Steve Kozak’s WestCoast Blues Revue
"Hoot 'N Holler"
Reviews
If gratitude had a sound it would be the sonic thread that swings through every track of this latest offering from Vancouver blues guitar institution Steve Kozak. Honest appreciation oozes out of every solo and lyric of ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’, Steve’s primarily self-penned album.
Following his brush with mortality in early 2006, Steve and his family were witness to the generosity of the open-hearted Vancouver Blues community during an August 2006 benefit at The Yale. This outpouring of support and affection inspired him to transform his own personal blues into a hard-working, 13 song expression of gratitude.
From the title track that springs to life with a ‘just happy to still be here’ feel, to Steve’s tribute to wife Sue on ‘Girl Of My Dreams’, it’s an infectious, hand-crafted swinging blues that makes you want more. Embracing his latest favourite saying “…there’s no fun like the fun we’re having now…” Steve’s distinctive guitar style has a new lively lilt – just check his solo work on the instrumental ‘Rollin’ With Brother D’.
But all this couldn’t have happened without helping hands along the way. Recorded live off the floor in two days, thanks go out to a stable of great players and long-time musical friends noted here. Special thanks go to engineer/mixer Ken Burke of Burkeville Sound and long-time friend, co-writer and producer Jack Lavin who also took the time to sit in with Steve on their roots feel collaboration ‘It Didn’t Happen That Way’ featuring Jack on the harp.
This album is a musical story about hard work, survival and perseverance. And if there’s such a thing as the blues with a happy ending Steve has captured it here for all of us to ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’ about and be grateful for.
Ronnie Bee July 2007
Steve Kozak is the singer/song writer, guitarist and band leader of Vancouver’s WestCoast Blues Revue. The groove is what Blues music is all about and Steve has rounded up some of the best in the West to play his brand of Swingin’ West Coast Blues. From traditional Chicago style Blues to deep Texas Shuffles, Rockin’ American Roots Music to West Coast Jump Blues, Steve and his WestCoast Blues Revue deliver the goods here on his brand new recording Hoot ‘N Holler.
Hoot ‘N Holler offers up 13 tracks featuring ten original songs written by Steve and three cover songs that reflect and pay tribute to some of his favorite influences.
Recorded during a year, and following, Kozak’s close brush with mortality;
Hoot ’N Holler is a celebration of love, life, good times, gratitude, and survival.
Produced by Jack Lavin, this album’s 13 tracks were recorded and mixed to reproduce the sound of a live performance. Playing live off the floor and using a minimum amount of gimmicks, overdubs and effects this recording reflects what you will hear when you see this band performing their shows live.
With an always fluid and flexible line up of musicians, Kozak draws from a top flight stable of players to perform with The WestCoast Blues Revue.
This same group of talented musicians appears on various tracks with Steve on this CD.
*Brian ‘Sechelt Red’ McFadyen: Harmonica.
*Dave ‘Lil’ Otis’ Webb: Piano and Hammond B-3.
*‘The Ever Steady’ Trevor Newman: Fender bass.
*James ‘Hollywood Jimmie’ Badger: Drums.
* Ken ‘Bull fiddle’ Wilson: Doghouse bass.
With special guest appearance by: *Jack Lavin: playing harmonica on It Didn’t Happen That Way a song he co-wrote with Steve as well as two other tracks. Jack also sang on all of the back up vocal tracks.
*Connie Andersen: back up vocals.
Recommended listening would include; the title track #1 Hoot ‘N Holler, Trk. #3 Girl of My Dreams Trk. #4 It Didn’t Happen That Way, Trk. # 10 Right on Time. For a good heartfelt slow Blues, try Trk. # 8 Almost Bought the Farm or their traditional show closing tune and final track, Leavin’ Time.
Nothing heals the body mind and soul like the music. Everybody Hoot ‘N Holler and have yourselves a real good time.
Bio
Vancouver born Steve Kozak is a Blues man through and through. His guitar and vocal styles could only come from a man who has lived every word he sings and every note he plays.
No newcomer to Vancouver’s Blues scene, Steve has been playing guitar and singing his honest style of “working man’s” Blues in and around Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest for well over two decades. For the past seven years he has hosted one Vancouver’s most popular Blues Jam Sessions at the Cottage Bistro on Main Street.
Steve’s musical path was affected and deeply inspired at an early age by a memorable meeting in 1977 with Blues legend Muddy Waters. He stuck with his passion for the Blues and has worked hard to become a very capable singer/song writer and a talented Blues guitarist and entertainer.
Kozak first made his mark in his early twenties and was noticed by Blues fans and his musical peers playing around Vancouver as a member of a band called Bad Habits. In 1991 Steve was the winner of ‘The Battle of the Blues Guitars’ at Vancouver’s renowned Blues venue, The Yale. Since then he has worked with some of the best Blues bands in the Vancouver area playing guitar for 2006 Juno and Maple Blues Award winner, Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne, the, Juno nominated, Twisters, V.P. and The Hammerheads, and The R&B King Pins.
Throughout his career Steve has shared the stage and played with many Blues greats including; Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Duskin, Sonny Rhodes, Eddie ‘The Chief’ Clearwater, Rick Estrin of Little Charlie and The Night Cats, ‘Ice Pick’ James Harman and Evan Johns.
In 1999 Steve formed the WESTCOAST BLUES REVUE featuring a tight and solid line up of talented Vancouver Blues musicians who share a keen interest in playing hard hitting authentic Blues.
This band delivers red hot swingin’ jump Blues, deep Texas style shuffles and hard rockin’ roots music. Their sound is drenched with plenty of gritty guitar, heartfelt vocals, fat harmonica tones, and a solid and ever steady rhythm section.
What you will get from Steve and his band is infectious, soulful and honest, working mans music. “You can feel the drive, dirt and sweat in every note they play and sing whenever you see them perform.”
The perfect prescriptions for folks who love to party and dance all night long to some great house rockin’ music!
Steve and his band have just released his brand new CD entitled ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’. This album is Kozak’s third release and his first featuring almost entirely original material. Ten of the thirteen tracks included were written by Steve with one track being co-written with long time friend and producer Jack Lavin.
This new album is a celebration of love, life, survival and good times. It was recorded in a manner to best reflect the energy and feel of a live performance of the band where ever they perform.
April 14, 2007 @ The Yale Vancouver BC
Willie MacCalder keys, Steve Kozak on guitar, Jack Lavin on bass with Jerry Adolphe on the kit.
