Boogie-Woogie
might sound like a silly name for a musical genre, but those who are
masters of it should be held in high praise. From Professor Longhair,
Otis Spann, and Duke Ellington to Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Allen
Toussaint, these Boogie-Woogie legends are responsible for some of the
finest music ever created. But even those icons would be hesitant to do
what Ontario-based legend Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has done with his
latest single “Try It Out.” A banjo, horns, Boogie-Woogie piano and a
funky ‘70s bass line should not work so well. But thankfully, Wayne
didn‘t listen, resulting in a refreshing, upbeat, and incredibly catchy
track.
“Try It Out,” from Wayne ‘s forthcoming album Ooh Yeah!,
opens with a gorgeous, funky bass line that sounds like it came direct
from New York ‘s Studio 54 nightclub. But that ‘s just a taste of what
‘s around the song ‘s corner. From there, a banjo emerges in the mix
with some intricate fingerpicking, bringing to mind Ricky Skaggs or
Billy Strings. The listener might do a double take at first but Wayne
and his fine ensemble of musicians find the majestic mojo to get this
single soaring before he ‘s finished delivering his initial lyrics. Add
horns into the already fine chorus, and the nearly 80-year-old Wayne is
steering this party-starting staple to its glorious, good-times
conclusion.
If “Try It Out” sounds this solid on Ooh Yeah!,
it is beyond anyone‘s expectations how much of a show-stopper this
single could be in concert. With the horns, banjo and Boogie-Woogie
finesse of Wayne, this tune could easily go on for far longer than its
current length of four minutes and thirty-six seconds.
As
if Wayne‘s career wasn‘t deep and intriguing enough with his vast
discography, “Try It Out” only adds another fine addition for the native
of Spokane, Washington, who moved a few times in his early years with
his family. Moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Wayne played
gospel music with the encouragement of his father, the Reverend Matthew
Spruell. An uncle would soon introduce the childhood prodigy to the
world of Boogie-Woogie and from that a new avenue of expression opened
up for Wayne.
A winner of a JUNO Award in 2006 for Best Blues Album
and several Maple Blues Awards over his career, Wayne in 2017 he was
inducted into the Boogie-Woogie Piano Hall of Fame while performing as
part of the Cincy Blues Festival. In 2023 he received the Bobby Blue Bland Lifetime Achievement Award from Atlanta‘s Jus Blues Music Foundation. And most recently was the winner of the 2024 Blues Music Award for ‘The Pinetop Perkins’ Piano Player of the Year as well as Living Blues Magazine‘s Keyboardist of the Year honor.
Performing
throughout Canada, the United States, and on various Blues Cruises,
Wayne released his last studio album in 2022 entitled Blues From Chicago to Paris: A Tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon.
In addition to these accolades, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has shared the
stage with a horde of legends including Pinetop Perkins, Johnnie
Johnson, and Floyd Dixon. He also worked with a bevy of rock
heavyweights including Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, the Doobie
Brothers and Delaney and Bonnie among others. It‘s no surprise then that
his nickname of “Blues Boss” is so accurate.
“Try It Out” is one of 12 great tracks from Wayne‘s Ooh Yeah!
which features great local guests including guitarist Jimmy Bowskill
and a great horn section from Quebec. The album is described as
“remarkably adventurous” as it “stretches the boundaries of
instrumentation for the blues.” Judging by how much oomph is packed in
“Try It Out,” listeners would be very fortunate and blessed to take
Kenny “Boss Blues” Wayne up on his suggestion.
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