...swinging hard and shining!
Shaped by years of collaboration, Buckshot Blues captures guitarist Steve Kovalcheck's trio chemistry with the famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and bassist Jon Hamar. It highlights the trio's unique blend of precision, spontaneity, and playfulness through 13 mostly original tunes. Filled with soulful grooves and expressive blues inflections, Kovalcheck's melodic clarity and improvisational storytelling shines through as he pays tribute to mentors and friends through titles such as "Donald's Juke Joint," for pianist Donald Brown, or "Bright Child," in memory of organist Akiko Tsuruga, their bandmate who was lost too soon. The result is a vibrant, heartfelt recording that celebrates the spirit of the tradition while carving out a sound that distinctly belongs to this gifted trio of friends.
"...Steve Kovalcheck exudes soul." DownBeat
Track Listing:
1 Happy Train 4:07
2 What's New 6:55
3 The Prairie's Edge 6:01
4 Buckshot Blues 4:16
5 Donald's Juke Joint 5:48
6 Big Red's Arrival 4:38
7 Daydance 4:53
8 You're My Everything 5:48
9 Fast Eddie 4:02
10 Bright Child 6:52
11 Skylark 7:02
12 Crab Lantern Blues 4:37
13 I've Been Everywhere 3:37
All compositions by Steve Kovalcheck, except:
(2) Bob Haggart & Johnny Burke
(6) Jon Hamar
(8) Harry Warren, Mort Dixon, & Joseph Young
(11) Johnny Mercer & Hoagy Carmichael
(13) Geoff Mack
Performers:
Steve Kovalcheck - electric guitar
Jon Hamar - double bass
Jeff Hamilton - drums
Production Info:
Produced by Steve Kovalcheck
Recorded by Steve Genewick at Stagg Street Studios,
Van Nuys, CA, on September 5-6, 2025
Mixed by Steve Genewick at the Stewart House
Mastered by Peter Doell
at 21st Century Audio, Los Angeles, CA
Studio photos by Jessica Ragsdale
Kovalcheck portrait by Max Ralston
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Buckshot Blues
Paris Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
Steve Kovalcheck's Buckshot Blues Redefines the Modern Jazz Guitar Trio
The first notes arrive with quiet authority: a guitar line that unfolds with clarity, precision and a certain unforced elegance. Listening to Steve Kovalcheck, one quickly realizes that technical mastery is not the question. His dexterity, fluid runs, subtle harmonic color, ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
If you're a guitar fan, you're going to love the clean and classy strings of Steve Kovalcheck, who trios up with bassist Jon Hamar and legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton for a mix of originals and covers. Of the latter, Kovalcheck is drop dead gorgeous with Hamar on "Skylark" and has a g as of a time chick-a-booming with Hamilton for "I've Been Everyw ...
Making A Scene (Dee Dee McNeil)
Guitarist, composer and arranger, Steve Kovalcheck joins famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and heralded bassist, Jon Hamar, to present mostly original songs he has penned. Kovalcheck has written a few tribute tunes for musicians he respects or who have mentored him. For example, "Donald's Juke Joint" was written for Donald Brown, and "Bright Child" was p ...
Bman's Blues Report (Editor)
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Buckshot Blues, from Steve Kovalcheck and it's a lively set. Opening with Happy Train, Steve Kovalcheck on guitar outlines the melody with chords and runs the fretboard with confident phrasing. Backed by Jon Hamar and Jeff Hamilton on drums (with exceptional foot work), this is a spring ...
