KYLE JESTER: Ain't No Way

Kyle Jester

Ain't No Way

© 2004 Kyle Jester (829757810829)

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Authentic, high-energy, three-piece blues featuring Candye Kane, Sue Palmer & Thomas Yearsley.

notes

I've was a working musician from 1999-2007. I have 886 documented shows in my database, but there are still a few months missing that included a long European tour with Candye Kane. I've tried hard to recover those dates to no avail. Music was my primary career until I became a full-time student. Then I moved to Chicago in 2007 and found consistent paychecks with Whole Foods Market. From the beginning I was under the impression that having a day job would only take away from the incentive to book and play shows as much as possible. Now that a day job is taking so much of my time, this theory has been proven -- I don't have the time or energy to front a band. When I did have my own band I tried to recreate authentic, west-side Chicago blues as best I could with high energy levels. For variation I would stray from the Magic Sam and Otis Rush vein and cover tunes by Roy Brown, Junior Parker, Frankie Lee Sims, Elmore James, Jimmy Witherspoon, Johnny Guitar Watson, and Guitar Slim... just to name a few.

I started out in 1999 as the the front man and founder of The Tri-Tones (February 3rd, 1999 - July 18th, 2001). This was my first power trio of many to come. I played with Vladimir Yarrovinsky on drums and Thomas Yearsley of the Paladins on upright bass all over San Diego and north county... any club that would have us pretty much which turned out to be 4-5 nights a week.

It was through The Tri-Tones, and the Elector Studio which Thomas had opened, that I met Earl Thomas in 2000. Earl had a big name here in San Diego and we were happy to accept his invitation for The Tri-Tones to back him on a record that came to be known as "The Elector Studio Sessions." The record went on to win the San Diego Music Award's "Best Blues Album" in 2002, and has since been re-mastered and re-released on the Memphis International record label as "Soul'd."

We backed Earl for about six months after the record came out (January 3rd, 2000 - June 1st, 2000) until I was invited to join the Freddie Brooks Band out of Long Beach (June 1st, 2000 - January 1st, 2001), and Thomas was asked to rejoin the Paladins. Freddie had and all-star cast that I was excited to be a part of: Freddie Brooks on harmonica, Tyler Peterson on bass, Paul Fasulo on drums, then Ron Felton on drums after Paul left to join Candye Kane's Band, and occasionally Carl "Sonny" Leland on piano. We played the opening slot at the Blue Cafe every Friday and Sunday where I got to see and meet all kinds of greats, like Anson Funderburgh, Little Charlie, Candye Kane and Junior Watson.

I stayed with Freddie through the end of 2000, until I was offered a spot in internationally renowned blues artist Candye Kane's band, as her show opener, guitar player, duet vocalist, and bandleader (January 3rd, 2001 - April 10th, 2005). So I took the job and got to play with my old buddy Paul Fasulo from Freddie Brooks band again. We toured about 250 nights a year and I the pleasure of playing in 23 U.S. States and 16 countries (all over Europe, Canada, Australia, & the U.S.). A short list of some of the festivals we played includes: the Blues Balls Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland; the Rauma Blues Festival in Rauma, Finland; the Notoddon Blues Festival in Notodden, Norway; the Moulin Blues Festival in Denmark; the Rhythm & Roots Festival in Rhode Island; the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, Minnesota; and the Narooma Music Festival in Narooma, Australia. The band won San Diego Music Award's "Best Blues" in 2001 and 2002, and had a 2003 release on the Ruf Record label called "Whole Lotta Love" which included Candye and I singing a duet of an old Billy Valentine tune.

Since we did have about 3 months off a year, I started another 3-piece band called the Small Town Heroes (August 24th, 2001 - January 15th, 2006). This band was Kevin Williams on upright bass and Tom Essa on drums, and we played the clubs and festivals of San Diego until 2003, when Candye’s busy touring schedule would only allow a few surprise shows. The Small Town Heroes still play around with a new lineup.

On March 13th of 2004, I went into the studio with Kevin Williams and Tom Essa to make a record. In two days we did 15 songs: one song with Candye Kane, and all high-energy blues. After mixing, I added five originals that were recorded in 2000 with Thomas Yearsley at the Elector Studios, and mastered a 20 track record. 74 minutes of blues, ballads and rockers… all recorded in black and white, entitled Kyle Jester, "Ain't No Way."

In May of 2004 I gave Candye 6 months notice and in 2005 I started booking under my name The Kyle Jester Blues Show (February 4th, 2005 - Present... kind of) to push the new record "Ain't No Way." The line-up this time was Tom Essa on drums and Rob King on basses. Since its release, "Ain't No Way" has received high praise in two international blues magazines, Blues Revue Magazine and Real Blues Magazine; great reviews in localized publications; and radio play on blues shows in Australia, Canada, and throughout Europe and the United States.

I am effectively retired as a musician in favor of consistent income and health insurance.

reviews

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  • 5 only 'cause there ain't 6
    author: Mr. Richard Flaherty

    My FIRST download with cdbaby and I hit the GOLD! 19 out of 20 bone crunching hits! I have never heard of Kyle Jester, but I'm VERY happy I found his music here on CDBaby! In my 61 years of life there are only a handful of artists that have nailed me with one of their singles. Jester is SOLID good blues!

  • Ain't No Way - Kyle Jester
    author: Susan C. Martin

    I love Kyle's music. The CD arrived as promised and I a very excited to have. Keep up the good work Kyle!!

  • An excellent effort by Kyle Jester and a fine representation of his musical tale
    author: Dave "Doc" PiItz for Blues On Stage

    After making a name for himself with his work on the West Coast, performing with his own band, The Tri Tones, as well as supporting West Coast notables, Earl Thomas and Freddie Brooks, Kyle Jester took his reputation national and international with his work as guitarist and band leader for blues diva, Candye Kane. Earlier this year Jester went into the studio to cut a record with Kevin Williams (bass) and Tom Essa (drums). The end result of Jester’s efforts was his debut recording, Ain’t No Way. With some good early reviews of the recording, Jester has decided that in 2005, he will take his show on the road, leaving Candye Kane to make a go of it on his own, using Ain’t No Way as a vehicle to promote his solo effort. The first thing to note about Ain’t No Way is the fact that it is a very long recording, comprised of twenty songs and over 70 minutes of music. In addition to his primary back-up musicians, Jester also gets some guest support from the likes of Thomas Yearsley (The Paladins); Sue Palmer; Vladimir Yarrovsky (The Tri-Tones); and s special appearance by Ms. Candye Kane who sings a duet with Jester on “Roll With Me Henry.” While only five of the twenty songs were written by Kyle Jester, the guitarist puts an affirmative stamp on each and every song on the CD with his excellent guitar and strong vocal style. Covers of songs by Otis Rush (“3 Times a Fool”); James Cotton (“Straighten Up Baby”); ”); Roosevelt Sykes (“Drivin’ Wheel”); Magic Sam (“Easy Baby); and Willie Dixon (“Can’t Hold Out”) offer Jester playing and singing in a clear Chicago style. Jester gets a bit more soulful on Junior Parker’s “I Feel Alright Again” and the King Curtis classic “Let Me Down Easy”; taking on a more of a jump flavor with Jay McShann /Jimmy Witherspoon’s “Voodoo Woman Blues,” Witherspoon’s “Love My Baby,” and “Roll With Me Henry,” the Jester/Candye Kane duet. Also exceptional are the jazzy “Is You Is” and a nice version of Robert Johnson’s “If I Had Possession.” The obvious variety in song choice allows listeners to hear the versatility of Jester’s guitar style. Jester’s originals continue the demonstration of versatility. The title track, “Ain’t No Way” and “If I Had You” have a mellow jazzy feeling; “l.a.” is an up tempo jump tune with a bit of scat thrown in; and “Haven’t Felt Good” offers a nice honky tonk sound (complete with a kazoo solo). The best of the originals however is “Hey Louise,” an energetic, up tempo tune with an old time rock n’ roll feeling. Ain’t No Way represents an excellent effort by Kyle Jester and a fine representation of his musical talents.

  • A leading light in a whole new generation of players
    author: Real Blues Magazine - Andy Grigg

    San Diego Blues veteran Earl Thomas used the talents of Kyle Jester on his 2000 CD "The Elector Studio Sessions" and then the Freddie Brooks Band came calling, but it wasn't long before bombshell Candye Kane snatched up the young virtuoso to lead her band. A series of prestigious appointments point to one thing: Jester has something "special" that everyone wants to tap into. While not on tour with Candye, Kyle rocked San Diego-area gigs with Small Town Heroes (Kevin Williams, bassist, is on most tracks). Other contributors are Tom Essa on drums (Mississippi Mud Sharks), Candye (vocals on one tune), Thomas Yearsley (bass on five tunes), Vladimir Yarrovinsky (piano, drums) and the great Sue Palmer (piano on two tracks). Kyle has a very strong Texas/West Coast influence in his playing and choice of material and there's a jazzy Dan Hicks-like sound in a couple of tunes (especially the rockin' "L.A.") and his title track "Ain't No Way" is sublime. Kyle's got a light, flexible vocal style that reminds one a little of Robben Ford (comparison-wise) and it's a good thang. "Feel Alright Again" (by Junior Parker) was a great choice as Kyle delivers sweet dancing licks throughout and the tune is made for his voice. "That's What You Think" has a rockabilly feel with lots of nice barnyard pickin' and one starts to realize by track #8 that Jester is a stupendous picker in both genres of Blues and 'Billy (plus Jazz) and this guy is a leading light in a whole new generation of players. "Automatic" show he knows how to "nasty" (Shag hit!) and that's something that few master at a young age. 20 tracks and over 74 minutes of fine music make for a dynamite buy. "Can't Hold Out" show Kyle to be a mean slide player as well; so this guy's got a whole bag of hot tricks. Ditto on the last tune (my favourite), "If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day," which makes you forget every other version you've heard. Wild slide. 5 bottles for a super impressive West Coast debut from an artist on his way up (on a rocket).

  • Just sit back and enjoy it
    author: Tim Richards - West Michigan Blues Society

    Featuring straight ahead, no sound effects guitar work, Kyle Jester has produced a very tasty cd. With vocals that remind me of Jimmy Johnson, Jester has broken ground here with a twenty-track effort that should net him some new fans all over. The title track, Ain't No Way, is a stripped-down sound of just piano, drums and bass, combined with a slow jazz/blues tempo that will have you grabbing your girl to rub bellies. Candye Kane lends her distinctive voice to a track and vocally spars with Jester on a fun west coast jump-style romp. It's impossible to sandwich Jester's style because he's all over the board. Jumping from Otis Rush to Junior Parker, to James Cotton material, plus five self-penned tracks, you don't waste time trying to brand him with a style, you just sit back and enjoy it.

  • Top notch... highly recommended
    author: Blues Revue Magazine

    Class act Kyle Jester, Candye Kane's bandleader for the past half-decade, steps out with the top-notch Ain't No Way (Kyle Jester 8108). There are 20 beautifully sung and played uptown blues cuts here, with well-turned covers of Otis Rush's "3 Times A Fool" and the King Curtis ballad "Let Me Down Easy" perched alongside fine originals such as the swinging "L.A." Jester's got tone coming out of his ears. Highly recommended, and the best of this batch.

  • author: Barney Roach - Blue Ink

    A review by Barney Roach from Blue Ink Kyle Jester "Ain't No Way" self-produced I can not remember a blues album by a local artist I've liked more than this one. Ever. Most are a one or two time listen-through, and then they get filed. I have been driving around with this in my car's CD player steadily for a month already! What makes is this one different? Simple- the recording is jam-packed with an excellent variety of tunes start to finish! Kyle Jester is a 28 year old guitarist / singer / songwriter born in San Diego, and has lived here in North County all his life. He got his first guitar at age 14- and he plays the heck out of it! You may not know Kyle by name, but he has performed with The Small Town Heroes, Earl Thomas, The Tri-Tones, The Freddie Brooks Band, and is presently on tour as a member of Candye Kane's band. So chances are decent that you've seen Kyle out there based on the company he keeps. Five of the selections were written by Kyle, and all are excellent. My personal favorite original cut is #16- "Hey Louise"- a high-energy swingin' song that sounds as if you've heard it on the radio a thousand times before in the late '50s- but there's no way you could have, because Kyle just recorded it! There's a recession-friendly 20 songs on the CD, the longest cut ( at 5:41 ) being a hauntingly strong version of Magic Sam's "Easy Baby" - one of Kyle's first blues influences. He also just told me he played along to a lot of Freddie King and Albert King recordings while defining his style. But Kyle nails a lot of blues styles within this CD, primarily utilizing a trio format of electric guitar / upright bass / drums. But unlike most 'trio' albums, the sound here is full and complete, without the usual 'gaps' a 3-piece line-up has. And most albums have 1 or 2 good songs- maybe 3 if you're lucky. I count 17 strong cuts myself, with 9 of those getting a solid * * * * * FIVE STARS. That's a strong bang for the buck! The album was recorded in two sessions, 75% of which was just done in March of this year by Jason Schooler at Mission Studios. The remainder were done a few years ago at Thomas Yearsley's Elector Studios. All the players are top-notch locals, and include Kevin Williams on upright bass, Tom Essa on drums, Thomas Yearsley also on upright bass, Sue Palmer's tasty piano on a couple of cuts, Vladimir Yarrovinsky- drums and piano, and a special guest appearance by Candye Kane singing 'Roll With Me Henry' along with Kyle- one of the stand-outs on the CD. But it's not just his excellent guitar skills and tone that make the album. Kyle has a strong and unique vocal tonality with style. Couple that with his execution of phrasing on both, and you've got the evasive "whole package"! www.kylejester.com Reviewed by Barney Roach

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