If anyone wondered if Ron Hendee could sing, they'd best get this new CD. Ron is a BB Award-winning trumpet player, but he's not as well known for his work as a songwriter or singer. I'm sure that many national artists would have loved to have written some of Ron's songs first, but they came from Ron's life. As a result, he's had the advantage in saying it all in song before, and better than anyone. His originals include "It Works If You Work It", "Sweet Sixteen" (from a father's perspective in today's society), "Pass It On", "You're Just Mean", "Monkey Hips", and "My Little Boogaloo" (written for Eden Brent). In addition to these solid originals, Ron includes classics like "Statesboro Blues", "The Thrill Is Gone", "Who Is He (and what is he to you?)", and "Kissin' My Love. Ron has performed professionally since the age of 14 in a career that has included Kansas City and Seattle. He has appeared on stage with The Tommy Castro Band, Marcia Ball, Bernard Allison, Elvin Bishop, the late Chico Banks, Eden Brent, The Low Rider Band, Dr. John and Northwest Bands such as The Randy Oxford Band, The Bill Mattocks Band, Little Bill & The Bluenotes, Patti Allen, Polly O'keary, The Springfield Rifle, & The Mark Whitman Band. With his own band, Ron will make sure that the blues, jazz, funk, rock, and soul roots of his music will be front and center as he holds a trumpet but also a microphone. Artists joining Ron on this CD are Michael Rogers (courtesy of John Lee Hooker, Jr. & Steppin' Stone Records on drums), Blues Music Award piano winner and Yellow Dog Records' recording artist Eden Brent (piano), the BB Award winning duo Scotty Harris (sax & bass) and Lissa Ramaglia (bass & background vocals), Doug Kearney (guitars), and Darryl "Funky Z" Fields (bass). Recorded at Seattle's Fastback Studios, Engineered by Jason Lackie and mastered at Black Belt Mastering in Bellevue, Washington, and packaged by Studio North in Lynnwood, Washington. Graphic design by Ron Hendee & Frank "Hot Rod" Holman.
Robert Horn (Washington Blues Society News Letter)
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