Bryan Austin
This CD features the hit, "Inflation Wolf".
Bryan Austin is a singer-songwriter born and reared in St. Louis, MO where he first started to develop as a singer. Bryan later moved to Los Angeles to expand his development. In Los Angeles, Bryan studied under Dini Clark (who coached such talents as Al Jareau, Roberta Flack and Peobo Bryson) and under Bob Corff (1st Jesus in Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar). Some of Bryan's Los Angeles successes include a brief contract with Redd Foxx Productions, appearances at the Comedy Store, Sahara Hotel - Las Vegas and many, many other venues. After 17 years in Los Angeles, Bryan returned to his native St. Louis where he worked with some of St. Louis' finest musical talents, e.g., Oliver Sain and Ike Turner. Bryan has recorded for over 20 years and is recognized internationally and is often compared to some of R & B's best (Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson, Stylistics, etc.). Bryan has been encouraged to rerelease this CD because do to the state of the economy, "Inflation Wolf" has been rediscovered.If you haven't listen to it in a while, give it another listen and see where it takes you.
>Bryan Austin teases audience with killer EP
>By M. Francis Solomon
>
>Bryan Austin
>I make no apologies-I'm pretty much ol' school when it comes to soul, R&B
>and blues. I grew up in a time singers sounded and acted like singers
>instead of runway models. True, I listen to my fair share of modern stuff,
>hip hop, some pop and rock, even a fair share of "alternative" country
>such as The Court & Spark and Wilco, but when it comes to soul, R&B or
>blues, make mine ol' school! Give me some folks who really know how to
>sing and not just moan through their nasal passages.
>
>For a long time, I thought real soul singing was a lost art, but in recent
>months, I've had a number of very pleasant surprises-most recently in the
>form of a killer four-song EP by St. Louis native Bryan Austin.
>
>I've been familiar with Austin's work for a number of years now, thanks
>primarily to some stunning demos that came my way via soul songwriting
>legend and performer Frank-O Johnson and an album of classic soul covers
>released by Austin several years ago. Needless to say, I was very
>impressed. After all, how many singers today have the wherewithal-and
>talent-to stand up and blow convincingly through an Eddie Kendricks
>classic without fumbling? Austin can. Like the Motown icon, Austin is
>blessed with a high, silky smooth voice-maybe not quite as high as
>Kendricks' but, in some ways (allow me to be a bit blasphemous here) maybe
>a bit smoother and, dare I say it, even more natural. Austin is the type
>of singer who could have stepped in front of a lot of groups back in the
>day, the Delfonics or Stylistics for instance. But, he's also got
>tremendous depth. As sweet as his voice is, he easily wrangles some
>rock-shattering power out of it without losing one bit of the phenomenal
>control that puts him among the top ranks of today's soul singers. Austin
>embodies the best of what made soul the music of choice in the genre's
>golden age of the past, but the good thing is, he's here today, doing it
>in fine fashion.
>
>Austin starts off this little teaser of a set with "Inflation Wolf," a
>politically, timely piece about a fairy tale monster come alive. It's the
>big bad wolf himself in the garb of inflation. Austin has composed a set
>of clever, biting lyrics:
>
>"The wolf is at my door, huffing and puffing at me/I went to my friends
>for help/They didn't have a dime to spare. If I can't afford to the
>music/How and the heck am I going to dance?/With that wolf/The inflation
>wolf is around my door. He's the meanest critter I've ever seen."
>
>And, if the opening growl of the wolf doesn't scare you, the groove, which
>is one of the nastiest funk outings you'll ever hear, certainly will.
>Devastating bass and wailing wah-wah guitars with a wicked clavinet and a
>punchy horn arrangement will get your heart pumping hard. Look for this to
>be the title track on Austin's next full length album.
>
>Austin follows up with "Yearnin'," a tune he says he wrote in the late
>'80s. Maybe it's just a touch of nostalgia, but this one sounds like
>something the late Rick James would have killed to get on his classic
>"Street Songs" album. Again, it's a mean funk groove, this time punctuated
>by a razor sharp clean rhythm guitar. Austin, of course, sings his tail
>off, as he always does.
>
>He chooses an Ashford and Simpson classic, "Shoe Shine," for the next
>track. A lovely little ballad, it's a perfect showcase for the singer's
>tender side. And, he excels here, giving the old song a fresh, but proper
>reading. The arrangement is also sweet.
>
>Austin closes the set with another classic, a funky dance reworking of the
>Eddie Floyd hit, "Knock On Wood," funking it up for a modern audience but
>without damaging the integrity the tune. It's another great vehicle for
>his talents and, in his hands, is the kind of tune that could turn out the
>house during a live gig.
>
>Well, the only thing I can do now is sit back and wait for the full-length
>version of this album, which is certain to be a monster-and hope that ol'
>inflation wolf stays at bay so I can afford to pick up a copy and dance to
>some great singing and music by a true soulster.
New Music News on the Scene
On The Scene is Music from Bryan Austin
A very fine voices that has a range you would not believe the Album just in to The Block Party Can't Stop Dreaming The Best of Bryan Austin and It just doesn't get any better. The CD has so Classic remakes on it but with Bryan's smooth
voice belting out a different silk-like style. My favorite on the CD Shoe - Shoe Shine take me back to a time that now I wish I could go back to after listening to his unmistable style. But like everything you can only go back in your mind.Also the first track ,The INTERVIEW is one that Bryan Show Must
Love to a Good,Good Friend of mine and his and I say that
because in this world you do NOT run in to many True Friends .
And M J Rasool was just that he's gone from us but not forgotten
BRYAN AUSTIN
Can¹t Stop Dreaming
(US Art-Tist un-numbered)
Interview; You Make Me Feel Brand New; Inflation Wolf; Yearnin¹; The Girl¹s Alright With Me; My Love; Knock On Wood (+ reprise); Aria; Shoe Shoe Shine; The Bump; I¹ll Love You Tomorrow
This is sub-titled ŒBest Of...¹, doubtless because it reprises the deftly-arranged, tuneful ballads, ŒMy Love¹ and ŒI¹ll Love You Tomorrow¹, plus the forceful, funky dancer, ŒThe Bump¹ from his ŒStill Dreamin¹¹ set of 2000. Bryan never shies away from covers and he can afford to be confident in their making; his falsetto treatment of the Dynamic Superiors¹ ŒShoe Shoe Shine¹ is taking off on US radio stations and has received commendation from the song¹s composers, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. It¹s definitely a personal highlight. The arrangement of the Stylistics¹ ŒYou Make Me Feel Brand New¹, brought very much up-to-date and on which Austin takes on the voices of all group members, is to be particularly commended, especially the thundrous opening, which rather shoots me in the foot for my consistent, negative comments about programming! There¹s a further cover in a reverent take on the Temptations¹ ŒThe Girls Alright With Me¹ and it¹s only with the two cuts of ŒKnock On Wood¹ - one with Oliver Sain on sax - that I think the arranger tries too hard to be different and ultimately creates a mess. The funky, sound-effect packed ŒInflation Wolf¹ is another cut that has found enormous favour with US radio stations and ŒYearnin¹¹ too keeps things hard-hitting. Two less than one-minute tracks also feature here: the opener, ŒInterview¹, introduces Bryan via Nashville¹s WFSK radio but ŒAria¹, an excerpt from a recital at the St. Louis Conservatory for the Arts, seems totally out of place here.
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I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Bryan Austin perform, at our
church. I am an actor/director for many local church and community
productions.
There is only 1 reason that I bring this up. Very few times do I meet
someone, whether they be actor or singer, that put everything they have
into,
whatever they do. Bryan Austin, does just that. He puts everything
into his performances. He has a passion that is very refreshing to see.
I would recommend that anyone who has a chance to witness this man
perform, they should jump at the chance. They will see what singing
should be,
a heart and soul experience. He has a stage presence and voice that
makes the listener, want to go willingly on the journey of the soul,
with him.
Give that man, 5 out of 5 stars.
Michael W.
Crowley
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