Backtrack Blues
Band Brings It Way Back Home on New Harpo Records CD Coming on September
2
Special Guests
Include 2016 BMA Winner Victor Wainwright
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Tampa Bay-based group Backtrack Blues
Band announces a September 2 release date for Way Back Home, on
Harpo Records, distributed in the USA by Select-O-Hits and in Canada on Flaming
Cheese Records. This is the fifth CD from Backtrack Blues Band, which has won
three consecutive Tampa Bay Music Awards for “Best Blues Band.” 2016
Blues Music Award-winner Victor Wainwright adds his major chops on piano
throughout the album’s 10 tracks, a perfect blend of Chicago blues (a la Paul
Butterfield Blues Band) and the rompin’, stompin’ Texas style of the early
Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Members of Backtrack Blues Band are Sonny Charles – lead
vocals, harmonica; Kid Royal – lead guitar; Little Johnny Walter – rhythm
guitar; Joe Bencomo – drums; and Jeff “Stick” Davis – bass. Founded in
1980, this talented blues quintet has been one of Florida’s longest-running
original blues bands and takes its name from legendary harmonica player Little
Walter’s instrumental, “Backtrack.” Since its inception, Backtrack has been
tearing up stages all over the globe, including a recent sojourn north of the
border to the Tremblant International Blues Festival in Montreal. Over its
history, the band has performed with many of its musical mentors, including
Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Gregg Allman, John Lee
Hooker and Johnny Winter.
“This first class band has recorded one of the strongest
traditional blues records to date,” writes Blues Music Magazine editor
Art Tipaldi in the liner notes for Way Back Home. “Led by the
double barrel attack of harmonica ace and lead vocalist Sonny Charles, and the
biting Texas blues guitar of Kid Royal, the Backtrack Blues Band is now poised
to carry its musical message to a larger audience.”
From the jumping opening track of “Goin’ to Eleuthera” (a
song about a beautiful island paradise in the Bahamas), through the original
songs and such covers as Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Your Funeral, My Trial” and
“Checkin’ on My Baby,” to the driving closer, “Help Me Just This Time,” Way
Back Home delivers a constant barrage of great blues riffs and flavors
that create a powerful impression. At the core of the band’s sound are the
stellar harmonica work and vocals of Sonny Charles and the stinging Texas blues
guitar work of Kid Royal. With Little Johnny Walter laying down solid rhythm
guitar parts and an in-the-pocket rhythm section of Jeff “Stick” Davis on bass
and Joe Bencomo on drums, the Backtrack Blues Band sound is truly greater than
the sum of its parts.
“On this studio record, we tried to
capture more of a live analog sound,” says Sonny Charles about the recording
sessions. “We think the CD has a warm and authentic feel that avoids the
sterility that comes with many modern digital recordings.
“We had lots of fun making this
album; it was a relaxed journey for the band. Everyone had a great
time playing the tunes, and we hope the joy of performing real blues shines
through on this record.
“Way Back Home is our fifth album, and I guess we
learned from our past projects. This CD really captures the tones and
energy we were looking for when we planned the sessions. We think it’s, by far,
our best recording effort and truly reflects the ‘Backtrack’ sound.”
Sonny Charles and Little Johnny Walter formed Backtrack
in 1980, and have played together for over 35 years. Sonny is an accomplished
blues harmonica player, whose tone and style are reminiscent of Little Walter
and Paul Butterfield. His devotion to blues music runs deep, as he founded the
Tampa Bay Blues Festival in 1995 in St Petersburg, Florida. The festival has
since grown into one of America's largest and most-respected blues gatherings,
winning a prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive Award (2011) from the Blues
Foundation for Best U.S. Blues Festival.
Kid Royal, originally from London, Ontario, has appeared at
many major blues festivals throughout Canada and America, and his style is
influenced by the great Texas guitar players. He is widely respected as one of
the very top guitarists in Florida.
Joe Bencomo is an exceptional drummer, who has played in
the best blues and jazz bands in Tampa Bay for over 40 years. Little Johnny
Walter adds solid rhythm guitar and backup vocals to the band. He met Sonny at
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where they first formed a band while attending
college at UNC; and they've remained great friends and musical collaborators
ever since those early days. Jeff “Stick” Davis is a gifted bass player, won a
Grammy as a founding member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and has traveled the
world, touring with BB King, John Mayall, Al Green, Jesse Winchester, Pure
Prairie League, and others. He was also an in-demand bassist for many years at
Memphis and Nashville recording sessions.
“Goin’ to Eleuthera” audio link:
