Steven Troch’s album Nice ‘N’ Greasy brightens my night!
So this evening I was browsing the Euro-Americana Chart and there are several new albums from musicians whom I like. The chart includes new albums from: Peter Cooper & Eric Brace, Cam Penner, and Grant Peeples. One of the several artists on the Tips list whose name I didn’t recognize was Steven Troch. The title of Troch’s latest album is Nice ‘N’ Greasy and any album with a title like that is worth checking out!
When I went to Spotify I saw that the album cover had a picture of Steven and a big ass harmonica…again a sign that the album should be checked out!! So I did and I think I have added another blues harmonica player to my stable of favorites!! It turns out that Steven Torch is also known as the “Belgian Blues Torch”
Background about Steven Troch from Blues.Gr…
Steven Troch is singer and harp player for the highly appreciated Belgian band “FRIED BOURBON”. He draws inspiration from harp masters Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Gary Primich, William Clarke, Steve Baker & Joe Filisko. Steven embraces the exciting blues sounds of Chicago and combines that with different influences, always adding his own personal touch. In 2012 he was the winner of David Barrett’s “King of Swing Contest” and had the honor to share the stage with Mark Hummel, Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Sugar Ray Norcia, Curtis Salgado and David Barrett during “Mark Hummel’s Harmonica Blowout” at Yoshi’s Jazzclub in Oakland, USA. Read more of the interview with Steven appearing at Blues.gr
That’s some pretty good company that Steven is keeping. I came away from my first listening of this album very impressed Steven plays a mean blues harp.
What Others are saying about Steven Troch…
Troch is a great front man, his vocals and harp are top-notch! This guy is the real deal, playing authentic
blues in an up front and authentic way! Steve Jones, president of the Crossroads Blues Society, Illinois
and from Grammy nominated, Blues Music Award winning harmonica player Mark Hummel….
“Steven has got the VIBE! Normally It takes years to get that but Troch seems to have been born with that original inner voice.”
Steven will be joining Tiny Legs Tim, winner of the Belgian Blues Challenge 2015, and they will be representing Belgium at the 6th European Blues Challenge in Torrita di Siena / Italy on April 8 and 9, 2016.!! Then they will hopefully be competing in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis!!
Anyway I do believe that this album is going to go into my rotation and get a lot of plays over the next few weeks and beyond! The personnel on the album include: Steven Troch (vocals & harmonica), Rusty Zinn (guitar, harmony vocal), Kid Andersen (Bass), June Core (drums), Bob Welsh (organ) The album was produced by Kid Andersen and recorded at Greaseland Studios, San Jose. Check It Out!!
Links for Further Explorations of the Harmonica of Steven Troch
Artist’s Website
Facebook
Vi.be:Steven Troch
YouTube
Amazon
Here’s “Footsteps of My Dad” from Nice ‘N’ Greasy by Steven Troch