Roy Kay Trio Albums (4)
'The Rhythm and Harmony of The Roy Kay Trio'
Release Date 1/1/2008
Tracks 14
Label Texas Jamboree Records
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Rhythm and Harmony of the Roy Kay Trio finds the trio sticking to its vintage guns on its fourth album. Once again, the always drummer-less trio featuring the talents of rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist Roy Kay, lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Geglia, and upright bassist/vocalist Robin Cady delivers a set of old-school rockabilly originals. The tracks, all written by Kay, are sweet little pop nuggets of urbane roots rock that should appeal to fans of '50s-era rock & roll. That said, while Kay has always had a knack for hummable, twang-inflected foot tappers, here he has expanded some of his purest tendencies to include some nifty chord progressions and sonic touches that also hint at early-'60s pop -- think the Everly Brothers or early Beatles minus drums of course. More over, such stellar cuts as the lead-off track "Why Even Try" and the mid-album ballad "Heart That Beats with Mine," while fitting snugly into the rockabilly tradition, also bring to mind Your Arsenal-period Morrissey. It's actually a fairly apt comparison as the Brit-rock icon has long drawn inspiration from the same well of '50s rock and pop as Kay does here. If The Rhythm and Harmony is somewhat lacking in flat-out rockers, it doesn't really matter as Kay's talent lies less in ripping through high-octane rave-ups and more in crafting intimate and melodically thoughtful songs that make the most of the trio's burnished harmony vocals. In that sense, Kay is a real rockabilly gentleman and The Rhythm and the Harmony of the Roy Kay Trio is pure class. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
'Rock-A-Way Lonesome Moon'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 14
Label Lur Liner
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Full of purest rockabilly and Western bop, the Roy Kay Trio's Rock-a-Way Lonesome Moon is a superb third album that finds the drummerless trio sounding better than ever. Having delved deep into straight-up rockabilly on the group's first two albums, guitarist/vocalist Roy Kay, lead guitarist Mike Geglia, and upright bassist Robin Cady move on to '50s country here. The result is an utterly tuneful and danceable album that reveals the trio's knack for sparkling vocal harmonies and snappy guitar twang. This is especially true on tracks like Kay's "Cold Tears" and Geglia's "Two of a Kind," which bring to mind a more rockin' version of such classic acts as the Delmore Brothers and the Blue Sky Boys. It also doesn't hurt that the album was produced in Berlin by German roots rocker Axel Praefke on vintage recording equipment, giving the album a warm period '50s sound. Third time is definitely a charm for the Roy Kay Trio with Rock-a-Way Lonesome Moon. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On its sophomore effort Knockin' Em Back, the Roy Kay Trio delivers more high-energy rockabilly sans drums and cum excitement. Once again showcasing the talents of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Roy Kay, lead guitarist Mike Geglia, and bassist Robin Cady, the trio achieves an even tighter overall group aesthetic than on their stellar debut, Wanderin' Mind. Produced and recorded by Big Sandy cohorts Wally Hersom and Ashley Kingman, the album has a vintage '50s sound that should appeal to purist rockabilly fanatics. To these ends, Geglia has found a tasty Paul Burlison-type balance between low twang and "chicken-pickin'" freneticism while Cady's solid and punchy bottom-end more than makes up for the lack of a drummer. Singer Kay's immediately hummable originals including the danceable "In the Middle" and the bluesy leadoff track, "I Know," smartly outweigh cover tunes this time around, although he does imbue such vintage nuggets as Hank Williams' "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" and the Johnny Burnette Trio's "Lonesome Tears in My Eyes" with his usual warm charm. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Rockabilly purists the Roy Kay Trio forgo the use of drums on their debut album, Wanderin' Mind -- and boy, you won't miss 'em. Relying on the rhythmic interplay between bassist Robin Cady and rhythm guitarist/lead singer Roy "Kay" Konitzer to get your foot tappin', the result is a low-key and hummable collection of tunes that sound like classics of the genre. Revealing a knack for keeping melodies memorable and swinging, the Kay Trio recorded the album live on vintage equipment at Kearney Barton's studio under the '50s-centric production guidance of roots music luminary Deke Dickerson. Besides covering the Eddie Bond nugget "Boppin' Bonnie," all the songs on Wanderin' Mind are originals, such as "Confused," a terrific mid-tempo number reminiscent of early Johnny Cash, while the up-tempo and melodic "High and Low" hearkens back to the best of Buddy Holly. Konitzer himself has a warm, congenial, Ricky Nelson-meets-Eddie Cochran voice and when backed with vocal harmony by lead guitarist Mike Geglia, may remind some of a more honky tonk Everly Brothers. Fans of the real stuff will appreciate Wanderin' Mind for what it is -- darn good rockabilly. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
