Shaped by years of collaboration, Buckshot Blues captures guitarist Steve Kovalcheck’s trio chemistry with the famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist Jon Hamar. It highlights the trio’s unique blend of precision, spontaneity, and playfulness through 13 mostly original tunes. Filled with soulful grooves and expressive blues inflections, Kovalcheck’s melodic clarity and improvisational storytelling shines through as he pays tribute to mentors and friends through titles such as “Donald’s Juke Joint,” for pianist Donald Brown, or “Bright Child,” in memory of organist Akiko Tsuruga, their bandmate who was lost too soon. The result is a vibrant, heartfelt recording that celebrates the spirit of the tradition while carving out a sound that distinctly belongs to this gifted trio of friends. “Steve Kovalcheck exudes soul.” DownBeat “swinging hard and shining!” – Jazz Guitar Today

Tracklist:

1. [4:07] Happy Train
2. [6:55] What’s New
3. [6:01] the Prairie’s Edge
4. [4:16] Buckshot Blues
5. [5:48] Donald’s Juke Joint
6. [4:38] Big Red’s Arrival
7. [4:53] Daydance
8. [5:48] You’re My Everything
9. [4:02] Fast Eddie
10. [6:52] Bright Child
11. [7:02] Skylark
12. [4:37] Crab Lantern Blues
13. [3:37] I’ve Been Everywhere

UPC: 805552224924
Label: Oa2
Release Date: 4.3.26
Format: CD