Kay Kay and The Rays are an Odessa, Texas-based blues combo with a sound that incorporates elements of blues, soul, gospel, jazz and rock into a unique stew of musical design. Singer Kay Kay Greenwade, a singer with strong gospel roots, was persuaded to join the band in 1998 and in 1999, the band assumed its current name, Kay Kay and The Rays.
Kay Kay and The Rays current CD release on Cat Food Records is entitled, Big Bad Girl and is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2001 release, Texas Justice, produced by none other and Johnny Rawls. Big Bad Girl makes use of another well known producer, this time Grammy Award winner, Jim Gaines. Accompanying Greenwade on the CD is her talented group of seasoned Texas musicians including Steve Lott (guitar), Bob Trenchard (bass), Dan Ferguson (keyboards), Andy Roman (sax), with drumming duties shared by J. T. Paz and Tommy Taylor.
All twelve songs on Big Bad Girl are originals, with 10 of the 12 co-written by Greenwade, along with Bob Trenchard, Steve Lott and/or Dan Ferguson. The only two songs where Greenwade does not share writing credit are “Love Of My Life” and “Southside of the Tracks,” co-authored by Dan Ferguson and Bob Tranchard. Trenchard is credited as the co-writer on all 12 songs. One notable feature of many of the songs is the fact that they cover topics that focus on long standing personal issues (listen to the words on “No Mama’s Boys” and “Cheater”), as well as issues of current concern regarding the behavior of corporate America and our government leaders, as exemplified by “Enron Field” and “Southside of the Tracks.”
Songs include excellent guitar work by Steve Lott, versatile sax fills and solos by Andy Roman and Kay Kay’s excellent, expressive vocals. You can feel her pain when she talks about her man being gone for three hours to pickup a pack of cigarettes in “Cheater.” On the other side of the coin, Kay Kay warns against any man hooking up with a “Big Bad Girl” on the song of the same name.
Greenwade’s disgust is evident when she talks in “Enron Field” about the crimes perpetrated at Enron (described as “the crooked E”). The pointed lyrics suggest that if you rob a convenience store you will do hard time, but steal millions from the unsuspecting public and all you will get is a fine. Other songs with pointed lyrics and delivery include the gospel tinged “Stop the Killing” and the funkified “Southside of the Tracks,” with its reference to a certain presidential father and son from Texas who never have been seen on the south side of the tracks.
Kay Kay and The Rays is a band that begs for greater national attention and Big Bad Girl has the potential to be a vehicle for a broadened interest in their Texas-bred sound. To find out more about Kay Kay and The Rays and for links to where you can pick up their recording, visit their website at www.kaykaysblues.com.
Buy this CD NOW:
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
"This review is copyright © 2004 by Dave "Doc" Piltz, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission."
Copyright reuse notice: If you would like to reprint or use this review please include the above copyright notice, contained within the quotation marks, PLUS this statement: "Used with permission." Then send an email to Ray at: mnblues@aol.com indicating how you are using the review or the website page address it will be appearing on. Thanks!
Your purchase through the Amazon.com links at the end of each review, or by simply clicking on this banner (below) to order this or many other products from Amazon, helps to support this website as well as the featured blues artist.
Click on this banner to get you new low percent credit card:
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!
Web Hosting & Design:
CLICK HERE for Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $75.
The most affordable web hosting and design services available. Click Here
to find out how you can host your current site at Blues On Stage, or how I can help you design your own website!
If you would like your CD reviewed, please send TWO (2) copies, along with promotional material to:
Blues On Stage
PO Box 582983
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2983
E-mail Ray Stiles @ mnblues@aol.com with any questions.