Key West The Newspaper - November 30, 2001

What's Hot

Chris Case & The Funky Beans

by Valerie Ridenour

One of my favorite bands has made personnel changes, so I was delighted to find them playing in my neighborhood, at the Looe Key Tiki Bar. Chris Case is the new lead guitar player for the Funky Beans, and folks, Mr.Case plays some blues, and also sings!

Tonight Bud Moore was filling in on bass for Joe Pepper, who was out west watching a ball game. Bud is hard to beat. He's played with the big boys, including Bo Diddely.

Jersey Slim is the lead singer and plays mean harmonica. He can hold a note forever and blows smoking licks.

Chris sang the first tune, "Just Like Me". I saw no grass growing under anyone's feet.

Make no mistake, this is a hard working band that never lets down. Jersey Slim sings "I Shoulda Quit You, Baby". This man has a superior blues voice. Chris burns a lead, as only he can. Then Slim plays a harp lead that adds fuel to a very hot fire over excellent bass and drums. Johnny Ray is perfect.

Next comes "Killing Floor", `going home where women got meat on their bones'. This one has the dancers rushing to the floor.

Jersey Slim played in New York for years. We're glad he got tired of freezing every winter. He sings, "They Call Me Willie", which makes us glad he escaped. Chris plays pure fire, and Slim plays as good a harp solo as you'll ever hear. The Funky Beans play blues the way you want to hear them, spontaneous and untamed. They remind me of the way Mingus and Miles used to let their players express themselves. Blues is not a style that needs tight overproduced arrangements. The fun is letting the guys play what they feel, right now. The crowd is really getting off on them. Everybody's grooving. This is a party band. Bud is 100% funky!

Chris plays fantastic rhythm and sings vocal echoes on "Lucille". This is really hot, with scorching solos. The dance floor explodes. Chris Case fits this band like a glove. The Funky Beans have a wonderful sound. The folks on Ramrod Key think they're in heaven. We leave on a slow funky boogie, "hat Legged Woman". This is free wheeling blues by people who love to play. Go see for yourself! You'll find them at Schooner Wharf soon. Stay cool.