Steve Kozak has been nominated for a Maple Blues Award for 2013 as New Artist or Group of the Year in Canada.
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A solid effort, which should come as no surprise, as Steve Kozak has always had impeccable taste and the good sense to surround himself with like-minded individuals, such as the inimitable James Harman--who not only lends some tasteful harp to the proceedings, but his insightful and knowledgeable skills to the production as well. Kozak is swinging the blues like a true Californian now!
Jeff Scott Fleenor
Producer, Staff Writer, Director of Retail for Delta Groove Records
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‘Lookin’ at Lucky’ is the fourth and most highly anticipated release by Steve Kozak. As the title track suggests, Kozak offers up more upbeat original tunes that express his gratitude and joy for living after thriving and surviving a life that has taken a few hard turns along the way. Real honest Blues here with very few gimmicks, presented to the listener in a way that reflects the sound of the band as you would hear in a live performance.
Superbly backed by some of the best Blues musicians on Canada’s west coast Kozak and his All-Star band serve up twelve toe tapping tracks with five original songs written by Steve Kozak and seven of his favorite cover songs by Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny boy Williamson II, Big Walter Horton, JD Miller, William Clarke and two songs written by James Harman.
Speaking of James Harman, the legendary Blues man from Anniston Alabama is Kozak’s good friend, mentor and featured special guest on this album co-producing the project and playing some fabulous harmonica on five of the tracks.
‘Lookin’ at Lucky’ features, Steve Kozak, on guitars and vocals, James Harman, harmonica, Dave Webb, piano and Hammond organ, Tim Hearsey, Fender bass, tracks: 1,3,4,5,6,9,10,12, Roger Brant, Fender bass and stand-up bass, tracks: 2,7,11, Darren Parris, Fender bass, track 8, Chris Nordquist, drums, Catherine St. Germain and Kelly Brock, backup vocals, tracks 2, 8.
Produced by Tim Hearsey & James Harman and recorded, engineered and mixed by Boris Drazic and Tim Hearsey at Stella Studios in East Vancouver BC Canada. This album was mastered by Rick Taylor at Black Creek Recording Studios, Hensall ON. Canada.
You are sure to enjoy this latest high quality offering by one of Canada’s top West Coast Blues artists. Enjoy!
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Lookin' at Lucky review by Vancouver Roots music aficionado Serge Lotosky.
In the eight or so decades that the Blues have been around, luck, or more specifically, good luck is a theme that has rarely been addressed. The latest offering from Vancouver-based Blues musician Steve Kozak, touches upon that very theme.
The title track, “ Lookin’ at Lucky “, is an autobiographical track that features Kozak’s perspective on life, love, the quintessential bluesman passion for bettin’ on the ponies and even beating the devil himself at his own game. The jazz-flavored tune featuring licks reminiscent of Herb Ellis, is a testament to the courtship of lady luck tempered by deep-seated roots in traditional Blues.
Steve Kozak has teamed up with Alabama- born blues legend, James Harman to produce this album, featuring Harman playing harp on several tracks. The collaboration has resulted in a truly organic approach that eschews tired Blues clichés and takes the listener on a musical journey that goes to Chicago, Kansas City, West Texas and backwoods Louisiana.
Kozak and Harman have captured the essence of this journey on track three, a Sonny Boy Williamson classic. This fresh spin of “Your Funeral, My Trial”, stays with the original intent of the song including the guitar’s sense of urgency, but infuses a tasty up-tempo groove.
Steve Kozak’s self-penned, “Come to Me”, drives right along with a decidedly Gospel feel and back-beat. Dave Webb’s excellent Hammond B-3 accompaniment and the knock-out background vocals of Catherine St. Germain and Kelly Brock lend even more authenticity and will make you a true believer.
Track 7, a Little Walter classic, showcases Steve Kozak’s Blues acumen and James Harman’s absolute mastery of the harp. This track leaves no doubt as to the duo’s intrinsic connection to the genre and as well as the sincerity and commitment demonstrated not only by Kozak and Harman, but the entire ensemble as well.
The album comes to a close with a cover from one of the truly unsung heroes of the Blues, Lazy Lester. The significance was not lost on Kozak. He has managed to capture the essence of this raucous Blues anthem without making it into a hollow tribute. The raw edge of the guitar riff and Harman’s wailing understated harp takes one in back in time.
As the last track came to a close, I was left with the feeling that I had just came home from one of those proverbial Blues parties. This latest release from Steve Kozak does indeed have an overall “Blues party” feel to it, with a counterpoint of tradition and contemporary Blues.
Give “Lookin’ at Lucky “a listen and you might feel lucky, I know I did, and now, I have this uncontrollable urge to go to the track and bet on some horses.
Serge Lotosky
Vancouver, BC
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