About Kevin Burt's prior album "Heartland & Soul" (Little Village Foundation), I observed, "Listening to Kevin Burt, one is reminded of Ted Hawkins, a similar acoustic singer-songwriter who had deep rhythm and blues roots. Whereas Hawkins displayed a strong Sam Cooke influence, Burt evokes Bill Withers with perhaps a dash of Al Jarreau. Withers is one of Burt's cited vocal influences along with Aaron Neville, Bobby Bland, Luther Vandross, and Marvin Gaye." "Stone Crazy," Burt's new release, is on Mike Zito's Gold Coast Records, and this observation still holds true.
While the press release for this recording lists ten songs, my download included eleven. Burt wrote all but the cover of Bill Withers' "Better Off Dead." Backing Burts, vocals, harmonica, and guitar are producer Mike Zito on guitars, Doug Byrkit on bass guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keyboards, and Jimmy Carpenter on saxophone.
There is a nice mix of tunes and themes ranging from the down-home harmonica and funky groove of the opening "I Ain't No Problem With It" to the easy shuffle blues, "You Get What You See," with Carpenter adding his sax to some nice guitar. "Purdy Little Thang" has an insistent, simple groove, while the title song is an island breeze soulful love song. "Same Old Thing" is a choice blues about her loving someone else, while another soul ballad, "Something Special About You," has him singing about he wants to make someone his lover. There is also a solid rendition of Bill Withers' powerful "Better Off Dead," about a person whose addictions lead to his marriage breaking up and the line "she's better off without me, and I am better off dead now that she is gone."
"Stone Crazy" seems certain to expand Kevin Burt's fan base. A mix of strong material, first-rate playing, and exceptional soulful singing make this another choice release from him.
I received a download to review from a publicist. This review has appeared in the May-June 2021 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 396). Here Kevin Burt performs "Stone Crazy."
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