After years of playing the support role in numerous local blues and roots bands like Red Devil Lye and the Contra Banditos, Groton bluesman and all around nice guy Arte Kenyon steps into the spotlight on his debut CD Be a Man. From the opening track Red Moon in the Morning, Arte bellows his way through a collection of old timey tunes, his deep, resonating voice at the font of the mix and sounding very much like a seasoned veteran. Though the blues influence is evident throughout the album, it's the country twang of Why I Always End Up Alone and the gospel spirit of Be No More Crying that keeps things interesting, highlighting the many influences that have shaped and molded Arte along the way.
With a core group of musicians including Justin Beaulieu on drums, Steve Esposito on piano and local guitar great Carl Johnson playing on nearly every track, Arte also gets help from Wayne Morgan on harmonica, Carl Ayotte on bari sax and Jim LeBoeuf on guitar, the band sounding like they've been playing together for years. Studio wizard Bob Nash of Wonka Sound continues to prove he's the best kept secret in NE with another crisply engineered production.
Check out Be a Man at CD Baby or catch Arte and Steve Esposito at the Devens Grille on April 9th.
Hear, hear! The CD release party at Mickey's was great--AND they even turned off that ridonkulous TV during the music, which made it all even better.