NAVIGATING THE BLUES
Published in the Asbury Park Press May 9, 1997
By Richard Skelly, Correspondent
When it comes to playing the blues, Kenny "Stringbean" Sorensen prefers to stay slightly off-course. His philosophy is reflected in the music he and his group play 'most every Sunday evening in at the Ragin' Cajun in Belmar. When Stringbean and the Stalkers perform Elmore James' Dust My Broom it isn't a conventional version of this staple blues tune you're likely to hear. At the Ragin' Cajun, Stringbean and the Stalkers perform with just a few small amplifiers, interpreting classic blues in a quiet, acoustic-electric fashion.
"We don't play the cliché blues standards like 'Sweet Home Chicago,' because I don't want us to be a blues cover band," said Sorensen, 38 of Ocean Grove. "We're cultivating our own sound. And I'd say we're just really hitting our stride now."
While Sorensen believes in testing new waters as a musician, his "day job" requires that he stay the course. Sorensen is on call as a member of the Sandy Hook Pilots Association, a group that navigates container ships, tankers and passenger ships into port in New York Harbor. By law, the ship captains must relinquish local control of their ships to ensure safe passage into the docks. "I'm on call, so it could be any time," said Sorensen, who works rotating shifts. As a result sometimes I can't make firm commitments to some gigs," the musician added, "so they (the band) have to wing it without me."
Sorensen's band usually includes Dave Meyers on bass, Eric Clark on drums and "a floating guitarist"- either Sonny Kenn or Mark Muller- on guitar. Frequently, other musicians from the area will sit in for a few tunes. On a recent Sunday, Stringbean and the Stalkers were joined by Neil Thomas on accordian, Muller on slide guitar, Ricky DeSarno (from the Disco Rejects) on guitar and Dickey Thomas on guitar. During the second set, Christina Runfulo, a waitress at the restaurant, sat in with the band for a stirring version of Chris Smither's "Love Me Like A Man," and a few other tunes. Sorensen began performing steady Sunday nights at the Ragin' Cajun last July. He began playing harmonica at 15, inspired by the likes of the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. He dug deeper and found their influences as well, musicians like Muddy Waters and Sonny Boy Williamson.
"For years and years I was a sideman with as many bands as I could play with," Sorensen said. "The Blackberry Blues Band, Sonny Kenn, Big Danny Gallagher, Billy Hector, everyone I could play with I did," he explained.
A similar apprenticeship has paid off for Sorensen in his career as a ship pilot. While the are well-paid, it's only after serving an apprenticeship of eight years at minimum wage that they take on greater responsibilities," he explained. "It's really 15 years before you make top salary," Sorensen said.
YOUNG PARTNERSHIP
Stringbean and the Stalkers were formed two years ago after he'd played sideman with nearly every blues musician on the Shore scene. The group first real show was at the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festival in Red Bank in June, 1996, he said. In January, Sorensen missed a show at the New Deal Roadhouse owing to a piloting job. "Mark Muller played guitar and pretty much carried it for me," he said.
Sorensen said his short-term goals for Stringbean and the Stalkers include establishing a regular following got the group, who can be also heard at area blues clubs such as the New Deal Roadhouse in Allenhurst, Jason's in South Belmar and the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank.
He also plans to release an album of the bands music on compact disc. "We're going back into the studio this summer. There's an independent label that's expressed some interest in working with us. But mainly, we just want to keep playing and getting better at what we do."
On Sundays at the Ragin' Cajun. Sorensen likes to keep things simple, and sitting in is encouraged.
"Having a weekly gig like this is good for me," he said, adding he forces himself to learn at least one new tune each week, so things don't get stale.
"It's a lot of the same people coming back here, so we're always changing arrangements, sometimes adding lyrics. I feel bad if I miss the gig. I really want to make this work," he said.
