Kevin Burt - Heartland and Soul (2018)

My first exposure to Kevin Burt was in January of 2018 while acting as a judge for the Blues Foundation's 34th International Blues Challenge. Over 200 artists from over a dozen countries, already winners of regional competitions, had been showcasing the previous few days. Now there were just 8 contestants remaining for the finals in each of the band and solo/duo categories. So we were judging the best of the best from all over the world and obviously we were seeing some great music but, for me, and the rest of the full house at the Orpheum Theatre, one artist was a surprise standout. Kevin's talent and his unpretentious charisma and refreshing engagement with the audience made everyone feel good immediately. Entirely unknown to them only minutes earlier, in the space of just a few songs he had the entire audience on their feet giving him a standing ovation.

He played JJ Cale's "Same Old Blues", previously covered by artists from Bryan Ferry to Captain Beefheart, Tom Petty and Eric Clapton. He played a beautifully haunting version of The Beatles’ "Eleanor Rigby" after an intro that was part rooted in self-effacing humor and partly in deep compassion for people on the streets everywhere today. And he played a soulful version of The Alphabet song and credited seeing Taj Mahal perform it on Sesame Street as inspiration. Kevin's original songs were equally appealing with the whole set bringing a smile of discovery to everyone's face, including the judges. Kevin may have been the only artist in the history of the event to win in every eligible category – Best Harmonica Player, Best Guitarist and Best Solo / Duo Performer - and his beaming smile on stage was contagious as he was announced, one by one, as the winner of each award.

Like so many great artists, Kevin's influences are varied and impressive icons of class and taste. His guitar heroes include The Three Kings – BB, Albert and Freddie. On harmonica, he credits Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, Lee Oskar, Billy Branch and Stevie Wonder as inspirations. And for singers, it's the very soulful grouping of Bill Withers, Aaron Neville, Bobby Bland, Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye. Kevin also gives major credit to a list of regional musicians he has played with and learned from, not only about their musicianship but also the pure emotion they conveyed, especially from Tony Brown.

And it turns out that the Alphabet Song is a particularly useful tool for Kevin as he works with children in Blues In The Schools programs and has written a book introducing kids to harmonica entitled "Just Play It". In fact, Kevin's work in countless community service causes earned him formal recognition from the governor of Iowa as an artist educator.

Kevin's authentic warmth hints at how much he values family and community and that same depth of feeling is front and center in his songs. He has spent most of his career within a 4 hour radius of his Coralville, Iowa home but now is the time for the rest of the world to take notice. Kevin Burt is a refreshing new talent with absolutely unlimited potential. Your job – listen, enjoy and pass the word.- Mike Kappus