Ted Hefko & the Thousandaires - Down Below - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Down Below, from Ted Hefko & the Thousandaires and it's strong. Opening with alt country track, Lay Your Problems On My Knee, Ted Hefko really comes out hard with a terrific track, sounding like a new formation of The Band. The writing is powerful, the vocals very good and with his own guitar work, Matt Galloway on guitar, Justin Carlo Davi on bass and Isaac Eady on drums, this is a great opener. Another track with strong country threads but in this case more of a rocker (think Dead Flowers), Hurtin' Too, Hefko is hitting on all cylinders. With Lynn Drury on backing vocals, this is quickly becoming a go to release. With a funky blues feel, Please Don't Refuse, is a total change of pace. Solid vocals, smooth organ backing by Beck Burger and solid guitar lines by Alex Mallet over rhythmic percussion by Michael Skinkus and horn work by Kevin Louis on turmpet this track is a sure bullseye. Ella Speed is a great New Orleans blues rag with Hefko not only singing but wailing on clarinet, with Kevin Loius on trumpet, Craig Klein on trombone and great falling down drum work by Chris Davis. Excellent! Another track with a rich alt country flavor (think Black Francis or Jimbo Mathus) is Big Thing with cool vocal backing by Jamey Saint Pierre and firm country footing. Excellent! Wrapping the release is soulful ballad, One More Picture of You with insightful lyrics and an easy instrumental backing. This is a potent new release and although not a "real" blues release, I love it! 

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Onager Records artist: Ted Hefko And The Thousandaires - Gas Station Guru - New Relese Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gas Station Guru, from Ted Hefko And The Thousandaires, and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Two Vices, Ted Hefko leads his own flavor of New Orleans jazz on lead vocal and sax with Elliot Slater and Mem Shannon on guitar, Justin Carlo Davi on bass Jasmine Butler on drums, and Beck Berger on organ. With the easy stride of the Night Tripper himself, cool opener. Funky, The Roofer, has a super groove with horns by Hefko on vocal and sax, Antonio Gambrell on trumpet and Carolyn Brussard and Arsene DeLay on backing vocal. Excellent. Billy Joe Shaver's Ride Me Down Easy sits nicely in country waltz style. Smooth vocals by Hefko and solid backing vocals give this track that something special. My favorite track on the release is Clarence and Spencer William's Ain't Gonna Give You Non O' My Jellyroll. Now I can't listen to this track without thinking of Sweet Emma Barrett and her perfect delivery of this track but delivered New Orleans jazz style with Hefko delivering on sax and clarinet, over the snappy drumming of Butler and piano wizardry of Welnick is mighty excellent! Ten Dollar Hat is a cool rocker with a "twist". Butler's drumming is bound to keep you bopping and Gambrell's trumpet is tight and Welnick's piano certain. Very cool. With a different level of composure, Stop Sayin' Unless sounds a bit like Little Feat with Lowell George like slide work under smooth vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Steve Goodman's City Of New Orleans done straight as Goodman wrote it. A solid radio track with a grand melody, Hefko has put together a terrific release.

  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”

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