Rockin' R&B with horns, harmony and a whole lot of soul.

14 MP3 Songs
BLUES: Rhythm & Blues, GOSPEL: Contemporary Gospel



Details:
Like a golden retriever's first steps out of the ocean, listening to 'This Road' will give you the irresitible urge to shake it. On the hardwood at the Cottage Bistro the regulars call it 'getting jiggy'. And 'get jiggy' you will by just cranking up this latest offering from the Kingpins. This band has been filling dance floors for years, and at the same time filling aficionado's ears with some mighty fine tunes. Anchored by the classical voice, or more appropriately, voices of Big Hank Lionheart, the Kingpins have come out from under the covers to belt out a
well-crafted collection of originals written entirely by the band members. Treaded throughout this R&B tapesty are
personal and west-coast reflections, particulary 'The Yale' - a tribute to Vancouver's Home of the Blues, where the band is regularly featured.

From Steve Cross' slick slide work on 'Blind Date' to Steve Ranta's B3 break on 'Dealin' with the Devil', each of the players get time in the spotlight to show their chops. Just like their live shows, the songs here are driven by the solid bass and lyric lines of blues stalwart Jack Lavin with drummer Daryl Bennett, creating a foundation of rock-solid rythyms that you can tell the rest of the band have a damn good time building on. Check out Wayne Kozak and Jerry Cook trading sax riffs on 'Night Cat' backed by the Louisiana-laced trumpet of Terry Townsend.

The Kingpins are here to make you shake it, so keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on 'This Road'.

-- Ronnie Bee, November, 2005