I give this CD, my highest rating, Five *****
Excellent CD... Thoroughly enjoyed it... Highly Recommended...
With a voice that sounds like a cross between Long John
Baldry and Motorhead's Lemmy, and a band that is really, second to none, AZ Kenny
Tsak with 56 Deluxe, not only Rock and Roll you with their newest release,
"Like I Do", but they also give you a damn good lesson when it
comes to the Blues.
From the opening chords to the final notes, "Like I
Do" oozes a confidence that can only come when everyone involved is
firing on all 8 pistons.
Combines traditional blues with a classic rock swagger, embodying a unique mastery of styles and exuding passion that electrifies listeners with
fiery fretwork and kick ass sounds.
56 Deluxe, a band well known on the East Coast that make American Music, a breathtaking combination of Rock, Blues & Country, continues their meteoric rise to the top under the direction of lead vocalist and guitarist AZ Kenny Tsak. Featuring master bass player Avery T. Horton, Jr., 56 Deluxe regularly tours Southern Arizona & the East coast, exciting listeners with a smokin’ hot blend of sounds that satisfies the souls of music lovers everywhere with styles ranging from slow, moving blues to the fiery Texas- style rockin’ fretwork that electrifies audiences.
Now, loyal fans and new listeners can experience all the excitement of the band’s live performances with the new CD, “Like I Do." Including nine original songs written and performed by 56 Deluxe and two cover songs, fans fully anticipate “Like I Do” will bring 56 Deluxe long-awaited national recognition.
A SPECIAL BONUS TRACK features award-winning bluesman Joey Gilmore in a duet with AZ Kenny Tsak performing "Stoop Down Baby."
This release of “Like I Do” also launches the band’s latest creative endeavor, "The 56 Deluxe Girls.” These outrageously hot young babes were selected through a National Contest to support the band at live shows and promotional events. Their next sizzling project will be The 56 Deluxe Girls Calendar where future beauties will have a shot to be nationally and internationally featured in the band’s calendar.
CD Baby
BlueNotes is not know for being an impulsive guy. Just the addition of a shirt to the wardrobe can bring sweaty palms and intense anxiety: The black shirt, or the other black shirt? Lawdy Miss Clawdy, what to do?
But a new and bluesy CD is another matter. A new album arrived recently, by AZ Kenny Tsak, an artist previously unknown to the entire BlueNotes staff (me and HoneyBoy). About 30 seconds into the first track, I impulsively realized that this fine and rocking, rollicking bluesy music just had to be shared.
Tsak is some kind of roadhouse-flavored bluesy rock and country guy, with a tough little band around him that swings behind sharp guitar work, driving bass, keyboards that roll like the river, and sax that's lusty to the point of
embarrassment. What more could BlueNotes ask? Well ... there is that. But let me not digress too much here.
The album, "Like I Do," is the first venture of Tsak and his band, 56 Deluxe (a 56 Deluxe Production). It's not the first music they've ever made -- Tsak was a D.C. area player, but gave up music in 1981, until he re-emerged in 2005 as 56 Deluxe, performing in Arizona and Florida, which seems to be his home base now.
Tsak plays tough guitar, writes tough songs, sings with an even tougher voice, and the band plays fine and tough music that gives you rock, blues and some country all with passion and abandon.
The title track, which is also the first track (why doesn't everybody do that?) kicks off with a raw sax intro that keeps on backing the vocal with call-and-response fervor, then takes a soaring solo that leads into crisp, mean guitar, that flows back into the tough vocal. Nothing profound here (other than the profoundness of intensely pleasurable music) The piano asserts itself on "Full Time Lover," (which has a killer guitar solo), but really kicks in alongside raunchy sax on "Walkin' Shoes." "12 Step Boogie," a rye lament about a booze-less life shuffles along, and then "Stoop Down Baby" adds raunchy lyrics to the raunchy music mix -- something for everybody here. It rocks from start to finish.
If there were a college course called "Blues 101" Kenny Tsak would most certainly get an A++. His debut album "Like I Do" is a classic showcase of classic blues guitar riffs and themes perfect for a night out with the gang or relaxing at home. Kenny Tsakanikis, actually his real name,
has a classic blues voice that brings to mind visions of a smoky roadside blues bar. His style is easy to swallow and simple and he does not deviate from the standard guitar riffs. His use of Vintage Fender Stratocasters, Vintage Gibson Firebirds, Vintage Fender Bassman and Vintage Analog effects makes the music perfect for live performances.
Highlights of the album include "Like I Do", the album title track and "Stoop Down Baby", a duet with Joey Gilmore. In fact, Kenny considers Joey a major influence on his music and is very close to him. In a MySpace interview, Kenny states:
"...last year 56 Deluxe Productions produced and recorded Joey Gilmore's Bluesman CD at JBP studios in Wilton Manors we both used the same engineer "Joe Beard Jr.".....its one of those all in the family things.....Joey and I are managed by the same company ...we do many shows together..... he plays on one track with me on the "Like I Do" CD track #6 ..a Chick Willis tune... I call Joey My Blues Father....we are close friends..."
My personal favorite..."12 Step Boogie" is a humorous track about Alcoholics Anonymous through the eyes of a frustrated drunk as he states: "Now that we got sober...All the fun is over!"
Kenny says his decision to pick blues as a genre is a combination of several factors:
"Most of the early Rolling Stones or even Grand Funk and including Led Zeppelin
they all modeled their music from the blues...Aka Muddy Waters / Robert Johnson etc ...just slightly ramped up
But the first time I heard "Johnny Winter" ...I became a student of his sound and guitar work, then I watched "Freddie King" live on TV at the Rose bowl and I was hooked as they say "hook ,line and sinker" ....Rock music is a derivative of Blues roots music......
I have a tendency to venture into the rock edge in my work .....but Blues is what makes me tick and is my real passion....its hits deep into the soul and it can described in many ways but to me its "from the gut"
Blues is "American Music" and it is our heritage .....it will be with us forever."
This is the debut release from Kenny Tsak and 56 Deluxe and was listed as number 39 in top new releases from "Real Blues" Magazine. It is sure a rocker and a must for any blues lover's record collection!
Tracklist
1. Like I Do 3:55
2. Full Time Lover 5:19
3. Walkin\' Shoes 4:12
4. Blues Attitude 4:12
5. 12 Step Boogie 3:17
6. Stoop Down Baby 3:58
7. Down South Florida 4:06
8. I Just Wanna Make Love to You 5:21
9. My Tastee Cake 2:57
10. All It Takes 3:25
11. I'll Take You with Me 5:32
Few musicians emerge with an artistry so intense it can almost create a new genre. AZ Kenny Tsak has done just that. Plowing a path between the rootsy and the revolutionary, Kenny combines Country and Blues with a classic rock swagger, exuding passion in a live performance that electrifies audiences, from Albert Collins to Johnny Winter and ZZ Top.
Embodying all the signatures of a truly great artist, Kenny lights up stages across the country with his blazing fretwork, assisted by the 56 Deluxe band, featuring formidable bass player Avery T. Horton , Jr. His blazing fretwork hypnotizes fans, as Kenny plays from the heart with feeling, soul and emotion, embodying a unique mastery of styles and demonstrating a true passion that cannot be attained through lessons, but from a deep love of the craft. Ask any audience member, and they will tell you Kenny is a guitar thriller who excites his listeners each and every time he plays a tune.
Kenny has had the honor of sharing the stage with many of today's recognized National artists.
Sampling of Past Performances and Accomplishments:
2008 Vietnam Veteran's "Nam Jam"
2008 AZ Kenny Tsak chosen by South Florida Blues Society for their "Guitar Showcase"
2008 The Whisky "Rootsfest"
2008 Bisbee Blues Festival
2008 Pima County Fair
2008 Jack Daniel's Hog Rally
2008 Guest appearances W/ National acts on The Legendary Rhythm and Blues cruise
2007 Fox Channel 11 finalist Music Melee Tucson
2007 Performed with National Act, Joey Gilmore in Fort Lauderdale
2007 Tucson Blues Festival
2007 Finalist Phoenix Blues Society Showdown
2007 Finalist in Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation Blues Showdown
2007 Tucson Thunder Hog Rally
2006 Finalist in Phoenix Blues Society Blues Showdown
2006 Finalist in Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation Blues Showdown
Bisbee Blues Festival 2008 - AZ Kenny Tsak & 56 Deluxe
