Conner Ray Music artist: Steve Krase - Buckle Up - New release review

I just received the newest release, Buckle Up, from Steve Krase and it really cooks! Opening with a fast paced 50's style rocker, Jolene, piano man Randy Wall hits the floor running and sets a healthy pace for Krase on harp and vocals. James Henry lays out the slide and this track is on fire! Cherae Lerie adds rockin background vocals with Terry Dry on bass and Michael Morris on drums. Daddy's Got A Cadillac has an eclectic blues rock feel with steady slide work and nice harp riffs. With just a pinch of country, this track reminds me a bit of early ZZ Top. Blues classic, I Just Want to Make Love To You takes on the characteristics of the remake by blues rocker Foghat but with a flavor all it's own. Featuring round harp riffs from Krase and deliberate vocal style of Krase ad Trudy Lynn, this keeps more of the ruggedness of the original with an updated rhythm. Very cool. Misery is a smooth 12 bar with really nice harp work from Krase. With a solid groove this is a great rhythmic romper. Henry opens Night Train (From Oakland) with red hot guitar riffs leading into a slow paced down and dirty arpeggiated blues track. Krase takes center stage vocally and Henry steps up with some really soulful guitar riffs. If you want to hear someone really dig in on guitar, at over 7 minutes, this is it. Excellent! Blueshound has a really cool feel not unlike some of the early blues tracks from Savoy Brown with a taste of country. Rock Romano adds some nice vocal harmonies and Henry some slippery sliding as well. Bobby Markoff leads the way on keys on I Like Them All, a Chicago style blues track. Krase steps up with a hot harp solo and Henry is hot on his heels on slide. Great track! Title track, Buckle Up, has an easy pop country pace with a blues base. Big Bad Woman has a great groove led by Rick Romano on bass and Bobby Markoff on keys. Krase takes the lead on harp and vocal, setting the pace and Henry steps up with a nicely articulated solo of his own. With a full foot stopmer, Henry and Krase take it home. Wrapping the release is Now, a bluesy War like instrumental with Krase riding high on harp. An excellent completion to a fine recording.

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Big Walter Price w/ Steve Krase & The In Crowd

For 50 years, Big Walter, known as The Thunderbird, has been making records. Born in Gonzales, Texas in 1914, he started he music career in 1954, he has recorded for T-N-T Records, Peacock, Goldband and other record labels with many hits along the way. Shirley Jean, Git to Gettin, If The Blues Was Money, Pack Fair and Square, are just a few. Big Walter is a true living legend of the music industry. His boogie-woogie piano style set the tempo of early Rock and Roll. Now, know mainly as a Blues artists, Elvis Presley and Little Richard were Big Walter's early contemporaries. In mid-career, his insistence of being treated fairly angered record companies, booking agencies and venue operators. He found himself being passed over while other people profited for his music. Years of legal actions stopped many, but the lawyers were the only winners. In fact, almost all of the Big Walter recording on the market today is not properly licensed. Still robust at the age of 93, Big Walter is releasing his music to the world. His 4 CD's "Tell Me", "Pain In My Heart", "Six Weeks Of Misery", and "Cool Breeze" has a total of 46 great tracks!

Steve was born in Brooklyn NY and has spent time in Ohio, California and Louisiana. Now almost 20 years in Houston, Steve has blended his high energy style with the soulful vibe that runs through the great city of Houston. Steve spent 10 years as the harp man for the legendary Houston band Jerry Lightfoot and The Essentials. After the Essentials broke up Steve spent a few years as a sideman with Matt Leddy & The Meatcutters before forming Steve Krase & The In Crowd. Steve Krase & The In Crowd were winners of the 2004 and 2005 International Blues Challenge moving on to the finals in Memphis both years. The band released their first CD "Easy Livin in 2005. The Band features Steve Krase on Harp and Vocals the mighty James Henry on Guitar, Spare Time" Murray Bass and features the great Pee Wee Stephens ..boards. Drumming was split between Joe Griffin and Brian "The Cannon" Kinnear.