Jay Hooks

Jay Hooks - Red Line - 2002 - Provogue

Julypm (houstonpress.com/2003-04-24/music/jay-hooks) said that "Blues musicians in the US don't get the recognition here that they deserve. It's not because we are 'spoiled by an excess of worthy talent', but rather exposed to an excess of worthless talent. Those of you with a Lady Gaga or Madonna collection will have no idea what I'm speaking of. Those with a Trower, Hendrix, Winter, Erickson or Gales collection know for sure what I mean".

Jesus himself said that no man is a prophet in his own hometown, and very often that proverb can be applied to musicians as well. Ask Jay Hooks. While the blues-rock shredder plays to audiences of hundreds and even thousands across Europe, it's mostly small clubs and sports bars once his boots hit the sizzling H-town concrete. Even his record label is Dutch. Hooks's third record finds him still exporting his driving brand of Texas blues, one that continues to improve with each release. This hugely talented guitarist's ringing tones and dirty sound recall his heroes Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert Collins, but Red Line betrays his equal fondness for '70s boogie rockers like Savoy Brown and Humble Pie. The best material here -- "Last Stand," the hook-laden "Findin' My Way" and the danceable "Lowlands" -- affords him breathing room for lightning-fast fret workouts. Aided by the drumming of King's X skin thumper Jerry Gaskill and longtime bassist Maria Del Prete, Hooks's sweaty bar band is firmly grounded in its blue-collar, beer-swilling roots. It's music that doesn't just blow through stop signs -- it runs them down. Other aspects of the package, though, don't fare so well. Hooks's limited vocal skill restricts much of his singing to flat, unemotional tones, and the lyrics rarely stray from traditional blues-rock imagery: lots of being on the road, outlaw behavior, rainstorms and coldhearted women who still give ya fever. One could say that European audiences, in their love and appreciation for real American music played by real Americans, ignorantly make stars out of average talents. But had he never set foot on foreign soil, Jay Hooks would still be considered a top-notch axman in Houston, or any other Yank city. The only reason more people here don't go out to his shows is that we're spoiled by an excess of truly worthy talent. By & © Bob Ruggiero Thursday, Apr 24 2003 © 2012 Houston Press, LP, All rights reserved
http://www.houstonpress.com/2003-04-24/music/jay-hooks/

Jay Hooks has been playing around Houston area and Texas for a long time and this CD gives me the feel that his real element is the live setting. That's not saying that this CD is bad by any means, but the style of music just screams for a live club setting. Hooks started playing guitar when he was ten and was taken with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Johnny Winter and Jimi Hendrix. As a lot of other artists, Jay Hooks spent a few years performing as a sideman honing his chops. The last year before going solo was spent on a countrywide tour with Antone’s recording artist Miss Lavelle White. It always seems that artists who have spent time as a sideman seem to have a little more going for them as they understand the concept of what each member of a band is supposed to do. Bottom Line: Solid Texas rockin blues with lots of guitar work. If your a guitar freak, or you dig Texas style blues, then you should like this CD. the musicianship is good, the vocals work well within the setting, although they are not fantastic. If you like Texas blues, then you should like this CD. There's not a lot of new territory explored here, but Jay Hooks has explored and knows the territory well. These guys should be really good in a live setting based upon the CD. Lots of energy and blues rock attitude. I give it a solid three out of five stars. by & © Robert T. Murphy Review date: February 2004 "This review is copyright © 2004 by Robert T. Murphy, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without permission." http://www.mnblues.com/cdreview/2004/jayhook-redline-rm.html

This is the second full-length album of Houston native Jay Hooks for Provogue – Mascot Records. This youngster started his solo career in 1997, after having toured with Miss Lavelle White band, with his debut release “Hooked Up” for Sunburst Records. His first, self-titled, record for Provogue was released in 2000. Amongst his friends are Joe “Guitar” Hughes, Albert Collins and Billy Gibbons; and their influences surely can be heard. Traditional Texas blues (rock) reminding of S.R.V. and Rory Gallagher (“Burning Up”), ZZ Top (“Cold Natural Thang”), and sometimes close to BB King’s vibrato (“Strong Love”).As an extra, the listener gets a well-performed version of Hendrix’ ”Freedom”. Hooks is a well-educated, traditional guitarist, but his vocals could use a bit more fire at times. One of the best songs vocally is “Wicked Wayward Son”, where the voice is just supported by a slide-guitar. The pretty mainstream production by Hadden Sayers is all right, as it fits the music. Together with bass player Delprete, and drummer Gaskill (ex- Kings X), Hooks has managed to deliver a varied album within the borders of traditional blues-rock. © (Cor) Rating: 6.5/10 © Rockezine.com Sep 07, 2002 http://rockezine.com/asp/rez_areview.asp?ID=661&review=Jay%20Hooks%20-%20Red%20Line

The great state of Texas, USA has turned out some of the greatest blues/rock artists of all time. Legends like Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Bobby Mack, and many others have produced some phenomenal blues rock. In fact, Texas blues/rock has become a genre unto itself. Jay Hooks can be added to this list. He used to play to audiences of thousands across Europe, and yet when he hit Houston, it was mostly the small bars and club venues where he hung out. He is constantly overlooked as a great blues rock artist, even though he is an experienced and proven performer who has always preserved the great, traditional Texas blues/rock sound. Unlike many of his contemporaries who have "sold out" to playing mediocre "run-of-the mill" commercial blues rock, Jay stayed loyal to the classic roots blues rock sound of the past, the kind of sound that helped to make the incomparable Stevie Ray and others so great. Jay Hooks is one hell of a good axeman, and "Red Line" is a great example of the traditional Texas blues/rock sound with stellar guitar work and a kick ass groove. Jay can be a fiery and passionate guitarist, influenced by greats like Freddie King, SRV, Johnny Winter, and Jimi Hendrix. Jay has said, "I work real hard on perfecting my sound and have no plans of backing off the Hendrix/Vaughan style. I'm only interested in working on strictly guitar driven blues." Jay has had personal problems over the last few years and now only jams occasionally, sometimes with Maria Del Prete. "Red Line" is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Buy his great s/t album. You won't be disappointed. Support real musicians who play real music. Does anyone in the Houston area know if Jay is still playing? [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 106 Mb]

TRACKS

1 Burnin’’ Up 3.08
2 Last Stand 4.00
3 Once Around The Moon 4.33
4 Cold Natured Thang 2.54
5 Strong Love 4.56
6 Findin’’ My Way 5.14
7 Wicked Wayward Son 2.42
8 Across The Pond 3.11
9 Lowlands 3.13
10 Do Whatcha Gotta Do 4.24
11 Half Hell Half Voodoo 5.19
12 Freedom

BAND

Jay Hooks - Guitar, Vocals
Maria Del Prete - Bass, Vocals
Jerry Gaskill - Drums

SHORT BIO

Houston native Jay Hooks can stand shoulder to shoulder with the long list of Texas electric blues guitar legends he emulates. He grew up playing guitar on the Houston bar circuit throughout the late '70s and '80s, earning his stripes by playing in the shadow of local legends like Albert Collins and Billy Gibbons. Taking a nod from these sources, Hooks' was able to incorporate the highly typified electric blues/rock sound of Stevie Ray Vaughan with his affinity for more traditional blues influences. He received his first major exposure after he was asked to join Texas R&B die-hard "Miss" Lavelle White on a series of national tours. Hooks intermittently toured as White's guitarist for about a year before putting together a backing band and going solo in 1997. He went into the studio as a band leader and came out with his solo debut, Hooked Up. The album features a collection of gritty, rock-tinged electric blues numbers that didn't stray far outside the conventions that his aforementioned guitar heroes had brought into an international spotlight. That same spotlight also found Hooks at the end of the '90s when a European record executive by the name of Ed van Zyl heard the record and offered Hooks a contract with international marketing and distribution. The result of the contract was a self-titled sophomore effort that Hooks recorded under the guidance of producer Ben Elliot (whose resumé boasts the likes of Leslie West and Eric Clapton) for Provogue/Mascot Records. Jay Hooks' self-titled full-length recalled the strong regional traditions of Texas' super-charged blues and was released in the fall of 2000. © Nate Cavalieri © 2012 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jay-hooks-p443197/biography

MORE

Texas, a place where history vibrates through the land and its images are compelling and timeless, especially for guitar driven blues. From Albert Collins to Johnny Winter to ZZ Top the best music from Texas has always featured a healthy dose of guitar. Now meet Jay Hooks with his powerful blend of slashing guitar and soulful vocals.Jay Hooks the, 30 year old Houston native who in his early years as a musician sought out and befriended a number of blues legends such as Joe "Guitar" Hughes, Albert Collins, and Billy Gibbons. As a teenager Jay hung out with an older crowd of people, and they would take him to see these great blues guitarists. Inevitably that early experience fueled his desire to become a soaring guitar player and vocalist. After a few years of playing guitar with local musicians, Antones recording artist, Miss Lavelle White, approached Jay, and hired him to go on the road throughout the U.S. and Canada in support of her new release; however after a year stint with Miss Lavelle, Jay knew it was time to start his own band. In early 1997, Jay went into Sugar Hills Studios (Houston) with his new band and recorded his debut release "Hooked Up" for Sunburst Records. The CD was released that summer and was well received. After successfully touring his trio throughout the Southwest, Sunburst Records decided to license "Hooked Up" in the European market. That effort caught the attention of Provogue-Mascot record executive, Ed van Zyl, who offered Jay a recording contract. Jay traveled to New York City to record with producer Ben Elliott at Showplace Studios which resulted in the self-titled CD for Provogue-mascot, Jay Hooks, that was released worldwide in the fall of 2000. Ben has recorded blues legends Peter Green, Leslie West and Eric Clapton to name a few. The CD features 12 originals that Jay co-wrote with David Whitehead, and as Jay Hooks so bluntly puts it, "I work real hard on perfecting my sound and have no plans of backing off the Hendrix/Vaughan style. I'm only interested in working on strictly guitar driven blues." This is Jay Hooks - deep-involved feelings with hard driving guitar. After all, when the house lights come up, it ain't what you play; it's how you play. © 2007 Hotburrito http://www.hotburrito.nl/ency/bluesrock/jayhooks.html