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Blues Underground Network |
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K.K. Martin "Naked Blues Volume
II"
The Blues has been a part of K.K.
Martin's life for a very long time, in fact you could say he was baptized
in the Blues before he was even born, as his mom loved listening to Jimmie
Rodgers and Robert Johnson, while he was waiting to make his appearance in
the world. At 10 years of age he was already touring with his parents and
by 16 he had already landed a brief tour of
duty in the Albert Collins backup band.
Over the years K.K. Martin
has performed with the best including "Eric Burdon, Booker T, Rick
Derringer, Johnny Winters, Blondie, and currently, Lester Chambers of
famed R&B/Soul group The Chambers Brothers", to name a few. In
1999 K.K. received the "Outstanding Blues Artist Award" at
the 9th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards.
Over the last decade K.K.
Martin began to concentrate even more on the Blues and in doing so
has recently released his second volume of Naked Blues. While he described
Volume I as being more related to paying homage to Traditional Delta
Blues, he created Volume II to "explore the connection
between Traditional and more Modern Blues Artists."
When you look at the cover of "Naked
Blues Volume II", there is nothing really fancy about it, just him
standing there with his guitar with the list of tracks taking up most of
the other side of the label, and in a way it sort of feels a little naked
for an Album cover and that is probably the point. You see I believe that
your talent has to shine in direct relation to how many members their is
in the group. The more members, the more slight mistakes can be somewhat
covered up. For "Naked Blues Volume II", K.K. Martin is however at the
other end of the spectrum, because there is just him, his guitar, and a
microphone, and thus his talent has to shine thru and shine thru brightly, and believe me, on this
Album, is does all that and more.
"Naked Blues Volume II" consists of
10 Tracks, in which K.K. runs the gamut of playing homage to both the
Past, and the Modern Masters of the Blues
which forged his foundation of that genre.
When listening to "Naked Blues Volume
II" you cannot be anything other then astonished, and not just
because of the fact that it is just K.K. singing and playing, but
also because of the fact that he is truly confident enough in his
talent, that he was willing to perform and interpret outstandingly
good songs from legends past and present and in doing so, he not only put
his special mark on them, but I am sure he has and would have
made the originators of the songs very proud.
From Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See
That My Grave Is Kept Clean" to Tom Waits' "No One Can Forgive Me", K.K.
Martin displays his outstanding knowledge, love, and
interpretive ability for the blues. Other greats honored on this
Album include Screamin' Jay Hawkins "Alligator Wine", Rory Gallagher
"Too Much Alcohol", Johnny Winter "Dallas", Gary Davis "Slow Motion
Daddy", Peter Green "Rattlesnake Shake", and Charlie Musselwhite
"Your Darkest Hour". Tom Waits gets a second of his songs added to this
Album via "Gin Soaked Boy". K.K. also pay tribute to his Grandmother,
by playing a song he learned from her when
he was a kid, called "Parish Blues".
Everything that is K.K. Martin comes
thru loud and clear on "Naked Blues Volume II" including his wonderful
vocals and magnificent guitar work. It is an Album of truly naked blues,
stripped down for all to witness, as vulnerable as a new born baby, yet as confidently
presented as only a seasoned master tradesman could have.
"Naked Blues Volume II" is an Album
that I thoroughly enjoyed and will continue to thoroughly enjoy listening
to. When it comes to the Blues, done, pretty well at it's rawest,
K.K. Martin surely knows how to deliver.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
Additional Info
Tracks
1.
Rattlesnake
Shake 2. Slow Motion
Daddy
3.
Too Much
Alcohol
4.
Gin Soaked
Boy
5.
Alligator
Wine
6.
Dallas
7.
Parish
Blues
8.
No One Can Forgive
Me
9.
See That My Grave Is Kept
Clean
10.
Your Darkest
Hour
Listen To Samples Here...
About K.K. Martin K.K. Martin was a founding member, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter for 80's-era band A La Carte. The group gained considerable renown as one of the most in-demand groups on the then-vibrant Sunset Strip music scene. Exposed in the womb to the music of Jimmie Rodgers, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, he began touring with his parents at age 10. K.K. was transplanted to California in 1969 and cut his teeth on the local L.A. rock scene at age 16, landing a brief stint with the Albert Collins backup band. Martin has performed with a Who's-Who in the music business including Eric Burdon, Booker T, Rick Derringer, Johnny Winters, Blondie, and currently, Lester Chambers of famed R&B/Soul group The Chambers Brothers. K.K. was a recipient of "Outstanding Blues Artist" at the 9th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards in 1999. In the last decade, Louisiana native Martin has reconnected with his Blues roots. He toured with Lester Chambers of the 60's Chambers Brothers fame, recording a project with Lester called "Blues for Sale". Martin has continued to play extensively throughout L.A. and Orange County as a solo act, recently performing at the First Annual Real Blues Festival of Orange County this past October. Most recently, Martin recently performed and was interviewed on Hollywood TV show Actors E Chat, where he is presently in the show's Top Ten Favorites list (click on link to watch segment). Moving forward, K.K. was the Featured Artist on American Veterans Radio the week of February 13-20, 2011. K.K. Martin plays the Blues as it was meant to be heard; a man, a microphone and a guitar. Websites: http://www.reverbnation.com/kkmartin http://www.myspace.com/fretjocky http://www.facebook.com/kkmartinplaystheblues
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