David Ramos
b. January 13th, 1959 in Fullerton (California)
TWO HANDS ONE HEART
Black Magic
Black Top
Rip Cat
January 1995
Après avoir été membre du groupe de James Harman (1980-89) puis de celui de William Clarke, le superbe guitariste Kid Ramos se lance dans une carrière solo. Dans un style typiquement West Coast, il propose, donc, son premier album publié par les hollandais de Black Magic puis réédité par le label néo-orléanais Black Top. Comme Kid Ramos ne chante pas, il confie les parties vocales à Lynwood Slim et Janiva Magness. Ramos se contentant de la guitare ou il excelle d'ailleurs. On remarque aussi une belle section cuivres composée de "Spyder" Middleton, Johnny Viau, Scott Steen. Parmi les meilleurs moments, on trouve "I can't stop", "You don't love me", "Done deal", "If you don't think I'm sinking", "Win with me", "Just like a woman". La production est signée Kid Ramos, Richard Duran (alias Lynwood Slim) et Jerry Hall. La récente réédition de Rip Cat ajoute trois prises alternatives inédites.
After being a member of James Harman band (1980-1989) and then with William Clarke, the superb guitarist Kid Ramos began a solo career. In a typical West Coast style, he proposes his first album released by dutch company Black Magic then reissued by New Orleans Black Top label. As Kid Ramos does not sing, he gives vocal duties to Lynwood Slim and Janiva Magness. But, Ramos just plays the guitar beautifully. Note also a nice horn section composed of "Spyder" Middleton, Johnny Viau, Scott Steen. Among the highlights, we can hear "I can't stop", "You don't love me", "Done deal", "If you don't think I'm sinking", "Win with me", "Just like a woman". The production is signed Kid Ramos, Richard Duran (aka Lynwood Slim) and Jerry Hall. The recent Rip Cat reissue adds three new alternate takes.
KID RAMOS
Evidence
May 1999
Comme souvent, Kid Ramos convie de nombreux invités et amis pour la réalisation de son nouveau disque : Janiva Magness, James Harman, Cesar Rosas, Lynwood Slim, Jeff Turmes. Le programme n'est composé que de deux compositions personnelles (l'entrainant "Cold chicken and beef"), le reste étant des reprises. "Dead love", "Three hundred pounds of joy", "Walk around telephone blues", "Fiddle de dee", "It takes time", "Bandstand boogie" figurent parmi les meilleurs moments du disque. Petite précision : Kid Ramos chante, tout de même, sur le dernier morceau du disque "I would be a sinner".
As often, Kid Ramos invites many guests and friends for the recordings of his new album : Janiva Magness, James Harman, Cesar Rosas, Lynwood Slim, Jeff Turmes. The program is composed of two original compositions (the dynamic "Cold chicken and beef"), the remaining tracks being covers. "Dead love", "Three hundred pounds of joy", "Walk around telephone blues", "Fiddle de dee", "It takes time", "Bandstand boogie" are among the highlights. Small precision : Kid Ramos finally sings on the last track "I would be a sinner".
THE PHOENIX BLUES SESSIONS
Southwest Musical Arts Foundation
Late 90's - Early 00's
En septembre 2012, Kid Ramos apprend qu'il est atteint du sarcome d'Ewing, une forme rare de cancer. Cet album supervisé par Bob Corritore permit de lever des fonds pour les traitements nécessaires à sa guérison. Il a rassemblé ici des morceaux provenant de quatre sessions distinctes ou Kid est à la guitare. Ce disque s'avère assez intéressant et compte les participations de Chief Schiabuttie Gilliame, Nappy Brown, Chico Chism, Big Pete Pearson, Henry Gray. Au début de l'année 2014, Kid Ramos a annoncé que son cancer était en rémission.
In september 2012, Kid Ramos was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. This album supervised by Bob Corritore allowed to raise funds for treatments for his cure. He gathered here tracks from four separate sessions where Kid is playing guitar. This CD is fairly interesting and features participations of Chief Schiabuttie Gilliame, Nappy Brown, Chico Chism, Big Pete Pearson, Henry Gray. In early 2014, Kid Ramos announced that his cancer was in remission.
WEST COAST HOUSE PARTY
Evidence
February 2000
Comme dans ses deux premiers albums, Kid Ramos a invité de nombreux musiciens à venir jouer à ses côtés. La liste des convives est relativement étendue : Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Rick Holmstrom, "Little" Charlie Baty, Duke Robillard, Rusty Zinn, James Harman, Janiva Magness et plusieurs autres. Malgré cette pléiade d'invités différents, l'album bénéficie d'une parfaite cohésion grâce à une production et des arrangements millimétrés. Encore une fois, les reprises (surtout des standards West Coast) représentent la grande majorité des morceaux. Quelques superbes pépites : "Strollin' with Bone" (en deux parties), "Talkin' that talk", "House party", "Wipe your tears", "Real gone lover".
As in his first two albums, Kid Ramos invited many musicians to come and play alongside him. The guest list is quite extensive : Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Rick Holmstrom, "Little" Charlie Baty, Duke Robillard, Rusty Zinn, James Harman, Janiva Magness and many others. Despite this plethora of different guests, the album has a perfect cohesion through tidy production and arrangements. Once again, covers (mostly West Coast standards) represent the majority of the tracks. Some great moments : "Strollin' with Bone" (in two parts), "Talkin' That talk," "House party", "Wipe your tears", "Real gone lover".
THAT LEFT COAST IS SWINGING
Pacific Blues
2000
GREASY KID STUFF
Evidence
March - June 2001
Cette fois, l'accompagnement est plus resserré sans section cuivres (un seul morceau avec cuivres). Il en résulte un son plus brut, plus électrique qui en fait un album différent dans la discographie de Kid Ramos. Il n'y a que des chanteurs-harmonicistes qui sont invités sur ce disque : Paul De Lay, Johnny Dyer, Rick Estrin, James Harman, Charlie Musselwhite, Rod Piazza. On apprécie particulièrement "Greasy kid stuff", "Chicken hearted woman", "Devil's foot", "Marion's mood", "Gratitude is rich and complaint is poverty". Il s'agit de son dernier album en date. Depuis, Kid Ramos est devenu le guitariste de plusieurs groupes : Big Rhythm Combo, The Mannish Boys et The Fabulocos.
This time, the accompaniment is tighter without horn section (only one side with horns). This is a more powerful and rawer album than usual something different in Kid Ramos discography. There are only singer-harmonica players who are invited on this disc : Paul De Lay, Johnny Dyer, Rick Estrin, James Harman, Charlie Musselwhite, Rod Piazza. Particularly preferred songs are "Greasy kid stuff", "Chicken hearted woman", "Devil's foot", "Marion's mood", "Gratitude is rich and complaint is poverty". This is his latest album. Since then, Kid Ramos became the guitarist of several groups : Big Rhythm Combo, The Mannish Boys and The Fabulocos.
HOUSE ROCKIN' AND BLUES SHOUTIN'
Blue Witch
December 2001 - June 2006
Bob Corritore a rassemblé dans ce disque quelques artistes venus se produire sur la scène de son club, le Rhythm Room à Phoenix, dans les années 2000. Kid Ramos est présent sur quatre morceaux : comme guitariste des Mannish Boys, de Floyd Dixon, des Fabulous Thunderbirds et sur un titre ou il est associé au pianiste Henry Gray (l'excellent "Henry's houserocker").
Bob Corritore gathered in this record a few artists came to perform on the stage of his club - the Rhythm Room in Phoenix - in the 2000's. Kid Ramos is present on four songs : as the Mannish Boys guitarist, then for Floyd Dixon, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and a title where he is associated with pianist Henry Gray (the excellent "Henry's houserocker").
OLD SCHOOL
Rip Cat
March 2018
Cet album symbolise le retour au premier plan de Kid Ramos après de longues années à combattre le cancer. Entouré ici par le producteur Big Jon Atkinson et quelques invités (Johnny Tucker, Kim Wilson, son fils Johnny Ramos), il montre que son habileté à la guitare est restée intacte. Gravé en deux jours seulement, l'album fait la part belle aux reprises dans un style West Coast Blues parfois mélangé à des éléments Rock & Roll ou Jazz. Un sympathique album de retour.
This album symbolizes the return to the forefront of Kid Ramos after many years fighting cancer. Surrounded here by producer Big Jon Atkinson and a few guests (Johnny Tucker, Kim Wilson, his son Johnny Ramos), he shows that his skill on guitar has remained intact. Recorded in just two days, the album is full of covers in a West Coast Blues style, sometimes mixed with Rock & Roll or Jazz. A nice come-back album.