When I saw him perform only a few weeks ago, it became clear to me that Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne may dress like a pimp but he plays like a world-class entertainer. His boogie-woogie piano style, certainly patented by others, is unique in its approach and execution. With a distinct flair, solid hooks, and flanked by an army of guest musicians, Wayne's album 88th & Jump Street serves notice to his contemporaries that he's joining the party.
The album is a primal celebration of rock and blues and doesn't actually have any weak cuts. As is so often the case, the songs on the CD are shorter than they would normally be when played live, which means the solo sections are far too brief. Otherwise though, Wayne's original compositions bounce when they need to bounce, and moan aloud when the blues come a callin'.
"My Nadine" is the leadoff track, and it's certainly one of the more buoyant ventures on the album. Chuck Berry is obviously an influence here, although, to my knowledge, Mr. Rock and Roll never had lyrics about Playboy magazines in his verses. There's also a splash of Little Richard too, with all the flash and pizzazz, but without the intermittent high-pitched squeals. On the contrary, Wayne's vocal range is low and earthy, but soulful all the same. "River of No Return" has the choral reach of a James Brown classic, and "With These Hands" calls to mind the great Fats Domino.
The "Blues Boss" writes all but one of the album's dozen tracks, the exception being the gritty but spry cover of "Whiskey Heaven" which features a super fade-out ending. Frequently, the lyrics are tongue and cheek, as with the energized "My New Gal" or the overtly suggestive "Going Down South". A song like "Laughing Stock" is necessarily comprised of simplistic lyrics to counter-balance the murky blues he conjures from the depths. The title track is a peppy instrumental, and brings to mind Oliver Jones's phenomenal "Tippin' Home from Sunday School".
Some of the guests on 88th & Jump Street read like a who's who of emerging bluesmen. Guitar whiz Jeff Healey stops by on a few tracks, as does former Muddy Waters drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Throw in a dash of harmonica great Dave "Hurricane" Hoerl, guitarist Mel Brown (who does some fine work on "Laughing Stock") and bassist Bob Stroger, and you've got a jam gang to be reckoned with.
I've intentionally compared Wayne's style to other artists not to take away from the quality of his material, but rather to emphasize that he can hold his own with the others. To the best of my knowledge, he only has one or two other CD's under his belt. However, don't let that combination of his progressive age and his lack of available recordings deceive you: the "Blues Boss" is clearly just getting started.
