MP3 Jay Ray - Texas Tongue Twister
Old and new school Blues
6 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Rockin'' Blues, ROCK: Roots Rock
Details:
Since 1996, Jay Ray has been recording and performing as a guitar sideman for Blues, Rock, and R & B acts on the East Coast. After receiving significant air play around New England with his Blues based act, Joker, the bad abruptly dissolved and Ray headed west.
After landing a U.S. Tour with an R & B vocal group, Ray started receiving calls from R & B sessions for MCA, Sony, and A & M. Many of these recordings turned into expensive demos or what Ray refers to as "skeet" records.
While slugging it out in the studio scene, Ray managed to lay the groundwork for his own recording. After much blood, sweat and toil, Jay Ray delivers TEXAS TONGUE TWISTER. Drawing from his early influences and his experience in the studio and on the road, Ray stirs up a boiling pot of Blues gumbo sure to satisfy even the fattest of the Blues cats.
~ Charles Allyn 2004
Texas Tongue Twister
Regal Records International T6872
With all the so-called "Rockin'' Blues" releases available, what makes Texas Tongue Twister worthy of considerable consideration? One need only spin this disc of sonic boom to experience Jay Ray''s self proclaimed "Blues with jet engines".
The opening track "Second Hand Love" is a straight-ahead Blues number that sets the tone in a traditional manner. After demonstrating his study of the old school, Ray launches into the new with "Get a Grip" - a hard driving shuffle complete with a flurry of six string jabs to the body and soul.
Once cruising altitude is achieved via the southwestern mesquite flavored "Alimoney", the scenery shifts as Ray lulls the listener into a melancholy soliloquy featuring a weeping Les Paul; full of the moans and cries that were recorded in an NHL sized Hockey arena.
"Uptown Yankee" and "Dance With Me" close the set, both maintaining the consistency with humorous tongue and cheek lyrics and jalapeno hot guitar solos. Though Ray tips his hat to his influences, he is in no danger of being lumped in with the new breed of Stevie Ray Wannabes, or faking the Folk Blues artists. All said, Texas Tongue Twister is exciting, emotional, and most of all fun. So saddle up and enjoy!
Yeeeha!
~ Tom Waylon
The Blues Courier