Reviews

2010 Fairfield Weekly’s Grand Band Slam Winner
“Blues/Blues Rock” category: Otis & the Hurricanes

Hurricane Otis was an actual hurricane that lashed the western coast of Mexico in the fall of 2005, decades after Chris Cross, lead singer/guitarist of Otis and the Hurricanes, received his nickname.

Legend has it that Cross’ friends first started calling him “Otis” after he bent his first note on a Fender Telecaster at the tender age of 14, permanently engraining the blues into his persona. Before he fell for the blues genre, Cross was introduced to music like many children of the 1960s, by the British Invasion.
“I’m dating myself but, of course, like many people, I grew up listening to The Beatles and the Stones and that kind of music in the mid-1960s,” says Cross, with a voice more disarming than one would think a blues singer could possess. “That segued into the blues and then that morphed into more of a groove thing. I found myself gravitating towards the New Orleans feel, like Little Feat and the Radiators — blues-based, groove driven tunes.”

Otis is a child of the ‘60s blues resurgence, as are the other five members of the Hurricanes. That era unshackled the genre from the poverty and strife of the rural, post-Civil War South of Robert Johnson and made it increasingly susceptible to the musical melting pot of a changing America.

“The band is 11 years old now and the direction has pretty much been in that New Orleans flavor,” explains Cross, likening the group to a city known so well for its blending of cultures, “that whole jambalaya of music.”

Eleven years with the same set group of musicians breeds a clairvoyance of sorts. One knows what the other will do before he does it. An old blues tune is a blank canvas for the Hurricanes, with each member free to paint with flourishes of color through improvisation without stepping on anyone’s toes. “We’ve got a couple of originals, but we’ll take more obscure tunes and then re-write the rhythms,” says Cross. “We’ve been together long enough that we know what we all like to do.”

One thing about the blues will never change: Each song tells a story. Whether the lyrics speak about a woman, or — well, let’s be honest, it’s usually a woman — a rich tradition of storytelling remains the driving force behind the music. “That’s what really grabs us,” Cross says, “the storylines. They’re just love songs, but the storylines are wonderful and very universal.”

While many believe a hurricane in Fairfield County to be meteorologically improbable, Otis and his Hurricanes have managed to take this category by storm for the third year.

Jackson Connor – Fairfield Weekly 8.25.2010

Saturday Night Otis and the Hurricanes Hit Fairfield’s Al’s Place December 2005

With this year’s onslaught of devastating hurricanes, it was our turn to get hit with one. And we did…with a good one.

Saturday night, Otis and the Hurricanes played Al’s Place in Fairfield — And they brought down the house. By moving the stage from the window to the sidewall, Al’s gave its patrons more dance room and a better venue for bands to be heard. So when Otis and the Hurricanes got up on the newly designed stage, they hit it like a Category 5!

Otis and the Hurricanes opened with a blazing rendition of “Cissy Strut.“ It only took a handful of notes before the entire place was in motion. Their special brand of get-up-and-dance, New Orleans Rhythm & Blues – Louisiana Rock & Roll — didn’t let up till the next day.

Guest guitarist Jim Schanck from the Mill River Band was invited on stage to play “T-Bone Shuffle.” There was also a surprise special guest appearance by Average White Band founder/ singer/ songwriter Alan Gorrie.

The energy and raw power that Gorrie generates with his voice is awe-inspiring. The soulful elegance he brought to “People Get Ready” was moving. Then with two beats of the drum, he seamlessly broke into “It’s Alright.” Again, making Saturday night at Al’s — way more then average.

So how is it that Otis and the Hurricanes can play with artists of this caliber?
That’s because everyone in the group are artists of that caliber. Everyone in Otis and the Hurricanes are veteran players who have a great understanding of music.

So what makes Otis and the Hurricanes so…so…well, so damn tight? Here’s the break down:

There’s Otis aka Chris Cross. Guitar and lead vocals. Chris played and recorded with Blue in the Face. Went on to raise a family, and now, fortunately for us, has come back to work. Watch Chris play, and you’re amazed how effortless he makes it seem. Listen to him, and hear the virtuoso of a man possessed. And, to his credit, during his solos, he never “overplays his welcome.” He leaves the audience always wanting more. Ask anyone in the business about Chris, and they’ll tell you what a great guitarist and bandleader he is. Chris has been on the road with Debbie Davies as well as opening for Tab Benoit, Average White Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Johnny Winter, James Montgomery and Roomful of Blues to name a few.

As soon as you hear “Smokin’ Joe” Najmy on keyboard/accordion and vocal, you know he’s the real deal. Joe has played with a ton of the best people. During a break– just name someone and he’s probably played with them.

Joe’s also recorded with Average White Band (yes, with the above mentioned Alan Gorrie), has opened up for Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal and Robert Cray and is believed to have rode up in an elevator with Dr. John.

Chris Bishop: A masterful bassist and vocalist. “CB” is worth the price of admission alone!! He’s recorded and toured with Robert Palmer and James Montgomery.

Rick Quintinal – A master of percussion and drummer extraordinaire. Rick is one of the “go to” guys in Fairfield County, toured with Malo and we groove deep with him onboard!

Doug Bernstein, tenor sax. Doug was musical director for Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave) and toured with the Mavericks as well. Just listen to him play and you gotta believe — his list is strong.

So there you have it. Otis and the Hurricanes’ power is in their experience as seasoned musicians who love to play music and get the house rockin’.

If you want to find out when and where they are playing next — get on their emailing list via this website or at: OtisMusic1@gmail.com

Sam Goldstein