and Wayne's two-fisted piano and solid singing, this release (produced by Wayne himself) will have listeners "Jumpin' and Boppin'" with joy.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the July-August 2016 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 267). Here is the Blues Boss performing.