Artist: Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Album: Inspired by the Blues
Label: Stony Plain
Release Date: 9.28.2018
Raised in the states, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has made Vancouver his home for the past thirty years, but he’s still the modern version of iconic pianists like Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and others. The Boogie Woogie Hall of Famer produced this one himself, inviting some notable guests to help him through eleven originals, mostly paying tribute to Charles and Domino. There’s also a live bonus track “Georgia on My Mind,” recorded in Mexico with different players.
This is Wayne’s fourth album for Stony Plain. His first album for the label, An Old Rock On a Roll, earned him a nomination for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Award from the Blues Foundation, as well as two 2012 Living Blues magazine awards. Wayne is also a three-time Juno Award nominee and In addition to the influences cited, Wayne gets inspiration from Johnnie Johnson, Amos Milburn, Bill Doggett and Johnny Otis. Yes, his is a throwback, old school sound with a few contemporary touches. Wayne says, “I wanted to pay tribute to two of my favorite musical legends that have both passed on: Ray Charles and Fats Domino. I also wanted to bring back that classic style of blues that has been missed for years.”
Wayne is an entertainer with big flashy suits, a charismatic stage presence and an endless sense of humor which comes across in his lyrics, here best typified by “I Like That Woman.” He also brings aboard the ace harmonicist Billy Branch and versatile guitarist Duke Robillard along with B.B. King’s long-time bassist, Russell Jackson. Wayne tells stories too, as heard on “Jimmy and Johnny,” where Lynne Chwyl provided the background vocals while the two-piece horn section blows in ‘50s R&B style. While there are solos in the vocal tunes, the instrumental “Lake Country Boogie” showcases Wayne’s boogie-woogie technique. One of the album highlights is surely his tribute to Fats, “Mr. Blueberry Hill,” where he does a superb job of revisiting that classic sound.
One small issue is not listing specific tracks for the guests, but Branch is the only one playing harmonica and the jazz-influenced guitar lead on “An Old Brick Wall” is most likely Robillard’s. Branch’s harmonica-fueled “That Girl Needs Help,” is his chance to stretch out. “That Raggedy Shack” hearkens back to the sound of Amos Milburn while the six-minute bonus track finds Wayne on an electric piano, delivering a faithful vocal rendition of the tune that Brother Ray made famous.
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne is not only inspired by these blues legends. His originals and the Charles’ classic may have you digging deep into your collection to revisit those sounds too.
—Jim Hynes
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