JASON LADANYE: Lil Jay and The Cardsharks

Jason Ladanye

Lil Jay and The Cardsharks

© 2005 Jason Ladanye (837101050685)

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Blues and Funk the way it's supposed to be played. From burning Jimmy Smith Hammond B-3 shuffles, to 1961 B.B. King swing, to funky Albert King, this album is the "real deal".

notes

Jason "Lil Jay" Ladanye started playing piano and guitar at age seven.
Even at such a young age, he became interested in blues and jazz styles.
Influenced by guitar players like B.B. King and Albert King, and keyboard
players like Reese Wynans and Lee Michaels, Jason developed a unique
aggressive style of playing.
When Jason was fifteen, he joined his first touring band, Ernie Williams and the Wildcats. Jason worked with Ernie for four years with frequent trips to New York City, Chicago and Boston. While working with Ernie, he recorded one live and three studio albums. It was during this period he first became recognized on the upstate New York music scene. He also spent some time playing with the Capital Region's Tom Healey Band, with whom he still occasionally appears.

When he turned nineteen, he teamed up with Houston guitarist Vince Converse to record One Step Ahead, produced by Eddie Kramer, former producer and engineer of Led Zepplin and Jimi Hendrix. After relocating to New Orleans, Jason toured nationally with Vince for over a year.

Jay has toured with the Grammy-nominated, W.C. Handy Award-winner, Shemekia Copeland for four years. He plays opposite legendary producer, Dr. John, on Copeland's third CD, Talking to Strangers, released in 2003.

While on the road, Jay frequently would share bills with legendary guitar players. It was only a matter of time before he could duplicate the styles of these masters.

Jason has studied the styles of T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Buddy Guy,
Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King and Michael
Bloomfield. He has toured with Al Green, B.B. King, Buddy Guy,
Jeff Beck, Jimmy Vaughan, Tab Benoit, Elvin Bishop, Scott Holt, Mason Casey, Arthur Neilson and many more legendary players. He has recorded with Leslie West, of the band Mountain.

The exposure to these players has given Jay an education that couldn't be taught in any college. Now, Jay has his own band, Lil Jay & the Cardsharks. He's released his debut CD, called appropriately, Lil Jay & the Cardsharks.

It offers eight of Jay's funky original tunes that feature his incredible piano, organ and guitar playing. With the release of this CD, he steps out front, adding vocalist (and songwriter and bandleader) to his already formidable resume as consummate sideman.

Lil Jay & the Cardsharks was recorded in 2004 at Arabellum Studio in Colonie, New York, and features Steve Aldi on bass and Andy Hearn on drums. Making guest appearances are Arthur Neilson, guitarist for Cindy Lauper and Shemekia Copeland, on upright bass and Charlie Vatalaro on sax.

With the release of Lil Jay & the Cardsharks, Jason is revealing, and fulfilling, the depth of his talent. Remember the name: Jason Ladanye. You'll be hearing more from him.

reviews

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  • KSKA Blues Radio
    author: Todd Glazer

    Your guitar playing and vocals are top notch !! Great Artwork etc !! ,I will Air the cd on my Radio show on KSKA !

  • Great Blues That Speaks to the Soul!
    author: ~Suzanne~

    I heard a couple of these songs on Lil' Jay's myspace and I just had to buy the cd!! I love the blues and these songs really speak to me! The guitar and keyboards are awesome!! What a groove!! And Lil' Jay's vocals are outstanding! If you are a lover of great blues you have to do yourself the favour and buy this cd! It's one of my fav's!!!

  • Great Tunes and Talent Thanks Jay
    author: Alan My Space Brother hood site

    Good Grooves and it feels good..... Would recommend to others check this out.

  • Reccommended by someone, and it turned out way better than expected.
    author: ngrube KYANNA BLUES SOCIETY

    Someone I don't know reccomended this CD on the Delbert wire and I ordered it. I do love it when I order something and it turns out better that what I was told. I don't like B3 but it is a mover here; I do like 6 string played nasty and mean and it is here. I'd never have found these guys by meyself. Give this one 5 stars. ngrube

  • Great surprise the debut of Jason Ladanye
    author: Simone Bargelli

    Great surprise the debut of Jason Ladanye. "Li'l Jay & The Cardsharks" is an album where the feeling is the focal point. Its protagonist has an intense sound and a powerful style which reminds us of the master Albert King. Eight tracks both tasteful and strong, played by this up and coming young artist who thanks also to a fine and smoking band reach an inspired result. The blues is still alive and Jason is one of its messengers!

  • it's albums like this that keep me going!!!
    author: bandit blues radio

    best debut blues album of 2005

  • Jason Ladanye takes center stage with a convincing solo debut
    author: Blues Revue

    Jason Ladanye, Shemekia Copeland's keyboard player, takes center stage with a convincing solo debut. On the self-titled Li'l Jay and The Cardsharks (Ladanye Records 001), he handles both keyboards and guitar, with Andy Hearn (drums) and Arthur Neilson and Steve Aldi (bass) rounding out the core group. Great stuff, from the burbling, hard-swinging Hammond B-3 blues of "Shufflin'" to the stingy, dirty, Albert King-influenced grinders "Don't Burn Me Twice" and "How Long Should I Wait." "Tell Me Pretty Baby" evokes classic T-Bone walker and "My Baby Said Love" draws from B.B. King's "Wolk Up This Morning," while "Hustler" has a considerably more modern, funky sytle, and Ladanye trots out his meanest guitar lines on the slow blues "A Bad Hand."

  • fine groovin' blues!
    author: markus fischer-kiepe

    some very fine groovin' blues! li'l jay is playing a wonderful organ; and some razor sharp guitar

  • Solid guitar driven blues that deserves your attention
    author: Zipdawg WMPG blues director

    From the smooth groove of Shufflin' to the wailing sax on the plaintive Tell Me Pretty Baby, Lil Jay and The Cardsharks deliver the blues in all its beautiful styles. Hustler has that vintage Chris Duarte style atmosphere,sure to please. Solid guitar driven blues that deserves your attention

  • It has to be heard for yourself....
    author: Hal Bruhns

    I must honestly say that while listening to their CD, I heard and felt some very unique, there is something special here. I can only say that it is beyond words to explain that, their music and the talent that they have, has to be heard for yourself. They achieve what others can only dream of. You know that feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes tears run down your face? Yeah, this CD is THAT good.

  • what can i say about this? marvelous
    author: frank van engelen-bluesiana

    revieuw jason ladanye bluesey frank van englen-bluesiana radio, purmerend, holland. what can i say, only one word:marvelous. this album is a kind of triibute to the great ray charles,but much more than that. there is grewat keyboard ala jimmi smith in it, great tracks, guitarlicks and all different. the production of this albumis very good, and if you ask me this is a must have for everyone. some funky-jazzy-blues with a whole lot of soul, thanx guys.

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