Vancouver Bluesman Steve Kozak delivers the real goods playing red hot swingin’ jump Blues, deep Texas style shuffles and hard rockin’ roots music. What you will get from Steve and his band is infectious, soulful and honest, ‘authentic working mans music’.
Tom Harrison of the Vancouver Province calls it “Blues that can put a smile on your face”. The perfect prescription for folks who love to party and dance all night long!
Steve’s new CD Hoot ‘N Holler hit the number one spot on the Top Ten Blues Albums for early December ’07 on the play list charts of CFBX 92.5 FM radio in Canada and is receiving critical acclaim in reviews from the media across North America and Europe.
*The Fellas in the Band are:
*Steve Kozak, Guitar and Vocals
*Brian "Sechelt Red" McFadyen, Harmonica
* "Hollywood Jimmie" James Badger, Drums
*Trevor Newman, Bass
*OR... Ken "Bull Fiddle" Wilson, Stand-up Bass
*Dave Webb, Piano and Hammond B-3
*Blues Revue Alumni:
The following players have and still do perform with the Band from time to time:
*The "Mighty" Ron Mathison, Bass *Victor Polyik, Harmonica and Vocals *Sandy "Bone" Smith, Drums *Dave Webb, Keyboards *Ken "Bull Fiddle" Wilson, Big Ass Bass *Roger Brant, Bass *Marko Ibarra Drums *Muddy Fraser, Slide, Guitar and Vocals *Steve Knelson, Drums *Bruce O'Neill, Stand-up Bass *Willie MacCalder, Piano *Jack Lavin, Bass *Dave 'Hurricane' Hoerl, Harmonica *Peter Walker, Guitar and Vocals and Bass *Dave Paterson, Guitar and Vocals *Doug Mockford, Drums *Steve Taylor, Drums *Jerry Cook, Sax *Chip Hart, Drums *Double D, Guitar and Vocals *"Yukon Slim" Brandon Isaak, Guitar and Vocals *Andy Graffiti, Drums
STEVE KOZAK BACK IN THE DAY... WITH THE LATE GREAT PEE WEE CRAYTON IN VANCOUVER @ MAMA GOLDS
HOOT 'N HOLLER Liner Notes:
If gratitude had a sound it would be the sonic thread that swings through every track of this latest offering from Vancouver blues guitar institution Steve Kozak. Honest appreciation oozes out of every solo and lyric of ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’, Steve’s primarily self-penned album.
Following his brush with mortality in early 2006, Steve and his family were witness to the generosity of the open-hearted Vancouver Blues community during an August 2006 benefit at The Yale. This outpouring of support and affection inspired him to transform his own personal blues into a hard-working, 13 song expression of gratitude.
From the title track that springs to life with a ‘just happy to still be here’ feel, to Steve’s tribute to wife Sue on ‘Girl Of My Dreams’, it’s an infectious, hand-crafted swinging blues that makes you want more.
Embracing his latest favourite saying “…there’s no fun like the fun we’re having now…” Steve’s distinctive guitar style has a new lively lilt – just check his solo work on the instrumental ‘Rollin’ With Brother D’.
But all this couldn’t have happened without helping hands along the way. Recorded live off the floor in two days, thanks go out to a stable of great players and long-time musical friends noted here.
Special thanks go to engineer/mixer Ken Burke of Burkeville Sound and long-time friend, co-writer and producer Jack Lavin who also took the time
to sit in with Steve on their roots feel collaboration ‘It Didn’t Happen That Way’ featuring Jack on the harp.
This album is a musical story about hard work, survival and perseverance. And if there’s such a thing as the blues with a happy ending Steve has captured it here for all of us to ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’ about and be grateful for.
Ronnie Bee
July 2007
HOOT 'N HOLLER WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EUROPE FROM ROOTSCD.COM ON MONDAY APR. 21
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM PACIFIC BLUES IN NORTH AMERICA
Influences
GET MY LAST SELF TITLED CD, STEVE KOZAK'S WESTCOAST BLUES REVUE HERE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!
Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Pee Wee Crayton, Jimmy Rogers, T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Eddie Taylor, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Little Walter Jacobs, Johnny Guitar Watson, Hubert Sumlin, Guitar Shorty, The James Cotton Band, Johnny Little John, Snooky Pryor, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, Carey Bell, The James Harman Band, Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors, The William Clarke Band, The Hollywood Fats Band, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Little Charlie and The Night Cats, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Jimmie Vaughn, Ronnie Earl, Anson Funderbergh, Rusty Zinn, Dave Gonzales, Duke Robillard, Evan Johns, Nick Curran, The Mighty Flyers, Los Lobos, Big Sandy and his Fly Rite Boys and many, many more...
I was born in Vancouver B.C. Canada in 1956 and
have been a part of Vancouver's Blues scene for over twenty years.
I began playing guitar and singing at age sixteen and took to the
Blues like a duck to water. My passion for the Blues flourished after
meeting, and hanging out for a few nights, with the legendary
Muddy Waters here in Vancouver back in May of 1977. Muddy
encouraged me and set me straight on a few things. After that,
‘I was on a mission’…my musical future was sealed.
I first started playing around Vancouver during the mid eighties in
a band called Bad Habits. During those early years I gained some
good experience, and ‘paid my dues’ at the renowned, Yale Hotel’s
Saturday Blues jam, hosted then by my good friend Jack Lavin.
In 1991 I won ‘The Battle of The Blues Guitars’ at The Yale’s
Saturday Jam. Since then I have worked with some great Blues
bands from the Vancouver area including, Juno winner, Kenny
"Blues Boss" Wayne, the Juno nominated, Twisters, The West
Coast Five, VP and the Hammerheads, and The R&B King Pins.
Over the years I have had to good fortune to have shared the
stage with and played along side many Blues greats including: James Harman. Big Joe Louis, 2006 Juno Award winner, Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne, the late,
great, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Duskin, Guitar Shorty, Sonny Rhodes, Eddie Clearwater, Lee Oskar and my pals, Mark Hummel, Rick Estrin of Little Charlie and the Night Cats, and Rockabilly legend, guitar player extraordinaire, Evan Johns.
In 1999 I formed STEVE KOZAK'S WESTCOAST BLUES REVUE
featuring a solid line up of talented Vancouver Blues musicians
who share a keen interest in playing hard hitting authentic Blues.
The WestCoast Blues Revue has gone through a few personnel
changes since the beginning and draws from a stable of top notch
players. The line-up still changes from time to time depending on
who’s available for the gig and what works best for the situation.
These days, the musicians that make up the WestCoast Blues
Revue are, yours truly, *STEVE KOZAK, Guitar and vocals,
*BRIAN ‘Sechelt Red’ McFADYEN, on Harmonica,
*JAMES ‘Hollywood Jimmie’ BADGER on the Drums with the ever
steady *TREVOR NEWMAN on Bass. We also recruit the services
of the excellent, *KEN ‘BULL FIDDLE’ WILSON on Stand-up bass
and the always dangerous, *DAVE WEBB ..boards whenever
we can.
I recently finished and released my new CD entitled Hoot ‘N Holler. This album is my second release and my first studio recording featuring almost entirely original material.
Ten of the thirteen tracks included were written by me with
one track co-written with my long time pal and producer of the project,
Jack Lavin. To give the listener a taste of what they will hear at our
live shows, ‘Hoot ‘N Holler’ features all of the musicians listed above as
well as a special guest appearance by Jack Lavin, laying down some
fine harp tracks on a couple of songs. We recorded the project over
two sessions, live off the floor, to get as close to a live performance
sound as we could with a minimum of overdubs and added effects.
After facing a close brush with mortality and two major surgeries over
the past couple years, this CD is a celebration of love, life, gratitude
and good times. The album is dedicated to all of my good friends and
loved ones who helped us get through those hard times.
Fortunately I am back in the saddle again playing and singing the
Blues, happy to have another chance to enjoy life.
‘There is nothing that heals the body, mind and soul like music!’
“Everybody Hoot ‘N Holler and have yourself a real good time!”
Steve Kozak Promo Video
Video by Marko Ibarra 2008
Live performance for the White Rock Blues Society featuring Sechelt Red and Steve Kozak at The Rumba Room. April 11, 2009.
Video filmed live by Guy Shaddock and Yohannes Ghebreab. Edited and produced by Guy Shaddock.
The Thursday Night Juke Joint Blues Jam At Amberjack's with your host Steve Kozak!
Videos produced by Marko Ibarra 2009 (Ibarra Productions)
Episode 2 of The Thursday Night Juke Joint Blues Jam... The Show.
Featuring my special guest, Brandon Isaak. 4/16/09
Episode 3... featuring Dave Chisholm of The Rock Shop and Guitarist extraordinaire, Tim Hearsey.
FOR AUTHENTIC BLUES MUSIC WITH A WESTCOAST FEEL, YOU CAN’T BEAT THIS BAND!
FROM SWINGIN’ JUMP BLUES TO VINTAGE ROCK & ROLL, AND TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BLUES. THIS BAND COVERS A GOOD VARIETY OF UPBEAT, TOE-TAPPIN’, FINGER-POPPIN’ TUNES. STEVE KOZAK’S WESTCOAST BLUES WILL BE SURE TO PLEASE THE MOST DISCERNING BLUES FANS AND CREATE SOME NEW ONES WITH THEIR POWERFUL, AUTHENTIC BLUES.
*John Valenteyn from the Toronto Blues Society’s Maple Blues Online says:
“it’s an infectious romp that brings Willie “Big Eyes” Smith to mind.”
And “…a well-written and arranged little delight it is.”
*Richard Rosenblatt former CEO of Tone Cool Records and currently the president and CEO of the Vizz- tone label group and Tone Cool Productions says;
“This is real, honest blues-party music! Tasty musicianship and solid tunes. It's great that there is so much original music on the disc. You don't have to re-invent the wheel, it's all how you spin it.”
*Jerry Hall top notch record producer and owner, president & CEO of The Pacific Blues Recording Company says: “Steve's new release comes after a long absence due to illness, "Hoot 'n Holler" is a strong return to form featuring some of Western Canada's best players and 10 originals of the 13 songs on the CD. Recorded live in-studio for a natural performance feel and produced by Jack Lavin, Steve has returned strong as ever.”
*The Blues Hound, producer/programmer of KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston Texas says;
“Yeah that's the real deal stuff with extra grease.”
*Tom Harrison of The Vancouver Province calls it “Blues that can put a smile on your face.”
Steve Kozak was recently featured in the winter 2007 issue of Vancouver Lifestyle Magazine as the subject of ‘The People Worth Watching’ section written by Vancouver music icon Lindsay Mitchell.
If you would like more information or would like to book the band,
send us a message here or call
Steve Kozak at
(604) 434-7005
THE NEW CD HOOT 'N HOLLER IS NOW AVAILABLE AT CD BABY!
Thanks a million Steve for joining our ministry of Blues. It's all about peace, love, understanding, and GROOVE! Hope to perform for you sometime. Enjoyed your tunes... cookin'! Wishing you the very best in Blues and life! -0Big Daddy
Great music! Thanks for your friendship, and welcome aboard the Redline ship. Looking forward to sharing the journey ahead with you. Take Care, and thanks again. Peace,
Steve - thanks for another fine couple of nights with your great band at Amberjacks. I really had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you again before too long.
Please give my best to Sue, Jimmie, Dave, Ken, Brian - and Sailor Jerry, of course!
Online Now!
, all the best.
