Mike Bourne Band Featuring Johnny Burgin – Cruisin’ Kansas City
13 tracks
Mike Bourne makes Kansas City his home. He did prior stints in Chicago and Atlanta but now makes the Missouri area his abode to play his version of the KC blues. Kansas City is a hotbed for blues, rock, R&B and more and has been for over seven decades. Mike pays tribute on the album to some mentors of his, including Abb Locke, the great Chicago sax player, and Lee McBee who was an early proponent of Bourne and his work. He honed his craft at Lindsay Shannon’s club BBs Lawnside which Mike credits to his success.
Bourne plays guitar and handles lead vocals. Members of his band Kansas City Boogie and some great special guests joing him to produce this Baker’s Dozen of musical treats. Johnny Burgin joins in on guitar Dave Creighton and Johnny Iguana add their keyboards to the project, Big D Erickson plays harp on a cut, Mickey Munoz is on drums on a track, John Paul drum adds harp to a trio of songs, and Greg Hopkins plays trumpet on one cut. The band mates are Patrick Recob on bass, Adam Hagerman on drums, and Sam Treinen on sax. Also appearing are Rob Lorenz on drums and Mike Grinns on bass both for a the same track.
Bourne kicks off with a swinging instrumental showing his guitar prowess. It’s called “Cruisin’ Kansas City” and it’s the title track to this fine album. Some cool organ is also featured here, adding to the fun. “Lose Your Rings, Keep Your Fingers” is a great little shuffle with some super tenor sax, guitar and a nice groove in this fun track about retaining all ten fingers after a breakup. Next is “Humpty Dumpty,” a play on the nursery rhyme as has been done by Buddy Guy and others for other rhymes in the past. It’s a cool little boogie with stinging sax and guitar. The organ accompaniment remains a solid part of the mix, too.
Some well greased harp is featured in “Golden Rule,” a nice, slow shuffle. “Help Somebody” takes us to church as sax and guitar play prominent roles. The organ outro really highlights the Gospel feeling. “Hollow Man” follows, a straight up Chicago Blues that hearkens to Muddy Waters’ “I Be’s Troubled.” This two beat gem on guitar and harp is a slick throwback.
“Two Young To Be Old” has a nice Chicago feel to it. The organ solos first and then the guitar chimes in later. It’s another winner. Next up is “Loose With The Truth” is a swinging mid tempo piece with some beautiful trumpet work. A later guitar solo solidifies the number as the song tells us about some guy with a gold crapper who lies all the time. “Missouri Boy” is a country fried, honkytonk cut that rocks and rollicks sweetly and features some rockabilly styled guitar licks.
“Running Song” is a cut about having to run in life’s rat race. Organ and guitar once again are called on to be featured. An R&B ballad “The One” is a beautiful and sentimental piece featuring the tenor sax. This one is just a belly–rubbing dance tune that could easily be from the 1950s. Some tasteful guitar solo also adds nicely to the performance as Bourne croons to us.
“Dangerous Game” hearkens to the Stones and a just cool and greasy guitar cut with Bourne singing with emotion. The harp and guitar howl and it’ too, reminded me very much of a Stones-styled cut. He finishes his work with “Kansas City Grease,” which features Big D and Rob Lorenz who passed away. It’s a fine tribute to old band mates and just a great song overall. Piano, harp and guitar just ooze grease here in this superb instrumental track.
Bournes be plying his craft for decades and the experience and talent shows. These new cuts proudly add to the storied history of Kansas City and it’s music. Well done – I enjoyed this one and I think blues all fans will, too!
