“Multi award winning Kaz
Hawkins is Northern Ireland’s very own blues and soul darling. The Belfast born
singer-songwriter is fast becoming a performing icon across UK & Europe
with the United States temptingly beckoning her over. Her high energy, original
shows with her 1950s style swing-dress-meets-Dr Martens look and ability to
closely connect with her public contribute to make Kaz one of today’s most
popular blues artists in the UK and Ireland, as she continues to play to full
houses. Kaz has been compared to Etta James & Janis Joplin to name but a
few. Mixing through the genres of music for over 20 years, she finally found
her niche in roots and blues………”
Feelin’ Good
Kaz Hawkins Band
2016
Recorded at
Millstone Studios, Comber, Northern Ireland
Produced and
mastered by David Jamison.
Track Listing:
Pray (Hawkins)
It Ain’t You
(Hawkins)
Don’t Make Mama
Cry (Hawkins)
This Is Me
(Hawkins)
Belfast Town
(Hawkins)
Feelin’ Good
(Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse)
Don’t Run Away
(Hawkins)
Because You Love
Me (Hawkins)
Soul Superstar
(Hawkins)
I Just Wanna Make
Love To You (Willie Dixon)
Kaz Hawkins –
Lead vocal, acoustic guitar. Keys
Nick McConkey –
Lead guitar, acoustic guitar
Peter Uhrin –
Drums, percussion, backing vocals
Jan Uhrin – Bass
Deanne Jones –
Backing vocals
I’ll
get to the singing shortly. But first, hats off to the production team and the
musicians. Every note, every second of this magnificent album just oozes
perfection. The arrangements are superbly thought through and delivered with
confidence and expertise. Each musician is a vital ingredient and when they all
combine, man, what an astounding piece of work.
I
have listened to Feelin’ Good six times and each time I have jotted down words
like power, energy, drive, authority, confidence, force, dynamism,
supercharged, compelling, infectious, irresistible, mind-blowing – you get the
idea. It is as mighty a recording as you are ever likely to hear. It will have
equals as an album but you’d be hard-pressed to find much better than this, and
that includes you, Adele.
And
so, specifically to Kaz Hawkins, a soul and blues hurricane, to rattle your
contact lenses before turning it down a notch and hugging you in a sweet
embrace. Kaz has an amazing vocal range from the edgy gospel opener Pray to the
rocking It Ain’t You.
The
first words you hear from Kaz are: “Lost ma mojo.” Sorry to contradict you, KH,
but this album just drips mojo. (I know what I mean!) Pray is a full power
track, perfect played loud to gain the full benefit and to absorb the vibe. It
lifts the spirit and stirs the soul, an anthem for troubled times.
We
hop aboard a driving riff on It Ain’t You, a rock ‘n’ roll-soul-blues combo
that has classic written all over it. Add that to the slinky, sassiness of
Don’t Make Mama Cry and I’m thinking, if Tom Jones plans any more duets,
Thomas, look no further.
This
Is Me and Soul Superstar, both brilliant slower, but no less stunning songs,
underline who Kaz Hawkins is – a Belfast girl with a gift of a voice and a
talent to behold that has universal appeal. She is from a particular place but
she can go any place, if I can write those words like an old blues guru! Radio
stations should be falling over themselves to play this album.
On
Belfast Town, the foot is back on the accelerator, this time with quite
brilliant drums played expertly by Peter Uhrin, the beats and rhythms staying
with you long after the track ends. Apart from anything else, it is a
masterclass in percussion. And it is always nice when the old home town gets a
mention.
Of
the ten tracks, eight are Kaz Hawkins originals and two are covers. Feelin’
Good, the old standard, is in safe hands here and it fits in beautifully with
the texture of the album. Kaz doesn’t put a foot wrong on any track and it is
to her credit that she can include covers in such a seamless way. I Just Wanna
Make Love To You benefits from a large dose of funk and the arrangement takes
the song to a whole new level. She was born to sing these songs, just as she
was born to write new ones and perform them as new classics.
Kaz
Hawkins is a world class performer with a voice to enjoy and treasure. The Kaz
Hawkins Band is a composite of individual talents that combines here to make an
outstanding album.
Feelin’
Good deserves much success and maybe, just maybe, it will be a launching pad to
greater international recognition. KHB – you’ve achieved something very special
here.
Good
luck with it.
Here's a YouTube link to the band performing Belfast Town
