Steven Charles Cecil – Teens Know Best (Story and Clark Vol. 2)
Self Released
14 tracks/55 minutes
Steven Charles Cecil was Bobby Parker’s keyboardist for two decades. He toured with him from 1993 to 2012 and also toured with Sherman Robertson and Little Jimmy King. He also plays on this recording. Others he’s appeared with include Trudy Lynn, Albert Storo and the Soul Hustlers & Sherman Robertson. This is the second entry of music with folks he collaborated with during COVID who performed at various location to put Volume 1 together, mostly cover songs. This subsequent effort is also a remote collaboration and builds on the effort by putting music to the UK’s Martin Newman lyrics. The Story and Clark reference is a huge, vintage piano used mostly on the first CD.
He is joined on this album by many a talented musician. Little Ray Ybarra on guitar is from Port Arthur, Texas. He played with Paul Orta, Lazy Lester and front the Blue Sonics. Bassist Jessica Will is from Austin and played behind Sherman Robertson, Trudy Lynn, Alan Haynes, Albert Storo and the Soul Hustlers. She sometimes now tours with Chris Duarte, and plays regularly with Beth Lee and the Breakups. Johnny Long on sax hails from DC and was with Bobby Parker, Wilson Picket, and B.B. King. Morgan “Jerry” Norris on drums and backing vocals played with Sam & Dave, New Catus Band, Issac Hayes, Bobby Parker, and Chris Polk. Mark Brown also on drums played with Bobby Parker, Clones of Funk. Another drummer appearing is Willie McCullen from the Houston Ensemble, Hazy Ray (NOLA band), and Mark Dina Group (jazz fusion). Cherria Rattler on vocals has appeared with many jazz groups in the 70s & 80s in Houston area, provided vocals for Free Radials. Also on guitar is Ronnie Edwards from Junior Marvin’s band. Dale “MD” Elenich on trumpet & sousaphone is from Milwaukee and is an arranger for Salsa and Jazz Groups, Hot & Dirty Brass Band, and Swing Syndicate. Dane Paul Russel on harp is also from bands with Bobby Parker and the Kelly Bell Band.
“Consumer Durables” opens the album and has Lil Ray Ybarra and Martin Newman on the cut. Cecil sings about his woes with many a product that he has the blues with. Stinging guitar and keys are the prominent. The funky “Flashbacks” follows, featuring Morgan Norris, Lil Ray and Newman. More guitar licks, keys and a nice bass groove.
Then it’s “Don’t Know Don’t Care,” a punk mix with horns with Lil Ray, Johnny Long, Jessica Will, Willie McCulen, Dale “Md” Elenich and Newman. It’s a wild one! Then we have “Stuck on Him” featuring Lil Ray. Much more sedate than the prior track, we have some sax and keys backing things nicely.
“Talking Song: is a cut with Dane Paul Russell, Morgan Norris, Lil Ray and Newman. We gets some cool harp, smooth keys, and the guitar stings sharply. “Baltimore” is a Randy Newman cover with Lil Ray, Cherria Rattler on vocals, Mark Brown and Will. Funky vocals, guitar and keys are featured here.
Tony Fazio & Kurt Urban are on Earl King’s “Big Chief” with rollicking piano and organ for a prolonged intro. Then Cecil comes in with horn support on this midtempo, bouncy cut.
“Too Much Baggage” has Lil Ray, “MD” Elenich, Brown and Newman. They set a nice groove and MD’s trumpet adds nicely to the track.
Then “Dark Days” with Lil Ray, Rattler returning on vocals, and Brown and Will. Rattler give us some cool slow blues with nice instrumental support on keys and especially guitar. “Straight Out of Beaumont” has Lil Ray along with keys and horns giving us some funked up instrumental stuff to savor.
The remaining cuts are listed as Bonus Tracks. “Always Something There to Remind Me” is an old Burt Bacharach tune with Long on sax, Cherria back on vocals and Ronnie “Guitar” Edwards filling on guitar in on a bluesy rendition of this pop classic. “Stop Teasing Me has the same crew plus Newman on this original track. Nice organ and guitar along with Rattler with a bit of a Caribbean flair make this interesting.
Rattler, Long & Bill Morano help out on “Shoebox Morning,” a nicely done R&B number. With a nice groove going for it. Cherria sings prettily, the sax is sultry, the keys are solid and all in all it combines for a cool cut. The album wraps up with “Don’t Know Don’t Care,” a commercial mix featuring Lil Ray, Will, Brown, Long, “Md” and Newman. It’s a high energy, rocking cut with a punk feel to it. Big organ, shouting vocals and driving beat are the order of business here.
Recorded in Texas, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. and then mixed and mastered by Jim Fox, this is an eclectic music mix of heartfelt tunes. Blues, rock, R&B, and more get whirled together for fourteen tracks of mostly original stuff to enjoy.
