Anyone in show business will tell you that possessing talent isn't always enough.
Sometimes timing and the right vehicle will propel an artist into the spotlight and possibly change their lives forever.
Thorold musician Brad Krauss isn't looking for fame but he's hoping the release of his new CD will reveal new paths and provide he and his band with new performance opportunities.
The CD, entitled simply The Brad Krauss EP, will be released to the world this Tuesday at Donnelly's Pub at 7 p.m.
Krauss told the ThoroldNews the main reason for the release party is to "Celebrate the fact the album is done. It was a long time in the making, a year overdue. More than anything, we want to celebrate that fact and let people know there's a CD out there."
The skilled guitarist is a well-known part of the popular Brant Parker Band but his own, the Brad Krauss Trio, has been performing together for a few years and the considerable talent contained within the band can only be restrained for so long. He believes the time is right for a break-out.
In addition to Krauss, the band includes Adrian Jurus on bass and Jeff Luciani on drums. In the studio for this production, Jake Zapotoczny provided the keyboard component.
The band is already booked to play a promotional gig for the Niagara Jazz Festival as well as the Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival and Jazz for Fathers at Donnelly's Pub on Father's Day.
But Krauss stresses the band isn't restrained by any particular genre of music.
"I didn't want to make a jazz record or a blues record or a guitar record. I just wanted to present my songs for what they are. Take them as is. I'm curious to hear what people think. I didn't make it to fall specifically into one category."
The EP contains five original Krauss songs as well as a cover of Hey Jude, which he calls "A reharmonization" of the Beatles classic.
"Dean Malton did the record, who also did Spencer Mackenzie's record. Dean's great at giving input and his suggestions worked their way into the album," Krauss explained.
The CD was recorded in Malton's Ridgeway studio, Ground Loop Productions.
Krauss is from Regina and choose Thorold as his home after moving from Guelph.
"I love this area; it's my home. A lot of guys are itching to get away and gig. But I get to play all the time and sleep in my own bed at night. I would like to get more exposure. I would like to explore this area getting into Toronto and Hamilton more," he said. "We're playing the Southside Shuffle and we've played the Canal Bank Shuffle a lot, and I would like to get more festival work."
Krauss also performs a duo with Chuck Jackson, vocalist for the legendary Downchild Blues Band. "Yes, we've been doing the duo thing for a while; it's going great."
In fact, praise and encouragement from Jackson and others have pushed Krauss to step out of the shadows.
"Joel Johnson told me I'm his new favourite guitarist, and Josh Miller has always been a good supporter with a lot of good things to say about me in a way that only Josh can do," he mused.
Other well-known artists like Jack de Keyzer, Carlos Del Junco, Tony "Wild T" Springer, and Steve Goldberger have all commented on the considerable guitar wizardry Krauss brings to the table. Not usually flashy, he may be overlooked by audiences, but Krauss is known as a 'guitarist's guitarist;' someone who other players come to see.
"I like the compliments I get; it makes me feel really good, like I'm accomplishing something because I'm getting the guitar players' compliments. It feels good, what can I say?"
Comparisons to guitar greats like Steve Lukather, Chris Duarte and Jeff Beck are made because these icons have been praised by peers but remain relatively unknown.
"I see Jeff Beck perform and people like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton are in the audience. I envy him," admitted Krauss.
Besides his skill, Krauss's approach to music also remains unique.
"I like people who use the guitar as a tool to communicate music. You get a lot of guitarists who do guitar player things - and that's great; that's what got me into it. But the players I tend to listen to have something a little bit more going on with rhythm, with comping (accompanying with chords), and with harmony," he explained.
"I always gravitated to tracks like (Stevie Ray Vaughan's) Riveria Paradise instead of the Texas Flood tracks, the (Jimi Hendrix) South Saturn Delta Band of Gypsys as opposed to All Along the Watchtower. I love all of it but I like the offbeat," he said.
The CD release party is a free event and everyone is welcome Tuesday evening.
"We'll play the entire CD and a lot of covers at the show that have taken me down the path to where I am," concluded Krauss.
