Connor Ray Music artist: Trudy Lynn - Blues Keep Knockin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Keep Knockin', from Trudy Lynn and it's solid blues. Opening with two stepping, Blues Ain't Nothin' featuring Bob Lanza on guitar, Steve Krase on harp, Terry Dry on bass, and Matt Johnson on drums. With powerful vocals and a driving bottom, a solid opener. On Jimmy Rogers track, That's Alright, Lynn gets into a solid groove and Randy Wall on piano and Krase on harp lay down nice solos. One of my favorite tracks on the release is One Monkey Don't Stop No Show with clever lyrics, and hot horn work by Dan Carpenter on sax and Jim brady on trumpet. Another powerful track, I Sing The Blues finds Lynn really digging in vocally, with clean guitar work by David Carter. Again Bob Lanza's tasty guitar work comes into play on Pitiful, a super slow blues number. Lynn milks every drop of juice out of this track, working Lanza into a nice guitar frenzy. Very nice.  Hot sax work by Carpenter and smart piano soloing by Wall give this When I Been Drinkin' real juice. Wrapping the release is Would It Make Any Difference, a country style ballad. Lynn's pure vocal styling, supported by Krase and featuring Carolyn Wonderland on guitar make this a solid closer for another solid release from Lynn.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Singer Trudy Lynn Declares "Blues Keep Knockin'" on Her New Connor Ray Music CD, Coming July 27

Singer Trudy Lynn Declares Blues Keep Knockin’ on Her New Connor Ray Music CD, Coming July 27

New Album Features Special Guests Steve Krase,

Bob Lanza and Carolyn Wonderland

HOUSTON, TX – Six-time Blues Music Award nominee Trudy Lynn will release her new CD, Blues Keep Knockin’ from Connor Ray Music on July 27.  Backing Trudy’s vocals on the new disc are musicians Steve Krase – harmonica; David Carter – guitar; Terry Dry – bass; Matt Johnson – drums; Jim Brady – trumpet; and Dan Carpenter – sax; with special guests Bob Lanza and Carolyn Wonderland on guitar.

Trudy was recently honored with three nominations for the Living Blues Magazine Awards, with voting currently underway at the magazine’s website: www.livingblues.com.

“I want to thank all my blues fans new and old, or should I say ‘mature,’ for being with me through my journey with the blues, both near and far,” Trudy says in the album liner notes. “My name is Trudy Lynn and I sing the blues for you, some old some new and some borrowed too. I love singing the blues! The blues knocks on my door, on my window and my heart. I must sing and I sing only what I feel and I sing to make you feel exactly what I feel!”

Blues Keep Knockin’ features ten soul-drenched songs dripping with blues and R&B. In addition to a new original song written by Trudy (the album’s title track), she puts her own stamp on   covers of songs from Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Big Maybelle, Big Bill Broonzy and Jimmy Rogers, among others.

“I am so grateful to all the musicians who contributed their talent to this recording,” says Trudy, “with very special heartfelt thanks to producer Rock ‘Papa’ Romano for all the time and effort he dedicated to this CD. (Can’t nobody call him ‘Papa’ but me!!)

“I also would like to give a special thanks to my ‘daughter’ … as I call her, Miss Carolyn Wonderland, who graciously added her talents to this recording. I can recall when she was just starting her blues career; she has blossomed into a force to be reckoned with. Our friend Jerry Lightfoot is smiling down on you. Love you baby girl!”

Blues Keep Knockin’ is Trudy Lynn’s 13^th solo album and her fourth release on the Connor Ray Music label, following up on I’ll Sing the Blues for You (2016), which garnered a Blues Music Award nomination for “Soul Blues Female Artist.” That was preceded by 2014’s Royal Oaks Blues Café, which hit #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart; and 2015’s Everything Comes with A Price, which spent four months on the Living Blues Radio Chart. Trudy was also inducted into the Houston Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Trudy Lynn was born Lee Audrey Nelms in Houston’s Fifth Ward, where she began singing as a teenager. After high school, Lynn went to visit her aunt in Lufkin, where a club called the Cinderella needed a singer. She decided Lee Audrey Nelms wasn't going to cut it as a stage name. The club had a bunch of cartoon character names painted on the wall and she noticed “Trudy,” which she quickly paired with Lynn. “Lynn was something in those days,” she recalls. “Gloria Lynne, Barbara Lynn. I thought, ‘I’m going to be one of those Lynns, too, baby.’”

Prior to striking out on her own, Trudy was the vocalist for such Texas greats as I.J. Gosey and Clarence Green, where Trudy spent five years as the vocalist for his band. Green was a stern mentor, but Lynn credits him with helping her become a professional. “He molded me well,” she says. “He's still in me because of what he taught me. It takes that.” After leaving Green’s band, Lynn began performing on her own. For years she struggled to get recorded in a manner deserving of her talent, until 1989 when Trudy signed with John Abbey’s famed Ichiban label and provided the opportunity for her to tour the world and perform at the most prestigious festivals, including Lucerne and the Chicago Blues Festival. While at Ichiban, producers had a strong hand in directing her recordings. Since joining forces with harmonica wizard Steve Krase and the Connor Ray Music label in 2014, Lynn has played curator for herself. She has been writing original songs that blend nicely with the vintage material. The songs are mostly about good times and bad men. “Each one of these songs means something to me,” she states. “I truly understand something about each one of them.”

Noted Bluesman Signs with Connor Ray Music

Bluesman Bob Lanza Signs with Connor Ray Music The Bob Lanza Band expands beyond the horizon If you know Bob Lanza, (shown in the white suit above) then you know one of the coolest, together bluesmen in the business.  A home grown New Jersey boy that shares the stage with the likes of folks like James Cotton, Tom Holland, Trudy Lynn, and Darrel Nulisch just to name a few.  This cat gets it done. Bob recently signed with Connor Ray Music (Houston, Texas) and was in Rock Romano's Red Shack recording studio and met with Paul Heath, CEO, of Radio X Belgium.  Paul had this to say, "I'm often impressed by the talented people who I meet and interview on my travels,  and then,  there I was one day chatting with Bob... A most humble man,  great sense of humor,  and totally focused on nothing but the music.  It just oozed out of him - natural all-round talent at it's best." When I asked Bob what's the difference to an artist between being self released or with a label Bob had this to say,  "I made the move to Connor Ray after realizing that the business side of the blues was hampering my creative time.  You simply cannot do everything in this business, you need others.  It's much better to be an artist only. I find I perform better with less worries and I enjoy being free of that stuff.  I feel like I did when I first started laying down the blues.  I didn't get into this to get caught up in the business side. I got into this because there's nothing like the blues and a blues audience.  I enjoy creating it, delivering it, and when an audience gets in the groove with you man nothing compares to that feeling brother, nothing.  It was time to make a move and Connor Ray brings a lot to the table."  Connor Ray Music CEO John Abbey shared this, "New Jersey has always turned out marvelous musicians, Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springstein come to mind immediately and there are many others as well.  Bob Lanza and Steve Krase had shared the stage on more than occasion and each had noted the other guy's performance abilities.  That started it.  As they got to know each other each realized the other had something of value and that formed an alliance between them.  Today, we have surrounded Bob with a complete team of business people: press, bookings, studio, distribution, and more.  Bob is right - now he can do what he wants to do, create, record, and play his music.  We are really excited to have Bob on board."

From left: Paul Heath, Rock Romano, Bob Lanza The Bob Lanza Band keeping it real performing at the Alzheimer's Benefit at Arbour Terrace Assist Living Gentleman Bob Lanza laying it down at Smokin' Jazz & Blues Fest @ Mountain Creek From right: James Cotton, Darrel Nulisch, Bob Lanza Bob with recording star Trudy Lynn Jimmy Pritchard on bass Shown: Blues vocalist Nicole Hart with Bob Lanza

"John, I want to say something about Steve Krase.  Through participating with me on the road Steve and I became great friends.  The camaraderie developed because Steve wants to push the blues to more and more people just like I do. People can feel Steve's energy on stage and our performances together were received with high praise.  But it's not only that, it's the continual collaboration after the gigs.  As I say the man wants to push the blues big time and that's exciting." Bob Lanza The Bob Lanza Blues Band on Facebook The Bob Lanza Blues Band Official Website