27 Feb 2017 // A review by Corinne Rutherford
As I opened the package containing this CD, I saw Li'l Chuck peering out at me from the back of a ute with his instruments surrounding him and the beautiful Port Hills of Christchurch in the background.  The compact disc case was a well put together package containing a wee booklet inside the front cover, with the lyrics to his music and accompanying photography. Personally I think this is a nice touch.

The CD itself, shows that Li'l Chuck is a multifaceted and talented musician, he wrote and engineered all but one of the songs (Sixteen Tons). He is one man playing harmonica, resonator guitar, kick drum, hi hat, kazoo and vocals to produce a easy listening and fresh blues sound, all this was composed and recorded by him in a shed converted into a mini studio. The YouTube video showing how he went about this is well worth taking a look at, I found it fascinating.

The lyrics on Utility Blues are matter of fact mini stories of love, heartbreak and appreciation, with a couple of tongue in cheek tracks in the form of Good Time Mama and Stick It In Your Pipe And Smoke It. Listening to his music happily transported me to a bar in New Orleans, if I hadn't known better it would have been hard to pick that this was one man doing it all.

Vocally he has tones of Elvis, complimented with lively vibrant instrumentation.

The 12 tracks on Utility Blues are undeniably a testament that "men can indeed, multitask..."

Release date 17/03/2017

Li'l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine is an authentic one man band performing 'good time music with old time style'. Blessed with the ability to handle multiple instruments at a time, he is the master of coordination: blowin', suckin' and pluckin' simultaneously! He cranks out the harmonica, resonator guitar, kick drum, hi hat, kazoo and vocals to give the audience a rollicking good time.

Li'l Chuck has spent a lifetime rummaging through the drawers of 1930's - 50's music. His mainly original songs are inspired by the sounds of the era - Blues, Early Jazz, Western Swing, Ragtime etc. and are uniquely presented in the style of the street performers from those glory days.

Originally hailing from the UK, Li'l Chuck first stomped out his music on the Streets of Christchurch in 2003 after relocating to NZ.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Li'l Chuck the One Man Skiffle Machine

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