From my days as a kid, there are two distinct things I can remember about my father's LP collection.  The first was that I didn't care much for the music and the other was that in spite of the first reason, I still enjoyed looking through them.  That's because back then, it was quite common to have a "pin up" type picture on the LP'S jacket.  Remember that?   Well, one look at the 'hot babes' all over the cover of "Like I Do", will tell you Kenny Tsak does.  However, this isn't about them, it's about the 'hot sounds' that can be found on the disc. 

 

    56 Deluxe consists of: AZ Kenny Tsak on Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars; Avery T. Horton, Jr. on Bass; James Holt on Piano & Keyboards; Frank Perez on Tenor Sax; and Andy "G" on Drums.  Additional musicians on several tracks include Joe Beard, Jr. on Drums and Bernie Rose on Piano, with special guest Joey Gilmore on Vocals & Guitar on "Stoop Down Baby". 

 

    At the opening of "Full Time Lover", the soft tapping of the symbols by Andy, and the way in which James was so delicately pressing the piano keys, my ears immediately perked up.  I could already tell this was going to be my kind of stuff....a real slow and very bluesy ballad.  A few seconds later, Kenny started singing some very slow and soulful lyrics followed by slow, scorching guitar riffs and this blues burner was in full progress.  Only two tracks in and I'm thinking I've already heard one of the best tracks on the disc.

 

    I don't think you'll hear too many 'Friends Of Bill W' saying "Now that we got sober, all the fun is over", or "There's 12 steps before I'm done, but none of them were very fun", but they do make for interesting lyrics on the very satirical (I hope) "12 Step Boogie".  Good hard driving beat on this one.

 

    With Joey Gilmore going toe to toe in a guitar duel with Kenny, it's obvious that "Stoop Down Baby" will feature the discs best guitar work.  It was a well fought battle with the listener being the winner.  These two, along with the rest of the band, smoked it on this one.     

 

    The rhythm is fierce on the very funky "Down South Florida".  With Avery at discs best on bass, Andy smokin' up the drums and Frank blowin' fire out of the tenor, this is one of the hotter tracks.  I'm sure the dancers love this one.

 

    Another hot track is Willie Dixon's "I Just Want To Make Love To You".  This one features more of Kenny's great guitar work, James doing his usually excellent work, but this time it's the organ he's lighting up, and a strong drum performance from Joe.

 

    The disc closes out with an all out free for all style jam on a track called "I'll Take You With Me".  It's a four minute musical melee featuring everyone raising hell and sounding like they're having a good time doing it.

 

    Other tracks on "Like I Do" include: "Like I Do", "Walkin' Shoes", "Blues Attitude", "My Tastee Cake" and "All It Takes".

 

    You can check Kenny out by going to www.56deluxe.com.  And don't let the 56 Deluxe Girls distract you.  Remember why you went there - to buy the disc....and to tell him his friend the Blewzzman sent ya.

 

    Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro

Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com