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Tas Cru - Original blues from this edgy eccentric singer/songwriter accompanied by a vibrant band with dynamic vocals.  Original blues from this edgy eccentric singer/songwriter have earned Tas Cru the attention of industry media. His latest CD, "gravi-Tas" earned heavy airplay on XM Radio's Bluesville as a "Pick to Click." (April thru July, 2008) The CD is featured in reviews (June/July 2008) in both of the nation's premiere blues magazines - Blues Revue and Living Blues and in the UK's BLUES MATTERS!
Tas Cru has been dubbed the 'master of the triple entendre." That is, his best songs go a step beyond the blues tradition of the double entendre - the literal and suggestive - to where meaning is more felt than understood. Tas Cru is a rough Quebecois rendering meaning - Raw Potato. Credit for the name goes to an avid young fan who admires Tas' raw-edged vocals and peeled-bare slide guitar. Given Tas' bent on bowing to his home region's Quebecois influence the moniker was not much of a stretch, especially since much of Tas' early career was spent playing Quebec's small cities and towns along the St. Lawrence river from Montreal to Riviere du Loup. Cru is currently based out of Albany, New York.
Tas Cru performs as a solo act or with a backing band. and has performed at festivals and clubs throughout the Mid South/West including shows in Kansas City, Tulsa, Little Rock, Memphis, and the Mississippi Delta. He has shared the stage with a growing list of well known blues artists that includes Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland, Willie Smith, Marva Wright, Mem Shannon, Kenny Neal, Jimmy Thackeray, Danny Kalb, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Nora Jean Bruso, Albert Cummings, Bob Margolin and others. Also to his credit include frequent appearances at Ground Zero Blues Club and Cathead's Clarksdale Caravan Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi and on Sunshine Sonny Payne's King Biscuit Radio program on station KFFA in Helena, Arkansas.
Tas' latest CD, gravi-Tas 2008, that editor Ken Bays at Blues Revue calls a "swirling, hypnotic blues blend," builds on the traditional flavor of his solo acoustic 2006 Biscuit, but thickened by the young power blues trio, the Slow Happy Boys, and seasoned with the keyboard work of longtime sideman, G.C. Lamson. The new CD is being received as well as Biscuit. It is getting airplay at a number of blues radio stations internationally including being acurrent "Pick to Cick" on XM Radio' Bluesville. The CD reviewed in the June/July 2008 issue of Blues Revue, Living Blues and BLUES MATTERS!. Blues Revue reviewer, Genevieve Williams writes, "Listening to gravi-Tas will create a strong desire to see Cru live . . ., the albumis a multi-course feast of the down-home variety: friendly, welcoming, and direct." Living Blues critic Dave Ruthenberg says . . . on intricate resonator finger-picking or some smoky electric slide, Cru scores consistently. With equal parts humor and solid musicianship, gravi-Tas is a fun ride -more of a tilt-a-whirl than a Sunday drive." Biscuit continues to gain attention . Most recently(January, 2008) "Tired of Bluesmen Cryin'" and "One More Time" were featured on Dan Akroyd's House of Blues Radio Hours. In August 2007 the song, "Black and Poor in New Orleans" was selected by XM Radio's Bluesville for a special 2nd anniversary Katrina remembrance and featured alongside New Orleans artists Irma Thomas, Mem Shannon and Tab Benoit. "Black and Poor in New Orleans" made its debut at the Northeast Blues Society's Katrina Benefit Concert in November, 2005 in Albany, NY. The show raised monies to support New Orleans musicians whose careers and families had been devastated by the hurricane tragedy. To quote Don Wilcock, the concert promoter, "With that song, Tas Cru stole the show earning him the respect and admiration of fellow performers that included New Orleans artists Marva Wright, Kenny Neal and Mem Shannon..
Biscuit has earned very favorable reviews in the US and abroad : "A keeper. Fine resonator work both slide and fingerstyle supports an insightful batch of songs." ~ Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue) "Tas is a master of the triple entendre, adding dark sparkle and lusty luster to songs that span the spectrum from stark tragedy to delighted hilarity." ~ John Berbrich, 4th Coast Entertainment" "A solid work by an honest bluesman" ~ Andrew Baldwin - Blues Matters!
"Searing, screaming animal wails, mournful, pleading cries, notes that weep out before they blur into several others--this is the sound of Tas Cru playing slide on his resonator guitar, greasy slide blues licks that tap into the heart and emotion of a song, even when they sound eerily inhuman" ~ Bryan Wilczak-Utica Life and Times "His strong and enjoyable voice is a pleasure to listen to. The same goes with his slide guitar playing - very impressive. But he is a total package with clever lyrics and memorable songs too. ~ Przemek Draheim Radio Sfera - Torun, Poland On Friday, March 13, 2008 Blues Festival E-Guide Magezine (vol4, issue 9) announced that they have selected Tas Cru as this years winner of the“Blues Artist on the Rise.” Stated in the announcement is that Cru earned the recognition due to a combination of his clever songwriting and superior musicianship. The BFG announcement went on to say that Tas Cru is “one performer you do not want to miss!” This honor came just as Tas Cru was set to release his third solo album, Grizzle n’Bone on March 31, 2009.
www.tascru.com
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