Hootie Blues by Jay McShann

14 Mar

Written by Jessica Rae Cortez
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Jay McShann's Hootie Blues contains mostly fast playing piano -- more 'Hootie Jazz' than anything. "Yes Sir That's My baby" is instrumental but McShann makes available to the listener the penned title, hence, giving the vocals to whomever is captivated. Later, McShann does the same thing in "Deed I Do"; this is how he pulls in his audience, and he does it with such be-bop swift. McShann speaks the most in "When the Lights Go Out": "Love to watch you when you walk that walk/love to hear you when you talk that talk/you know exactly what I'm talking about/when the lights go out." He has every reason to swoon those females, and does so eloquently in "My Chile" as well. One can see McShann strolling along in Chile, shouting "Baby, Hi. Don’t you hear me calling you?" McShann slows down the pace of his record with "I'll Catch the Sun and I'll Never Give It Back" and one can imagine he is still trying to win that Grammy in which he was nominated for "Goin' to Kansas City." It is a true blues hoot, more so than any of the other be-bop songs on the album. It makes for a fitting break.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Jay McShann
CD Title: Hootie Blues
Genre: Traditional / New Orleans
Year Released: 2006
Record Label: Stony Plain Records
Tracks: Confessin’ The Blues, Yes Sir That’s My Baby, When The Lights Go Out, Hootie Blues, My Chile, I’ll Catch The Sun, All Of Me, Deed I Do, BONUS TRACK- 24 minute interview with Jay McShann.
Musicians: Jay McShann (piano, vocal), Jim Galloway (tenor, soprano sax), Rosemary Galloway (acoustic bass), Don Vickery (drums).
Label Website: http://www.stonyplainrecords.com
Rating: Four Stars