Music column: Steve Rigo releases new CD, 'Surf and Turf'
Sometimes a songwriter wants to show off their compositional skills, filling an album with clever, well-crafted and well-performed original tunes that will impress listeners.
For Steve Rigo, that would have been his recent blues-rock CD, “Drinkin’ with Lincoln.”
But sometimes, you just want to have fun. For Stevie, that would be his latest, “Surf and Turf,” a collection of beach tunes, lesser-known vintage rock songs and miscellaneous musical trinkets.
“The theme started out with my love of Surf Music,” recalls Rigo. “I was just wanting to record a couple of songs for myself, never dreaming it would turn into an entire album. One thing led to another, and it just kept rolling.”
It may surprise youngsters to learn that, until the Beatles came along, contemporary acts were rarely self-contained. While the artists would be the centerpiece, backing them would be the studio’s stable of rock-solid veterans creating the iconic sounds.
Rigo and producer Bob Acquaviva follow the same formula, bringing in some of the most respected musicians in Central New York. Dave Liddy provides his signature R&B and swing piano, with Frank Talarico covering organ and electric piano parts.
Drummer Lenny Milano and Acquaviva on bass provide as solid a rhythm section as you could want. Darryl Sleszynski, better known as a jazz saxophonist, shows he can handle rock sax with the best of them, and Dawn Malachino Acquaviva, Julia Scranton and Kevin Besig chip in with background vocals.
Of course, hardcore ‘50s rock needs to be represented, and Chuck Berry’s “Carol” does just that, getting the CD off to a rocking start.
On a CD so dominated by summer beach music, it should also come as no surprise to find two instrumentals that were essential learning for any guitarist in the ‘60s, “Walk Don’t Run” and “Pipeline.”
The record also features some overlooked gems you will find yourself singing after the record stops, like “Short Shorts,” “California Sun” and “Black Slacks” (which I don’t recall being so swingingly hip).
There are even a few fun ones that I don’t even remember (I’m probably just too young), like “Flying Saucer Rock and Roll” and “Surfin’ Bird.”
“I used to dress up like a chicken in full costume and perform [Surfin’ Bird] on the road,” explains Stevie. “It was a lot of fun.”
And some surprises find their way onto the songlist, “Hanky Panky”, solely because it was the first 45 Lenny Milano ever bought (yes, he really is that old) and a killer version of the Batman theme, appropriately enough for a recording made at Wayne Manor Studios.
Listen, this record is not going to be your background music at your next elegant, fancy dinner party. But, really, how many elegant, fancy dinner parties do you have? For a backyard cookout, this will do just fine.
The record can be found at many local businesses, in Ilion at Beer Belly Bobs, Ilion wine and Spirits, Marine Corp League, Elks, Knights of Columbus, Francos, and Mirabito; in Frankfort at Fratellos, and Heel Path Brewery; in Herkimer, Mohawk Community Market; and, in Utica, Dr. Uniforms and Music and More Records.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Singer/songwriter Steve Rigo releases new CD
