Kid Ramos – Strange Things Happening – Nola Blue Records NBR|039

Multi-genre singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, an American musical legend, found widespread acclaim because of her gospel, blues, rock-n-roll, and R&B frameworks.  In one of her signature “good book” songs, “Strange Things Happening Everyday,” she sings, “Jesus is the holy light / Turning darkness into light / There are strange things happening everyday.”  Tharpe is also attributed with the following quote, “I’ve got Jesus in my heart.  I’m glad to be alive.”  Such an emotional transport is ultimately borne from missteps in life that eventually are necessarily and honestly considered, and finally reconciled toward a new beginning, one forward looking to redemption.

My dear friend, the great blues harmonica artist and vocalist Tom Moore, and I often speak about music.  When conjoining our musical reflections with what’s going on in the current blues and related genre fields, often we find ourselves in time warps as we mutually agree that certain music made years ago, in many ways, eclipses what we currently hear, either in performance or on record.

From Moore’s perspective, he was an inescapable presence on the fertile San Diego, California blues scene of the early 1980s, someone who was particularly enmeshed in the music scene playing out at Solana Beach’s Belly Up Tavern, and through his integral involvement with the band The Five Careless Lovers, a group of some renown.

To this day, Moore often speaks in the highest of regards when framing his conversations regarding the energized performances of The James Harman Band at the Belly Up Tavern, likening them to the pillar of blues and jump blues musicmaking from an amazingly talented ensemble including James Harman with his sly wit infusing his keen songwriting, swaggering vocals, and astounding harmonica playing, the brick-solid low-end foundational rumblings of bass man Willie J. Campbell, the always-tight and idyllic percussion efforts of Stephen Hodges, and the duel guitar threat of the legendary Hollywood Fats and the pompadoured, muscle-bound handsome lad known as Kid Ramos.  Moore, to this day, cites shows by this aggregation as the stuff of legends.

And the band’s brilliance is easy to hear on releases such as Those Dangerous Gentlemens, Thank you Baby, Extra Napkins (Strictly The Blues…Vol. 1), and Strictly Live In ’85…Plus! Vol. 1, but especially so via the “live” setting on the last collection mentioned.

The high level of interplay between Hollywood Fats and Kid Ramos is terrifying precise on the Strictly Live In ’85…Plus! Vol. 1 outing, akin to a duo who hungrily fed off of one another, two blues principals who had an unnatural telepathic musical bond, each ideally supporting the other, with the respect obvious and authentic.

Fast forward out of those early Southern California years and David “Kid” Ramos has built a tremendous musical career spanning some 40 years on the back of his work with Harman, Roomful Of Blues, Big Rhythm Combo, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, Los Fabulocos, The 44s, and The Proven Ones, while too backing innumerable other blues artists, also constructing a renowned solo career and releasing celebrated collections of his own on Black Top Records, Evidence, Delta Groove Music, and Rip Cat Records.

But most importantly, Ramos has been an extremely devoted husband, father, and loyal friend to many.

But like anyone who reaches 65 years of age, contemplation is natural, and given that Ramos also successfully fought Ewing’s Sarcoma, looking at the big picture of life would be even more of a given, let alone other trials and tribulations that have impacted his life.

And that meditation on the totality of a life to-date, inspired by a telephone call from an acquaintance who heads his own his of worship, has resulted in Strange Things Happening, in what is clearly Ramos’ creation of clarity on the meanings of many of life’s mysteries, it’s opportunistic meetings with others, and the benefits arising from those crossings of paths, all based in his love of God and the saving powers of His love. 

Quite simply, Strange Things Happening is one of the best works I have been fortunate to have enjoyed and found deep meaning within in many years.  This is a major work of substantive depth, quality, and direction, and one of great celebration of the titanic power of salvation.

It may seem like housekeeping, but these summations are not meant in that manner.  Surrounding Ramos’ dynamic and prolific vocal, guitar, and bajo (think of a cross between a 12-string guitar and cello – an instrument often found in Mexican music) proficiencies are Brian Templeton with his superb vocals and harmonica attributes, the aforementioned Stephen Hodges lending considerable percussion specialties, Mike Turturro perfectly framing the low-end bass work, Takazo Hall and Kaizo Hall presenting grand trumpet support, Jesse Cuevas delivering tasty accordion runs, David Limina distributing supreme keyboard nuances, and Ramos’ son Johnny Ramos stunning with his vocal output on four selections.  All aboard this ambitious, thoughtful spiritual excursion glorify Ramos’ musical visions.

And by the way, Johnny Ramos’ voice is so incredibly pure and poignant.  Stirring.

Ramos’ songs speak to the designed courses of life’s personal entwinements, the search for meaning and humbly asking for forgiveness, building upon a future framework for a spiritual life, how God is always by one’s side through the Lord Jesus Christ, the ever-lurking darkness of Satan, how love is “the answer,” and how his journey toward living a devout life is one taken day-by-day.  Ramos’ songs have meaning, real meaning to him, and that comes across crystal clear, without any distortion.

So, how does a collection framed in faith appeal to the average blues fan?  It is a legitimate question.  First, Ramos’ guitar work throughout this sterling collection is of the expected high standard pinnacle that his fans have enjoyed whenever he has plied his six-string trade.  Here, it is as robust and messaging as ever.  Second, his vocals are steeped in depth of purpose, especially important in an outing dedicated to spreading “The Word,” and they impeccably convey his devout fidelity.  Third, Ramos’ carefully curated backing collaborators are too drenched in the profundity of the moving aspects of music of emotional depth.  Fourth, as gospel and the blues have always had a direct link, with Ramos’ fervent determination across the panorama of this collection bringing the earnest feelings of the two genres together superlatively hitting that mark.  Finally, Ramos has lived, and is living, of what he speaks to here.

This is a document of rescue, humility, forgiveness, love, and hope.  All from Ramos’ personal inputs.  He knows best, has shared, and hopes for new heights of individual sanctified achievements. 

Rarely, and I mean rarely, have modern-day releases been assigned to my “Essential…” category.  That list is stocked with works whose contributions to the larger fabric of the music, across all the years, make them indispensable.  Off the top of my head, contemporary works by Anthony Big A Sherrod and The Dig 3 come to mind as those whose quality merits necessary inclusion into my “Essential” recording category.

With Strange Things Happening, the greatest merits of the artist, the works themselves, the messages within the works, and the professionalism of the contributions from all involved make this a modern-day classic. And it belongs in every blues and gospel collection, period.

Ramos is an American musical treasure.  A sincere “thank you” goes out to him for baring his soul to all of us.

This exemplary CD, Ramos’ first in five years, will have preorders beginning 2/28.

An essential, terrific work, indeed! 

Bravo, Kid!