There are countless talented musicians in this country, but it’s unlikely that any of them can claim to have been hand-picked by both Bob Dylan and Robert Plant to open shows for them. Andy Baylor however, can do just that. But this accomplished musician and multi-instrumentalist (he plays guitar, violin, mandolin, viola and piano to name just a few) is not one to beat his own drum – so to speak. Modest and totally free of any pretension, Baylor has well and truly earned his place on any list of Australia’s finest Roots Musicians in a career spanning over 40 years.
Blues, Cajun, Western Swing, Zydeco, Rockabilly, Country, Hillbilly, Pop and Funk laden Soul – you name it, Baylor can play it, and play it very, very well. The man behind The Dancehall Racketeers, The Honeydrippers, The Banksia Band, The Hip Hillbillies and Cajun Combo, Baylor has also performed with the likes of Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Jay McNeely, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Richard Frankland, Slim Dusty and countless other musical luminaries.
And in great news for his many friends and fans, Baylor has announced a new LP – his first since 2012’s Reel Of Joy. The new album, Blues From The Irene Building (out October 19) is a musical testament to Baylor’s dedication and long-time love of the blues in all its forms. Featuring cool original blues, funky instrumentals and ballads, Blues From The Irene Building is an album about changes all around us.
Andy – always on the lookout for a recording space that’s real, lowdown and funky, discovered The Irene Building and holed-up one long hot summer with his long-time collaborators, Pete Beulke on bass and Sharkey Ramos on drums. Together they cooked up a collection of songs and instrumentals; off-the-cuff, no frills, raw emotional riffs and heartfelt playing, with Andy furiously writing ‘stream of consciousness’ poems and lyrics on scraps of paper. Now, several summers later Blues from the Irene Building is the result.
What Andy has managed to do incredibly well on this album, is to capture not just an amazing collection of styles but it feels like he has taken us back to a few musical eras. The album has in places, the feel of a long lost blues recording and in others very much a here and now. Opening with the instrumental High-Risin’ Apartment Blues, the album takes us on a trip through Andy’s different techniques and sounds. Boasting 4 instrumental tracks in all, Blues From The Irene Building is a mixture of ballads (The Look In Your Eyes & Love You, Want You), swinging jazz (Hornpipin’) & boogie woogie (Good Good Good Rockin’ Guitar) and at times guitar work almost reminiscent of the days of Bill Hayley, through to some gentle latin-style blues (The Blues is Real). With smooth and relaxed back-up work from Pete & Sharkey, this release is a real gem of a chill out album with plenty for all blues n roots lovers.
