Zach Prather & The Blues Express

Zach Prather & The Blues Express - Tools Of The Trade - 2004 - Taxi Records, France

Good modern Chicago blues with some great touches of '60's and '70's British blues rock. There is also plenty of boogie and funk in the mix. Even before he started drumming, playing quitar, and singing at most of his native Chicago' s clubs, Zach cut his first single for Curtis Mayfield. The LA Times dubbed him the “New Bad Boy of the Blues”. Zach has played with artists like the late Screamin J. Hawkins, Etta James, the late Willy Dixon, the late great Minnie Ripperton and he played with the late Luther Allison for over three years. In 1995, the late Jay Hawkins said that "Zach has talent. He has talent in the vocal departement, he has talent on the guitar, the drums, but even better still he has talent as a writer, a writer of lyrics and a writer of music. In the old days you had to have talent, and this is where Zach Prather will stand and be counted". This is not an outstanding album, and there are no exceptional tracks, but full marks to Zach Prather and his band for demonstrating great musicianship, and a genuine feeling for the blues. Zach Prather is a great musician, and deserves more media coverage. Buy Zach Prather & Slight Return's "Freak" album, and promote this guy. Also read earlyblues' Alan White's interview with Zach @ http://www.dixonlandingmusic.com/artists/zach-prather/reviews/

TRACKS

1 I stand accused (04:36)
2 Whats the hitch (03:36)
3 Run back (04:48)
4 Expressway (02:59)
5 Memphis (03:39)
6 Low rider (03:59)
7 Smooth sailing (05:01)
8 What goes up (03:09)
9 Warrior (03:26)
10 Hand in another glove (03:47)
11 Waste not want not (03:32)
12 Nobodies home (09:09)
13 Roll with the punch (02:35)
14 Lay your burden down (04:20)

All songs composed by Zach Prather

BAND

Zach Prather - Lead Vocal, lead and rhythm guitar
Urs Baumele - Bass
Michel Caras - Keyboards
Eric Kunz - Drums

BIO

Born in Chicago in 1952, Zach Prather grew up listening to many of the great Blues players. He began playing at the age of 13 and by the time he was 15, he had made his first record with Curtis Mayfields Lable Curtom Records. During this time he had commence playing at many of the well known clubs and venues in the Chicago area. At 17 Prather completed two years military service, after which he formed another Band and returned to the club scene. However, it was not the local Blues players that influenced Prather then, rather the British Invasion groups such as the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Small faces and the Who. In 1974, Prather moved to Los Angeles and began playing with another Chicago guitar player, Cash McCall. Together they performed with some of the biggest names in the Blues, including Screamin J Hawkins, Etta James and of course Willy Dixon. "Cash and I had allready become very good friends when he introduced me to Willy and in a short time we also were very close, so he, Willy, decided we should record together. Willy really liked the things I was doing, he knew people where calling it Rock 'n Roll but no one knew better then him where Rock 'n Roll came from. During this Recording Project Willie became ill. Prather was with him the day before He died, and he will always be grateful fore being able to meet this man and fore all he taught him about life which is the blues. Latter while touring Europe with Screamin J. Zach meet Luther Allison, after one Jam Session and some quick arrangements Zach moved to Paris where he performed with Luther fore 3 and a half years. While living in Paris, Zach made his first cd called Never My Love, with Melodie/Encore records. He has not stopped since .......© http://www.zach-prather.com/