A lot of artists grew up admiring the music of James Brown. I imagine that if you’re a musician from Augusta , Ga. that the Godfather of Soul is the standard bearer. Some artists might run from that legacy, but as the album Hustlers, Killers and Thieves proves, Greg Hester embraces it. What else can you say about a record that begins with a faithful rendition of "Down and Out in New York City ," and that features Brown alums such as Fred Wesley? People who were into the deep funk that the Hardest Working Man in Showbiz was putting out in the early and mid 1970s will dig HKT. The record features thumping bass licks and kicking drums, and a quality that I think often got overlooked in funk music – a lot of high quality jazz improvisation. The lyrics on HKT are fun, memorable and include a fair number of catchy hooks. HKT also features songs JB covers such as "It’s a New Day"; putting that tune after Hester’s "Crazy Lovin’" shows that the blue eyed soul man was able to capture the energy, joy and sensuality of his musical hero.
Notable tracks: Down & Out in New York City , I Love Ya, Crazy Lovin’
Vocals: 2.5 stars
Music: 3.5 stars
Lyrics: 3.0 stars
Production: 3.0 stars
SoulTracks Call: Recommended
By Howard Dukes
