AZ Kenny Tsak may be a new name to most blues fans, but you would think that he’d been around for years from the sound of things on Like I Do, his new release with his band, 56 Deluxe. Actually, that’s not the case. He started playing guitar in his mid-teens, after starting out on drums, and played the local Washington, DC blues scene until forced to give it up to meet family and business obligations. He picked it up again some 25 years later after reuniting with his friend (and current bass player) Avery T. Horton. They formed 56 Deluxe in 2005 and have been burning up the music scene around Arizona and the East Coast, sharing the stage with artists like Tab Benoit, Dave Fields, Chick Willis, Calvin Jones, Joey Gilmore, Harper, and Billy Gibson.

Tsak has a powerful voice with just enough grit and sandpaper, and his guitar skills are first-rate. He is as adept with the slow, stinging blues of tracks like “Full Time Lover” as the raucous roadhouse sounds of the catchy title track. 56 Deluxe is a tight little ensemble that keeps things running smoothly, with Horton on bass, James Holt on keyboards, Frank Perez on tenor sax, and Andy “G” on drums. The rhythm section of Horton and “G” is right on time (check out “Down South Florida” and “My Tastee Cake”) and there’s plenty of room allowed for Tsak, Perez, and Holt to solo and they never disappoint.

Other highlights include the lively “Walkin’ Shoes,” “Blues Attitude,” with some great guitar work, “12 Step Boogie,” a hilarious tune concerning living a life without alcohol, and a pair of cover tunes …. one from Chick Willis (the raunchy “Stoop Down Baby,” featuring 2006 IBC winner Joey Gilmore) and the Muddy Waters classic, “I Just Wanna Make Love To You.”

This is an excellent disc that seems to have come out of nowhere. It’s not fancy, just straight-ahead blues, rock, and soul that you may not see nominated for any awards at years’ end, but I guarantee you’ll listen to this one more than the ones nominated. I hate to think we missed out on 30 years of this kind of music with Mr. Tsak, but I’m glad he’s with us now. Visit the band’s website for more information and check out the 56 Deluxe Girls while you’re there.