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Ross William Perry
Mar. 21, 1999
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
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When most were finishing up with church, eating Sunday brunch, running errands, or completing household chores, I was at The Bayou on highway 10 in Ramsey, rockin' to The Ross William Perry Band. Ross William Perry did not require an evening sky to jam under with powerful emotion, on that sunny mid-March afternoon. However, this was no ordinary gig for Ross, it was a small milestone for him in his music career. This was Ross William Perry's first release party for his new CD; "It'll All Make Sense."
Section 30, a talented, alternative rock band warmed up the stage and crowd. Then Ross William Perry's fingers danced, slid, and sweetly shuffled the blues for the next few hours, across the neck of his Strat, making it talk, wail, moan and cry with undoubted passion.
The Bayou was packed, and the seats were filled with family, friends, and fans. It did not matter the age, Ross's CD release party was opened to all ages, from the very young to the old. His music vibrated the bar room with dynamic blues energy that left you feeling satisfied.
Ross's voice was stronger on this day, than the previous times I have heard him. He resonated with the strong, raspy rhythm of a seasoned blues man. It was difficult to believe that under a black rimmed hat, a nineteen year old played with amazing talent. Ross performed some late Stevie Ray Vaughan, such as, "Mary Had A Little Lamb," "Pride and Joy," and "Superstition." He also played some Albert Collins, as well as performed a few songs which he wrote himself, "In The Shadows," and one of my favorites, "Tribute." I especially enjoyed watching Ross play with intensity, putting his heart and soul into every note he picked and strummed. When he played, I could almost see two musing shadows of the guitar legends, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix, playing by his side.
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Ross William Perry
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
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I could hear how Vaughan and Hendrix have influenced Ross's style, and tears welled up in my eyes when I heard him play"Tribute," live for the first time. It's a compelling dedication he wrote in memory of them, respectfully taking some of their style, and adding a piece of his soul to create a captivating blues melody. It's a tune which vibrates deep within, making you feel each note. Whenever I have watched Ross play, I am intrigued at how fast his fingers move. Several times I had to look to see if he had more than five fingers, because the way he plays, one would think more than five would be necessary.
Because of all the passion and dedication Ross puts into his music, I asked him if he could describe what it feels like when he plays. Ross replied, "Sometimes when I am playing it takes all of my concentration and focus, because there might be a number of things that are going wrong. Such as sound and equipment problems. Some nights are harder than the others, but when I have a night when I don't think about what I am doing, it just flows from me, just like breathing. Those are the nights I play for. The feeling you get when everything clicks cannot be described, and becomes very addictive. That's why I love to play!"
I have had a chance to listen to Ross's new CD, and have played it many times since. His CD is a great collection of what he calls, "The Power Blues." And instead of pulling me down, his lyrics inspire. My two favorites are on track eight and nine,"Cold Wind," and of course,"Tribute."
I love to listen and watch Ross William Perry play. He is someone you should check out if you haven't already. Also, his newly released CD by Kidblue Productions,"It'll All Make Sense" is one you will definitely have to add to your blues collection.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Mia Barker, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.