BILLY HECTOR
OLD SCHOOL THANG
GHETTO SURF MUSIC GSM 025
SHE’S GONE–GOIN’ DOWN–OLD SCHOOL THANG–FAKE ID–VITAMIN B–COME ON HOME–EVIL, SLICK, ‘N SLY–HAMMER–RITA–SHORT AND SWEET–PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
Billy Hector has been a fixture in the New Jersey–Tri State area for over thirty-five years. He’s won numerous “Brest Guitarist” accolades, and performed on April 25th on the Kennedy Center stage along with Alvin Youngblood Hart, Robert Plant, and a host of others in the tribute to “Leadbelly At 125.” On June 27, 2015, this East Coast icon will release “Old School Thang,” ten originals and one awesome cover that shows why he’s held in such high regard.
He kicks out the jams with a fiery, guitar-laden tale of a lover who was “here for a minute, but now She’s Gone.” This one is also augmented by the horns over a hot Latin beat. The title cut is indeed an “Old School Thang,” a monster slab of dance floor funk that is a fan favorite.
There are a couple of fine instrumentals, too. “Vitamin Big Daddy” and “Short And Sweet” are solid slow-bluesers that allow Billy to just rear back and let the blues flow freely.
For all his East Coast swagger, we can hear a lotta the Delta in Billy’s DNA. “Fake I D,” a tune about being a gambler and taking your chances in life, sounds as if it coulda been cut down at the Crossroads. It has a cool acoustic dobro intro, which gives way to some serious electrified psychedelia. And, “Come On Home” has a Hill-Country feel, with that driving beat and harp from Ken Sorensen.
We had two favorites, too—one cover and one original. Billy goes into Iceman mode as he touts his “Hammer” as the perfect cure for what ails your woman! And, the wah-wah comes out swingin’ for Billy’s scalding tribute to Don Nix and Freddie King, “Goin’ Down.”
Billy Hector is one of those iconic players that has been an inspiration to others. His versatility and overall chops are incredible, and “Old School Thang” owes as much to his future as it does his past! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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