“HESITATION BLUES”, new CD by Rambling Steve Gardner, American Roots and Blues musician from Mississippi, is a collection of 20 traditional and original acoustic American roots and blues tunes played on National Reso-phonic guitars, harmonica, saw, washboard, tuba, trombone, banjo-uke, mandolin, upright bass, piano, organ, drums and ham bone percussion. Big Leg Acoustic Stuff!



Rambling Steve Gardner’s solo tracks are off set by several duo and trio arrangements as well as three full band ensembles which feature the likes of: Washboard Chaz-Playing for Change; Bill Steber-Jake Leg Stompers; Jett Edwards and the Believers Today Gospel Travelers Choir; Brandon Armstrong-Petrojvic Blasting Company; Hisa Nakase; Yu Ojima-Jimanica; Kevin McHugh and Nick Vitter.



"HESITATION BLUES" is Rambling Steve Gardner’s 6th CD released on Blues Cat Records (Tokyo) and his 4th solo recording project following the release of: “RAMBLING WITH THE BLUES” (2002) “BIG DELTA CROSSING” (2005) and “JERICHO” (2007). (“WALKIN’ THE DOG” (2009 HooDoo Records/ Buffalo Records) and “WOOLY BULLY EXPRESS”  (2011 Blues Cat Records (Tokyo) HooDoo Records) were both recorded with the members of the JERICHO ROAD SHOW.)



The 20 tunes recorded on compact disc for "HESITATION BLUES" are presented in a six panel, eco friendly package, filled with near living color photos and more information than an honest man will ever need!

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​DON’T HESITATE. Get your copies of Rambling Steve Gardner’s “HESITATION BLUES” TODAY. While supplies last!





**************RECORDING INFORMATION******************







Hesitation Blues is a Production of Blues Cat Records(Tokyo)

Supported by National Reso-phonic Guitars, Inc. & Black Sign Fashion (Tokyo)
(All songs and arrangements- (c) 2012. All Rights Reserved)

Produced by:Rambling Steve Gardner and Nick Vitter
Engineering, mixing and mastering: Nick Vitter
Photography, Art Direction and Design: James Patterson

July 2012: Studio Goatee, Tokyo Japan: Tracks 1, 9, 17, 19
Sound Engineer: Ryuji Seto.

1. Hesitation Blues-1916 Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   3:51
2. Mississippi River Blues-2011 Steve Gardner   1:48
3. Salty Dog-early 1900‘s Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   2:58
4. 16 Tons-Merl Travis 1946 Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   5:31
5. In The Pines- 1870's Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner  2:42
6. What's The Matter With The Mill-1920‘s Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   3:34
7. Love In Vain-Robert Johnson 1937/Arr. Steve Gardner   4:44
8. Waiting For A Train-Jimmy Rogers 1928/Arr. Steve Gardner   5:01
9. Jesus On The Main Line-1927 Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   4:49
10. Careless Love-1880's Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   2:45
11. St. Louis Blues-W.C. Handy 1914/ Arrangement Steve Gardner   5:05
12. The Preacher and the Bear-Arthur Collins 1904 *first million seller/Arr. Steve Gardner  3:03
13. *Froggy Went A-Courtin'-Late 1611 Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner *JERICHO (2007 Blues Cat Records)   3:05
14. Shady Grove-Late 1700‘s Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   3:08
15. Storms On The Ocean-Carter Family 1927/Trad/Arr. Steve Gardner   4:16
16. Bill Baily Rag-2012 Steve Gardner   2:19
17. House of the Rising Sun-1700's ("Unfortunate Rake") Trad./Arr. Steve Gardner   2:55
18. Going Down Slow-St. Louis Jimmy Oden 1941/Arrangement Steve Gardner   6:34
19. I Shall Not Be Moved-Late 1800‘sTrad./Arr. Steve Gardner   3:10
20. Gospel Plow-late 1800‘sTrad./Arr. Steve Gardner   3:01

August 2012: Vitter Studio New Oleans, LA.
Re-recording, recording and mixing of all tracks: Nick Vitter Engineer/Co-Producer
Rambling Steve Gardner-Vocals,Guitar,Slide Guitar,Harmonica,Hambone Percussion; Bass Hisa Nakase; Drums Yu Ojima; Piano & B-3 Nick Vitter; Accordion Kevin McHugh; Trombone Brandon Armstrong; Bill Steber; Chorus: Jett Edwards; LaTonya & David Whitiker; Hisa Nakase; Forrest Mitchell Nelson.
Tracks 3,*16: Vocal/Harp/Guitar Rambling Steve Gardner; Washboard/Washboard Chaz Leary; Banjo Uke/Backing Vocals Bill Steber;*Piano Nick Vitter.
Track 4: Vocal/Guitar/Harp Rambling Steve Gardner; Saw/Backing Vocals Bill Steber
Tracks *2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, *12, **14, 15, 18: Vocals/Guitars/Harp/**Hambone percussion Rambling Steve Gardner; *Nick Vitter foot stomps; Tuba Brandon Armstrong; Mandolin Bill Steber;
Track 6:  Vocal/Harp/Slide Guitar Rambling Steve Gardner; Guitar Backing Voc Bill Steber; Tuba Brandon Armstrong; Chorus and Handclaps Nick Vitter; Cody Ruth; Mary Vitter.
Track 13: *JERICHO (2007 Blues Cat Records)Vocal/Guitar/Harp Rambling Steve Gardner; Banjo Uke Bill Steber; Tuba Brandon Armstrong; Fiddle Ron Bombardi; Percussion Brandon Armstrong; Backing chorus All plus Pat Casey Dalely.
Track 20: Vocal/Guitar Rambling Steve Gardner; Slide Guitar/Backing Vocal Bill Steber; Backing Vocals Brandon Armstrong, Nick Vitter.
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Rambling Steve Gardner, born in Mississippi, based in Tokyo, Japan, plays original, acoustic roots and country blues music, finger picking and slide on National Reso-phonic guitars, with harmonica, banjo, washboard and a variety of home-made instruments.
You know, Big Leg, ACOUSTIC STUFF!







                               -------------HOT OFF OF THE PRESS*****************





...the gut power of Delta blues has had fewer finer exponent than Rambling Steve Gardner.” Michael Pronko-The Japan Times (Japan)

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“Steve Gardner...story teller, singer, bluesman... blues originale.”
Dietmar Hoscher- CONCERTO magazine (Austria)

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Steve and his guys bring the best of the back porch to the front of the big
stage” Peggy Lou WWOZ  91.3 FM Public Community Radio New Orleans (USA)

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"Does it get any better than WALKIN' THE DOG or WOOLY BULLY EXPRESS? You bet it does when you listen to Rambling Steve Gardner's newest CD, HESITATION BLUES". James POE WABG AWESOME AM 960 (USA) ​

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"Some of the coolist music that I have ever heard. Metal guitars and saws. Real blues from Rambling Steve Gardner. He is the real thing."​

Andreas Dirnberger Blues Promotions (Austria) @ www.bluesfan.at​

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“Rambling Steve Gardner, rambles the lost highways of Hank Williams and Jimmy Rogers as easily as the flat delta of the Mississippi blues men whose music he carries on so very well.” Norio Higashi Radio Tokyo 954 AM (Japan)



"Mississippi's music ambassador to Japan" Al Brown WMOX Radio 1010 AM (USA)



"Rambling Steve Gardner's music is as Mississippi as the cotton fields and the dark, muddy river bearing the same name." C. Sade Turnipseed "Delta Renaissance" WABG-TV (USA)

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"Great sound. Just my cup of tea." Barry Ivory “Melting Pot" 99.3 FM (Australia)

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"One of my favorite artist, playing some of my favorite songs on some of my favorite instruments" Thomas Greener "Ragged But Right" KVMR 89.5 FM (USA)​

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"I hear cotton fields, Tom Sawyer, the Mississippi River and the great

American open road in Rambling Steve Gardner's music.” ​

BIG BIKE CRUSING Magazine (Japan)​



"Mississippi River Blues" track 2

"16 Tons" track 4

"Shady Grove" track 14