Ted Russell Kamp – California Son
Ted Russell Kamp returns with his newest album, California Son, which releases March 22, via KZZ Records/Blue Elan.
Perhaps best known for his long time role as the bassist in Shooter Jennings band, Ted Russell Kamp is an LA based singer songwriter, producer, and a Grammy winning bass player who writes, records and travels the world highlighting his own country/Americana/roots music from an impressive catalog of 14 critically-acclaimed albums. Incredibly prolific, Kamp also plays live, records and writes with an ever growing impressive list of A-List musicians from around the globe including Jessi Colter, Tanya Tucker, Whitey Morgan and many more. His newest album is a twelve track ode to his adopted home that sees Kamp effortlessly tap into that magical Laurel Canyon, Gram Parsons kind of California country-rock sound that so many songwriters try so hard to capture.
The album starts off with its namesake track, which perfectly serves as a mission statement of sorts for the rest of the album. “California Son” is a bouncy love letter to Kamp’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles, with its shout-outs to many of its iconic landmarks, such as the the Pioneer Chicken Stand, the late Palomino, the Troubadour, and yes, even Tom Waits. The song serves as an autobiographical tale of Kamp’s initial move from New York to California (via Seattle) and really sets the tone for the remainder of the album. The song is an incredibly catchy, absolute ear-worm, and in fact, “I didn’t have a clue, but man, I had a plan” might just be my new favorite lyric of the year. The track was the album’s first single and has already placed and done well in the Americana charts.
Next up is the rollicking “Hard to Hold” co-written with Eli Wulfmeier, and this is followed by “One Word at a Time.” Co-written with Jenny Van West, the song really captures the songwriting process: “Me and the page trying meet halfway, Maybe get to the truth by the end of the day.” “Shine On,” co-written with I See Hawks In L.A. members Rob Waller and the late Paul Lacques, is up next, and also features Waller and fellow I See Hawks member Paul Marshall on vocals as well. Easily one of my favorite tracks from the album. The clever “Upside to the Downslide” follows and struck me with yet another memorable lyric in, “The Upside to the Downslide / Is there’s nothing left to lose / I may be coming in too hot / But at least I’m on the move.”
“Ballad of the Troubador,” a co-write with Shane Alexander slows things down just a bit before Kamp and Ted Wulfers’ “High Desert Fever” launches us into the album’s second half. Also co-written with Shane Alexander, “Firelight” is the album’s true ballad, and is quite simply a beautiful song. Cars and cruising the streets are pretty synonymous with L.A. and both themes can be found throughout the entire album, but the theme really comes to fruition here on Wilshire Boulevard, or “Miracle Mile,” a co-write with Mike Dawson that features some great harmonies from Emily Zuzik.
“Hanging on the Blues” with only its iconic bass lines accompanied by Kamp’s solo vocal might just be the most Ted Russell-y song here. A personal late album favorite. The album winds down with the fun Brian Whelan co-written, “Roll Me Until the Sun Come Up,” before coming to a close with the self reflective, “Every Little Thing.”
Here on California Son, Kamp plays everything from bass and guitars, keyboards and organ, as well as dobro and percussion. But with that said, the album is far from being any type of true “solo” project. Being as prolific a musician as Kamp is, you make some pals here and there, and California Son has a plethora of guests, most notably including John Schreffler on guitars and pedal steel, Jamie Douglas on drums, Brian Whelan on keyboards and guitars and a whole host of guest vocals including Emily Zuzik, Jenny Van West and Ed Desjardins. Primarily recorded in Kamp’s L.A. studio, The Den, Ted handled the production of California Son himself, with Mark Rains assisting on mixing and mastering.
The end result is an album that is memorable, earthy and sincere. Most importantly, it’s a rare, substantive collection of songs that’s relatable to both musicians and casual listeners alike. What California Son does best is tell the story of one of the finest songwriters and musicians Americana and roots music has to offer. Ted Russell Kamp is one of this country’s true songwriter’s songwriters. He proves it unquestionably here in perhaps his finest release yet.
Ted Russell Kamp will be playing a handful of US shows including his L.A. album release show at Harvard and Stone on March 21 before heading across the pond to Europe for tour dates later this month and into April. There’s more UK dates later in the year and undoubtedly a larger US tour in the works as well. Head on over to Ted Russell Kamp’s webpage to pick up your very own copy of California Son and keep up with everything TRK has in the works: https://tedrussellkamp.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Key to the Highway: Ted Russell Kamp
