Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne – Blues From Chicago To Paris

Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne pays tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon in his new album Blues From Chicago To Paris - A Tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon.

Not only is Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne one of our foremost contemporary blues and boogie pianists, he's also extraordinarily well-versed on his chosen genre's proud history. Blues from Chicago to Paris pays rousing tribute to two of Chicago's postwar blues legends, piano-pounding Memphis Slim and bass-slapping powerhouse Willie Dixon. Focused in particular on the period when the two giants of the genre teamed up to tour the globe during the late 1950s and early '60s, the album presents a well-rounded collection of favorite songs as well as those innovative tunes that have inspired and influenced blues players ever since.

"Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon were a team, and their styles worked great together," says Kenny. "Out of many other blues piano players that I've listened to, I found a playfulness between these two men unlike the many other great blues pianists."
Kenny Blues Boss Wayne

Legendary blues piano master Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne was inducted into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2017. He is recognized by Living Blues Magazine for his six-decade career of bringing the piano back to the front ranks of contemporary blues. This Juno Award winner, WCMA winner and multiple Maple Blues Award winner is at the forefront of modern day blues piano.

Track Listing: 
1. Rock And Rolling This House - 2:46 2. The Way She Loves A Man - 2:59 3. A New Way To Love - 7:20 4. Going Back To Reno – 4:14 5. African Hunch – 3:22 6. Just You and I – 3:16 7. Messin' With The Blues – 6:46 8. One More Time – 3:09 9. Somebody Tell That Woman – 4:17 10. Stewball – 4:51 11. After While - 2:46 12. Got You On My Mind - 4:23 13. Don't Let The Music Die - 2:57 14. Pigalle Love - 2:54 15. I Aint Gonna Be No Monkey Man - 2:51 16. I Got A Razor - 6:25 17. Wish Me Well - 3:45

Personnel:
Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne (piano)

Reviews:

1. La Hora Del Blues - 2022.11.05 
With a successful career of more than fifty years, full or recognitions and awards, piano player and singer Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne is now considered as one of the greatest ‘honky tonk’ blues piano players who is still active in the blues scene.
A comment from a musician he was playing with, who said that those 40’s, 50’s and 60’s amazing blues piano players were barely known by new blues fans, Kenny decided to record an album to pay tribute to one of the 88 keys mythical masters, Mr. Memphis Slim. To do so, he focused on the late 50’s and early 60’s period, where Slim extensively toured with his friend and double bass player Willie Dixon all over Europe and USA.
What should originally be a tribute to Slim, quicky became an homage to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon too. Kenny did a selection of 17 songs that mix compositions coming from Slim and Dixon, that faithfully reflect the vintage sound of those years, thanks to the knowledge and good work of Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne on piano and vocals, Russell Jackson, who recreates Willie Dixon’s sound, on double bass and vocals and Joey DiMarco on drums.
An impressive recording that serves, not only to appreciate the qualities of these musicians, but also to remember and savor the impressive masterpieces of those incredible artists who contributed to popularize blues among USA and Eurpean white audiences.