Chris Ruest, Gene Taylor - It's Too Late Now (2017)

Tracklist

01. Crazy Mixed up World
02. Mr. Police Man
03. It's Too Late Now
04. That Will Never Do
05. Torpedo Boogie
06. Keep Talking
07. Sad and Lonely Child
08. Date Bait
09. Life Is Like a Lightning
10. I Tried
11. I'm Down
12. Slipping Away

Chris Ruest belongs to the impressive class of serious Texas blues guitarists, a group that includes Johnny Moeller, Shawn Pittman, and Nick Curran. While the others may have wider name recognition, Ruest has quietly built a reputation of excellence that is spreading beyond his Austin home base. A veteran with nearly two decades’ experience on the bandstand, Ruest’s passion for classic blues (jump, Chicago, and Gulf Coast) and roots rock forms comes through in an original voice that combines immediacy and authenticity. Dead-on songwriting and savvy selection of covers provide a platform for his unaffected, honest vocals and tough guitar.
Ruest’s band has opened for Bobby “Blue” Bland, Johnny Winter, Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets, and Little Charlie and the Nightcats. 2005 brought Ruest’s recording debut as a solo artist, Too Many Problems, a spirited collection that captured crisp performances in glorious, true-to-vintage sound. The notable players who appeared on that disc, including Preston Hubbard, Matt Farrell, and “Kaz” Kazanoff in addition to Curran and Hash Brown, offer testimony to the respect Ruest commands among his colleagues. Now expanding his performance schedule to a wider circuit that includes Sweden, France, Costa Rica, MO, CT, Mass, RI, Tenn, Houston, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio, and club and festival dates outside Texas, Ruest recorded a follow-up CD No 2nd Chances that went to #1 on living blues charts and #3 on BB KIngs Bluesville and a 3rd Live at Shakespeares! “My goal is to play everywhere and keep playin’.”

Gene Taylor is an extraordinary blues piano-player and singer, born in Los Angeles, California, in 1952. At the age of eight, he came under the influence of a family of blues and boogie-woogie players who moved in next door to his house. After starting out with the drums, he switched to the piano and the guitar at age ten. He learned very quickly playing by ear and, at age 11, he began performing in a 'family band' with his best friend Jim Payne and Jim's parents. They worked occasional neighborhood functions, giving Gene his first experience as a 'paid musician'-playing and singing country music.
n 1993, Gene relocated to Austin, Texas, and joined The Fabulous Thunderbirds, remaining with this internationally-acclaimed band until September of 2006. During his almost-14 years with the T-Birds, he toured the world constantly and recorded two studio albums and one live album with the band-plus, a live DVD! He also played on 2 of T-Bird leader Kim Wilson's solo CD's. In 2003, Gene released a self-titled CD on the Pacific Blues label and participated in all the tours and recordings of the 'Original Blasters Reunion' from 2002-2003. He has also appeared on a recording (2006) with his dear friend, legendary L.A. bluesman, Carlos Guitarlos-and of course, Gene continues to record and perform with his friend of over 35 years, 'Icepick James' Harman (13 records and counting!).

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