b. April 3rd, 1970 in Long Beach (California)
SITTIN' AND WAITIN'
Black Top
January 1996
Passionné de blues dès son adolescence, il pratique la batterie mais se consacre rapidement à la guitare. Il suit d'ailleurs l'enseignement de Luther Tucker avec lequel il joue quelques temps. A la fin des années 80, il travaille aux côtés de Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Rogers, Dave Myers et Mark Hummel. Mais, sa rencontre avec l'harmoniciste Kim Wilson va véritablement lancer sa carrière. En effet, Wilson permet à Rusty de jouer de la guitare sur plusieurs de ses albums ("Tigerman", "That's life", "My blues") et supervise la production de ce premier album avec Hammond Scott. Pour l'occasion, Rusty délivre un sympathique album de West Coast Blues dans lequel il se montre bon chanteur et fin guitariste. Derrière lui, on trouve de solides sidemen comme son mentor Kim Wilson ou l'excellent saxophoniste John Firmin.
Passionate about the blues since his teenage years, he started out playing drums but soon devoted himself to the guitar. He studied under Luther Tucker with whom he also performed for a time. In the late 1980's, he worked alongside Snooky Pryor, Jimmy Rogers, Dave Myers and Mark Hummel. However, it was his meeting with harmonica player Kim Wilson that truly launched his career. Wilson gave Rusty the opportunity to play guitar on several of his albums ("Tigerman", "That's life", "My blues") and co-produced this debut album with Hammond Scott. The result is an appealing West Coast blues record showcasing Rusty as both a fine vocalist and a skilled guitarist. He is backed by a solid lineup of sidemen including his mentor Kim Wilson and the excellent saxophonist John Firmin.
LIVE
Bluebeat Music
August 1996
Cet album live a été capturé sur la scène du club Moe's Alley à Santa Cruz et fut édité sur le label californien Bluebeat Music. En réalité, Rusty ne chante que sur un morceau laissant le reste des parties chantées à Kim Wilson. Malgré quelques longueurs, il s'agit d'un bon disque en concert dans lequel les deux hommes se partagent les solos avec feeling.
This live album was recorded at Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz and released on the California-based label Bluebeat Music. In fact, Rusty sings on only one track leaving the rest of the vocal duties to Kim Wilson. Despite a few moments that drag, it is a solid live record in which the two men share the solos with real feeling.
LAST TRAIN TO BLUESVILLE
Bluebeat Music
1996 - 2000
Ce CD, édité tardivement en 2016, rassemble différents morceaux enregistrés à la fin des années 90 et restés inédits. Un programme plutôt consistant duquel on peut retenir "Left me with a broken heart" (avec Mark Hummel) et plusieurs titres enregistrés aux côtés de Dave Myers ("Can't hold out much longer", "Blue shadows"). On trouve aussi des morceaux provenant des séances de son premier album et des titres live.
This CD, released belatedly in 2016, gathers various tracks recorded in the late 1990's that had previously gone unreleased. It is a consistent collection in which we can point out "Left me with a broken heart" (featuring Mark Hummel) and several sides recorded alongside Dave Myers ("Can't hold out much longer", "Blue shadows"). The album also includes material from the sessions for his debut record as well as live tracks.
CONFESSIN'
Black Top
September 1998
Ce second album pour Black Top possède le même son West Coast que son prédécesseur. Cependant, on trouve cette fois plus de compositions personnelles (parfois co-écrites avec Rick Estrin) comme "Mimi" (en hommage à sa femme), "Confessin' about my baby", "Sad old lonesome day", "Lucille" et "Come get these blues up off me" où Rusty est seul à la guitare. On apprécie aussi "Don't let it be in vain" et ses accents gospelisants.
This second album for Black Top features the same West Coast sound as its predecessor. However, this time around, there are more original compositions (sometimes co-written with Rick Estrin) such as "Mimi" (a tribute to his wife), "Confessin' about my baby", "Sad old lonesome day", "Lucille" and "Come get these blues up off me" featuring Rusty alone on guitar. "Don't let it be in vain" with its gospel-tinged feel is also a highlight.
THE CHILL
Alligator
2000
Après la disparition de Black Top en 1999, Rusty Zinn signe chez Alligator, le label dirigé par Bruce Iglauer. Il y enregistre avec ses musiciens réguliers un album au son West Coast plus moderne, alternant reprises et compositions personnelles (écrites avec Rick Estrin) : "Just like a fish", "Fallin' rain", "The big eye", "Drinking my last dime", "The chill".
Following the demise of Black Top in 1999, Rusty Zinn signed with Alligator, the label run by Bruce Iglauer. There, he recorded an album with his regular bandmates featuring a more modern West Coast sound, alternating between covers and original compositions (written with Rick Estrin) : "Just like a fish", "Fallin' rain", "The big eye", "Drinking my last dime", "The chill".
ZINFIDELITY vol.1
Bad Daddy
2005
Dans cet album pour le label Bad Daddy de Jack Mac Cullough, Rusty Zinn s'ouvre à de nouveaux horizons comme la Soul, le Rhythm & Blues ou le Reggae ("Put your hand in mine" et "Zinn bootyism"). La tracklist peut apparaitre hétérogène mais recèle de beaux moments : "Treat you like a queen", "Lucille", "Get my hat", "The real stuff", "Ain't that some shame".
On this album for Jack Mac Cullough's Bad Daddy label, Rusty Zinn explores new horizons such as Soul, Rhythm & Blues and Reggae ("Put your hand in mine" and "Zinn bootyism"). The tracklist may seem eclectic but it holds some fine moments : "Treat you like a queen", "Lucille", "Get my hat", "The real stuff", "Ain't that some shame".
REGGAE BLUE
Bad Daddy
2007
Ce second opus pour le label Bad Daddy est - comme son nom l'indique - presqu'entièrement dévolu au Reggae et à la Soul. Il y a donc bien peu de Blues ici à l'exception du sympathique "Reggae your blues away" qui mélange les influences. Une tracklist plaisante néanmoins.
This second release for the Bad Daddy label is — as the title suggests — almost entirely devoted to Reggae and Soul. There is very little blues here with the exception of the nice "Reggae your blues away" which blends the two influences. A pleasant tracklist, nonetheless.
MANIFESTATION
9 Above
2008 - 2009
Enregistré entre San Francisco et Kingston, cet album autoproduit plonge à nouveau dans le Reggae. Rusty joue ici aux côtés de célébrités jamaïcaines comme Mikey Chung ou Sly Dunbar. Pour les amateurs du genre, un album agréable et inspiré.
Recorded between San Francisco and Kingston, this self-produced album dives back into Reggae. Rusty performs alongside Jamaican stars such as Mikey Chung and Sly Dunbar. An enjoyable, inspired album for fans of the genre.
EASE MY WORRIED MIND
Beth Kohnen
2013
Cet album autoproduit rassemble le duo Rusty Zinn et la chanteuse harmoniciste Beth Kohnen dans un programme constitué essentiellement de reprises blues et d'une poignée de compositions personnelles. Appliqué mais peu original, un disque sincère et sympathique qui souffre parfois de tempos trop uniformes.
This self-produced album brings together the duo of Rusty Zinn and singer-harmonicist Beth Kohnen for a program consisting mainly of blues covers and a handful of original compositions. Competent yet unoriginal, it is a sincere and likable record that occasionally suffers from overly uniform tempos.
THE REGGAE SOUL OF RUSTY ZINN
Rockbeat
2015
Enregistré au studio Greaseland, cet album continue de creuser le sillon du Reggae. Rusty Zinn, bien entouré par de bons musiciens (dont Mikey Chung et Sly Dunbar), produit lui même cet opus. Nulle trace de Blues ici.
Recorded at Greaseland Studio, this album continues to explore the reggae genre. Rusty Zinn, ably supported by fine musicians (including Mikey Chung and Sly Dunbar), produced the record himself. There is no trace of the blues here.
SPELLBOUND
Watson Unlimited
2018
Rusty Zinn s'associe avec Watson Unlimited (un groupe mené par Patrick Watson) pour un album entre Reggae, Dub et Soul. Un programme intéressant qui mérite l'écoute mais très loin des sonorités Blues.
Rusty Zinn teams up with Watson Unlimited (a group led by Patrick Watson) for an album blending Reggae, Dub and Soul. It is an interesting project that is worth a listen, though it is a far cry from his Blues sound.
RUSTY ZINN SINGS HONEYBOY CLASSICS
Rusty Zinn
2021
Dans cet album, Rusty Zinn rend hommage à Honey Boy, un chanteur de Reggae anglais d'origine jamaïcaine, en reprenant ses titres. Un programme plaisant à ranger dans les opus Reggae de Rusty Zinn.
In this album, Rusty Zinn pays tribute to Honey Boy, a born jamaican british reggae singer, by covering his songs. It is an enjoyable release to add to Rusty Zinn's reggae catalog.
MR BLUES MR BLUES
Random Chance
2022
Rusty Zinn est revenu au Blues en collaborant avec le chanteur harmoniciste Martin Lang (sur l'album "Ain't no notion"). Les deux hommes proposent ici un album conjoint de pur Blues avec d'excellents musiciens à leurs côtés. On apprécie, en particulier, les remarquables "Wasted", "Mr Blues", "Money in my pocket", "Rose and Kelly's boogie", "Crying the blues", "Jet stream", "Figure head".
Rusty Zinn has returned to the Blues, collaborating with singer and harmonica player Martin Lang (on the album "Ain't no notion"). Here, the duo delivers a collaborative album of pure Blues backed by excellent musicians. Standout tracks include "Wasted", "Mr Blues", "Money in my pocket", "Rose and Kelly's boogie", "Crying the blues", "Jet stream", "Figure head".