The 2011 "Blewzzy Award" Winner - Best Song
~Burton Gaar~
"That's All She Wrote"
From the CD "Fried Grits & Greens"
~Burton Gaar~
"That's All She Wrote" 
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
© April 2011
"That's All She Wrote" After about fifty years in the business, having a very impressive resume and four prior releases, Burton Gaar should, by now, be a familiar name to the members of the blues community. Yet, while admitting this is the first I've heard of him, I'm thinking I may not be alone. That's just the way it is in the music world, especially when your music is the blues. Perhaps "Fried Grits & Greens" can change all that. Let's go help it along by opening a few ears.
On "Fried Grits & Greens", Burton Gaar on the bass and vocals, is joined by: Tom Coerver, Bobby Felsenthal and Larry Turner on keyboards; John Gaar, Tom Coerver and Odell Wilson on guitar; Floyd Saizon on drums; and George Hollinshead on acoustic guitar. The disc contains fifteen all original tracks with nearly an hour of pure listening pleasure.
The opening and title track, "Fried Grits & Greens", is a taste of - as Burton refers to his music - Louisiana born blues at it's best. Oddly, there's no mention of gumbo, but the hot sauce being sung about isn't just adding heat to the fried grits and greens, it's got the band on fire as well. This appetizing dish is rich in rhythm, succulently soulful and delectable to dance to.
Having your wife and your pretty little girlfriend run into each other can't ever be a good thing. As a matter of fact it's nothin' but "Trouble". Right Burton? Outstanding vocals, rhythm and masterful organ playing by Tom all highlight this one.
With Burton and Floyd on top of their game rhythmically "Drowning In The Blues" features some of the discs best bass and drum action. This smoker also features Tom pulling double duty, and he sounds equally outstanding on the organ and guitar. Excellent track.
"Sugarfied" is what you become when your sweet sugar mama's got sugar on the bottom and sugar on the top. On this smooth shuffle, with the band tightly tuned into a nice groove behind him, Burton will tell you all about how it feels when your whole body becomes a sweet tooth.
"Turn Around" is one of those slow ballads that always causes me to turn around to another place and time. It's got that fifties feel that just makes me want to close my eyes and sway my way back to that wonderful era...even if just for a few precious minutes. Very well sung by Burton with a great guitar solo by Tom. Certainly replay worthy.
I'm a sucker for a well sung, heartfelt, melancholic ballad. As a matter of fact, it's often these types of songs I'm talking about when I say things like "this is song of the year material". "That's All She Wrote" is exactly that type of song and exactly that caliber of song. Somewhere back there behind him the band is doing one hell of a job, but it's Burton's soulful and emotional vocals that steal this one.
Other tracks on this outstanding disc include: "Last Train To Memphis", "One Step Away", "Wake Up And Watch Me Leave", "So Over You", "Strung Out On The Blues", "Ain't She A Mess", "One Of Us Is Leaving", "Love Doctor And Nurse" and "Hold It Against You".
To get your copy of "Fried Grits & Gravy", and some of his previous releases as well, along with more information on this talented musician and vocalist, just go to www.burtongaar.com. Please tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.
