#380 : Billy Hector - Some Day Baby

2018 – Ghetto Surf Music

By Phillip Smith; March 9, 2019

There’s a certain essence to the music of Billy Hector.  He writes great songs, his guitar performances rock the house, and his voice is made for the blues.  I love his work.  This New Jersey blues artist has topped himself once again with his latest album, Some Day Baby.  It’s not just the blues which Hector is a master of, but the man also knows his way around funk and soul in a tremendous way as well.

Once I hear the horns regally lead “Wizard of Babylon” in on the first track, I know I’m in store for a delightful listen.  Hector’s guitar sizzles as the groove kicks in.  With Winston Royce on bass guitar, and Val Romaine on drums, title track “Some Day Baby” is absolutely fabulous.  It’s magnificently punched up with horn accompaniment from Tom Labella and John Martin, and magically charged with an energy much akin to that of the Red Hot Chili Peppers taking on Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”.  Another favorite is the George Clinton-esque, funk-infused “Butt Naked and Funk”.  Bassist Erik Boyd and drummer Rich Monica pair up for the rhythm section on this wonderful jam.  There’s an unavoidable intoxicating rhythm which draws me into “Creeper”.  The deep tones in Hector’s vocals are superb as he sings this song of infidelity, which by the way is enjoyably topped off with keys from John Ginty.   The way Hector transforms "Moonlight in Her Eyes" from a rolling blues tune to a Beatles-like orchestrated number is pure genius.  

Hector quite nicely takes on a couple of traditional tunes with “On Your Bond”, originally released by Blind Willie Johnson in 1930 , and “Alabama Bound”.  “Whisky”, a dark and brilliant tune dances atop a menacing atmosphere created by David Nunez on keys and drummer Larry Crockett.  Hector plays this with an emotional bravado. The album comes to a lively close with “Road to Happiness”, a soulful duet with his wife and co-producer Suzan Lastovica.   

Some Day Baby, a terrific album from start to finish, is definitely an addition to my favorites of 2018. 

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For more information about the artist, visit this website.. www.billyhector.com  

Billy Hector - Old School Thang

2015 – William Hector / Ghetto Surf Music

By Phillip Smith; May 2, 2015

The latest album, Old School Thang from Billy Hector is slathered in blues and quite the listen.  Hector dishes out his songs in a variety of formats, ranging from traditional and swampy, to trans-blues.    

“She’s Gone”, a great track to open with, grabs me with the smooth Santana-influenced guitar licks.  It sounds so good, especially with the accompaniment by David Nunez on organ, and the horn section made up of Tommy Labella and Steve Jankowski.  Hector breaks out the big guns and totally nails down a cover of Don Nix’s “Goin’ Down” in a tribute to Freddie King.  The musicianship is nothing less than phenomenal.  This is what the blues is all about.  I love the funky rhythm on title track, “Old School Thang”.  If Prince decided to cross over to the blues, I think this is very close to what it would sound like.  I have to mention the awe-inspiring drums provided by Sim Cain, which made me think of the late great Chuck Ruff who played drums on the iconic song, Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein”.  

“Rita”, a despairing and tragic tune which seems to fall in the same wheelhouse as the music of Tom Waits, has a nifty way of getting stuck in my head.  For the finale, Hector closes out “People of the World”, a tasty treat full of groovy jams coated with organ and horns.  Funky repetitive grooves reminiscent of the trans-blues music of Otis Taylor, keep this one going for eight minutes.   

Every song on Old School Thang is a winner.  This album comes highly recommended.

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