Raucous, rowdy, gentle, sweet, eccentric, quirky, and outright irreverent are all words that fittingly describe Tas Cru's songs and testify to his reputation as a one of the most unique of bluesmen plying his trade today. It’s not for nothing that Tas Cru has been dubbed, “the Master of TRIPLE entendre.” His songs are blues poetry - crafted with rare verbal flair. Live, they are delivered with a power and passion that only the seasoned entertainer can render. As Living Blues magazine observes,” The vivacity and sheer joy with which Cru plays is intoxicating and his ability to cast a memorable hook is magical!”...
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Raucous, rowdy, gentle, sweet, eccentric, quirky, and outright irreverent are all words that fittingly describe Tas Cru's songs and testify to his reputation as a one of the most unique of bluesmen plying his trade today. It’s not for nothing that Tas Cru has been dubbed, “the Master of TRIPLE entendre.” His songs are blues poetry - crafted with rare verbal flair. Live, they are delivered with a power and passion that only the seasoned entertainer can render. As Living Blues magazine observes,” The vivacity and sheer joy with which Cru plays is intoxicating and his ability to cast a memorable hook is magical!”
In early bands, Tas was introduced to the great Sun Records heroes and the country blues that later served as a counterpoint to the rock- blues he idolized as did so many young guitar players of his time. These combined influences are heard in his music - 50+ original songs on four albums- "Biscuit" (2006), "gravi-Tas "(2008), "Grizzle n' Bone" (2009), "Jus' Desserts" (2010), and "Tired of Bluesmen Cryin'" (2013). A new album, "Keep the Money" is slated for release in Fall, 2014.
Based out of upstate New York. Cru performs in a variety of formats ranging from solo-acoustic to a 7 piece backing band. Blues Festival performances of note include Billtown Blues Festival (Williamsport, PA),, Chenango Blues Festival( Norwich , NY), Kalamazoo, Blues Festival (Kalamazoo, MII), Chattauqua Hills Blues Festival(Sedan, KS), Bluesberry Festival (Lafayette LA), Oxford Blues Festival (Oxford ,MS), Tall City Blues Fest (Midlan,d TX), Mohawk Valley Blues Festival (Herkime,r NY), Crossborder Blues & BBQ Fest (Wilso,n NY), Buffalo/Niagara Blues Fest (Buffalo,NY),, and NYS Blues Fest (Syracuse, NY). Noteworthy recent major club appearances include BB King's and Rum Boogie Cafe (Memphis, TN), Ground Zero Blues Club (Clarksdale,, MS), Blue Rose Cafe (Tulsa, OK), Legacy Blues Club (Fayettevile, AR), Bourbon St. Blues & Boogie Bar (Nashvillee, TN), Uncle Bo's (Topeka,, KS), 411 Club (Kalamazoo, MI), Black Eyed Sally's (Hartford, CT) Time Out Pub (Rockland, ME), Club Helsinki (Hudson, NY) Bearsville Theater (Woodstoc,k NY) and Caffe Lena (Saratoga Springs,, NY). As well, he has performed numerous Blues Education programs and workshops in schools and communities around the country.
As noted above, Tas Cru's discography includes four albums of original songs - "Biscuit" (2006), "gravi-Tas "(2008), "Grizzle n' Bone" (2009), "Jus' Desserts" (2010). "Tired of Bluesmen Cryin'"(2013) made the Roots Music Report's Top 50 Blues albums for ten consecutive weeks and the Top 25 on the prestigious Living Blues Chart. In addition to these recordings is Cru's 2009 release, "Even Bugs Sing the Blues", an album of original blues music for kids. This album is not for sale. Instead Cru donates copies to schools, community groups and blues societies to use for their fundraising efforts in hopes that it will help inspire a new generation of blues fans and musicians.
Honors and recognition include Cru being awarded the 2014 Blues Foundation's Keeping the Blues Alive Award (KBA) for Blues Education, named to the New York State Blues Hall of Fame - 2013 as a Master Blues Artist, and in 2009 named by Blues Festival Guide Magazine as its 2009 Blues Artist on the Rise.
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