Offbeat Review of Washboard
Chaz Blues Trio and their latest release “Hard Year Blues“
Washboard Chaz Leary has become a fixture on the New Orleans club scene, a
constant presence fronting his own band or playing with the Tin Men, The Palmetto Bug
Stompers, Andy J. Forest and many others. One of the alternative programs opposite this
year’s Jazz and Heritage Festival was even dubbed “Chaz Fest.”
Read More...
-- By John Swenson
Offbeat Magzine Oct 2006
Michael
"Hawkeye" Herman, "It's All Blues to Me"
"What flat out makes this record though, is the reduction of
percussion to just washboard,with the odd thump on a countertop or splash of a tiny
cymbal.Washboard Chaz is Herman's ace and he is a wonder. Forget the hillbilly racket
associated with the washboard. Chaz makes it rattle like a snake, skip like a
schoolgirl,tick like a clock or vibrate like the motor on grandma's washing machine. Chaz
finds the mood for every tune, even when Herman ranges out to the far edges of the
blues."
-- Victory Music Review
Washboard Chaz Blues Trio - "Dog Days"
Feet start tapping and heads start nodding as soon as the
sound of Dog Days reaches anyone's ears The trio features Washboard Chaz Leary (washboard
and vocals),Roberto Luti ( guitar) and Ben Maygarden (harmonica and vocals), creating a
classic acoustic blues sound with a bit of New Orleans flavor thrown in. One of the
highlight of the album is "Stagolee", an old, traditional song that comes off as
fresh and new in this recording. The majority of the album maintains a pace that makes the
songs sound happy and upbeat whether the subject of the lyrics matches the vibe, as in
"Real Best Friend" or the subject and sound seem to be in stark contrast with
each other as in "Knocking Myself Out"
-- Leah Snyder
Tin
Men - "Freaks For Industry"
"The Tin Men spend as
much time revelling in the sheer rhythmic joy of standards like Fats waller's "Your
Feets Too Big" and Cab Calloway's "Man From Harlem" (assisted by the
Pfister Sisters) as they do ripping out the wires out of slightly more modern standards
like "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday", "Mess Around" and
"Immigrant Song" (Yes, that one)
-- Robert Fontenot
Fauburg
Marigny: The Way The Quarter Used To Be:
"For a more relaxed
atmosphere, just walk down the street and follow the music.It comes wafting out of the
Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen), an intimate bar/club whose bandstand is set up near the front
doorThere's no cover, so for the price of a beer you can settle back in a leopardskin
chair and let the music wash over you. And we do mean wash: Most Saturday nights,
Washboard Chaz Leary and his acoustic jazz band play classic old time blues on guitar,
harmonica and one hell of a washboard (cofee cans and front desk bell included)
-- K.C.Summers
The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio delivers the
goods again with their sophomore release Dog Days.
If you're not familiar with this local acoustic
blues band, you should be. Their bare bones approach (washboard, guitar and harmonica),
toe-tapping, beer fueled melodies and plaintive vocals are sure to bring a smile to your
weary face. Recorded late this summer (hence the title), the CD offers a couple of
appealing originals ("Real Best Friend" is especially effective) and a gang of
tasty covers. Their stripped down interpretations of classic old time blues numbers could
only be described as "deceptively simple." How they managed to bring new life to
an old war horse like "Stagolee," I can't quite figure out, but that is exactly
what they did. Special guests on the new album include OffBeat columnist and guitarist
Marc Stone, Andy J. Forrest and St. Louis Slim. You can usually find these professional
buskers at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street and that is exactly where you will find
them on Saturday, December 4, when they hold the official release party for Dog Days.
-- Blake Thompson
Offbeat Magazine, Dec 2004
Find previous reviews of
Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
check out the November 2003 issue of Offbeat Magazine!
(www.offbeat.com)
Tin Men have been getting great reviews! See what Gambit
Weekly had to say about their last album, Super Great Music for Modern Lovers here and here
"There are lots of washboard men in zydeco bands, and
lots of country blues is done with it, but Chaz is the best."
-- John Hammond
"Washboard Chaz is untouchable in his medium."
-- Colorado Music World.
(accompanying John Hammond) "Mr. Leary's metallic
strummings and rolls are an absolute delight."
-- Kansas City Star (album review)
"Even on a record, you can always tell Washboard Chaz
Leary's havin fun."
-- Blues Access
"Ophelia folks are familiar with Koerner's version
(of Jack of Diamonds) and lovingly improved it with the sweetest washboard underpinnings
ever attached to a song."
-- Record Roundup - Somerville, MA
"Washboard Chaz Leary is something of a legend in the
Boulder area. What this man does with mundane, everyday items is nothing short of
amazing."
-- Pitch Weekly - Kansas City, MO
Festivals Chaz has played
Breminale Blues Festival - Bremen, Germany
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - New Orleans, LA
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival - Davenport, IA
Telluride Jazz Festival - Telluride, CO
Telluride Bluegrass Festival - Telluride, CO
LoDo Music Festival - Denver, CO
Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival - Kansas City, MO
King Biscuit Festival - Helena, AK
Lyons Taste of the Blues Festival - Lyons, CO