"... All songs on the CD are originals, which is finally not the only
particularly attraction of the record. ..."
(Esslinger Zeitung, 12. March 2001 - translated from the original german Review)
Total Review

"... Klenner is an accomplished player with 11 sturdy originals here. Katz´s
organ work is top-notch, duelling with Klenner´s churning rhythm chords,
each inspiring the other to greater heights. Best cut: "Remembering Curtis",
an emotional and rich soul instrumental ballad."
(Blues Revue, Jan/Feb 2001)
Total Review

"... - followed by the title cut, which shows that a white German guy can
indeed play and sing the blues."
(Kansas City Blues News, September 2000)
Total Review

The Primer Reviews -
Volker Klenner & His Boston Bluesfriends
The Way I Found The Blues -

This was recorded two years ago but the Primer has just got its hands on a copy. We've long laid to rest the 'Can A White Man Play The Blues' debates - but how about a German blues guitarist / songwriter who learned his trade from the likes of Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl and Kenny Neal? Let's face it, even the most charitable would be hard pressed to suggest that the blues is at the heart of the German cultural agenda.

Fist things first then - Volker can certainly write an accomplished blues, and in a variety of styles. All the material on this recording is self-penned and virtually all of it is first rate. Secondly, he's got excellent accompaniment throughout - players from Ronnie Earl's former band, including keyboard player Bruce Katz (very fine Hammond organ throughout), bassist Rod Carey and drummer Per Hanson. Klenner is also clearly a fine guitarist, but this is a great band album - there's plenty of room for Katz's keyboards to impress and it's top notch playing from beginning to end.

The opener ('Gimme Some Wheat Beer') is a fair footstomper but is probably the weakest cut on the album. It's followed by another driving blues, 'Working For The weekend', which, as the title might imply, appears to be Volker's take on the mood and message of Stormy Monday Blues. 'The Way I Found The Blues' tells us all why the man plays the "blues he feels", despite the geographical and cultural distance of his homeland to the cotton fields of the Deep South.

It's a consistently fine release but there are stand outs. For the Primer, these are often when the writing steps outside the normal or orthodox blues framework. Of particular note is the emotional soul ballad instrumental 'Remembering Curtis' (Curtis Mayfield perhaps?), with sensitive guitar and organ at its heart. At the risk of alienating the purist out there, 'Waiting For A Train' is another stand out, a very fine R&B workout with wonderfully melodic playing and catchy chorus. 'Ocean Breeze' is another instrumental, light and jazzy, a touch of modern Wes Montgomery in your living room, and 'Tell Me Why' even has a country feel, especially in the guitar solo and country boogie woogie piano. 'Your Soul Will Live On' is a good burning slow blues, all the more poignant for being a tribute to the man's father. It takes a little while to get used to a German guy singing the blues, but Volker's vocals are good enough. What makes the album worth a visit are the exemplary guitar playing and songwrting. Songwriting that extends beyond the competent and orthodox is what will keep the blues alive, specially when it's this good. Check out Volker's site to pick up a copy

The way I found the Blues

Total playingtime 45:20, 11 tracks, 2000
translated from the original german Review

All 11 songs were written by Klenner, the production was recorded live in the studio. Sometimes the Hammond of Bruce Katz is kind of a little too domineering, , surprisingly well is the absolutely skilled and complaisant guitar playing of Klenner.

The rhythm section with Rod Carey, bass and Per Hanson, drums delievers - like everybody is used to hear from this two gentlemen for a long time - a steady and solid basis. Instrumental variety occurs with the Harp-playing of Per Hanson on "Sittin at the river". The CD is gonna set off with song like "Party time" or "Addicted to the G.A.S" which tells about a guitarist only feeling well, when he suffers his passion (nobody can heal it) and buys a new "electric plank".

The CD is well produced, has a playing time of 45:20 and has an interesting stylistic range and variety.

Blues guitarist Volker Klenner is still one of the world`s best kept secrets. However, this is about going to change. As former student of blues legends such as Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Kenny Neal, Klenner´s technique is highly refined and he has a great feeling for blues. He has proved his amazing skills with his latest album "Boston Bluesfriends"
And - his Bluesfriends are no lesser than the legendary "Broadcasters" - Ronnie Earl´s support band for many years.
RISA Musical Instruments, 4.0 H 66

Esslinger Zeitung, 12. March 2001:
translated from the original german Review - local newspaper of Esslingen

US-Reviewers praise Bluesnotes from the Filstal
REICHENBACH: Singer and guitarist Volker Klenner prefers own compositions

By Michael Penzing

As is well known, the Blues is a pretty much american affair. There this music has it´s roots, and most stars of the genre originate from there. That it´s obvious that even in this county are people, who have this music in their blood, Volker Klenner delivers the proof. The latest CD "The way I found the blues" of Reichenbach singer, guitarist and songwriter has become a jewel for Bluesfans.

To handle scepticism Volker Klenner has learned in the meantime: A Suabian, who plays the real Blues? Be honest, this can´t turn out well. But it´s possible indeed. The eleven songs on Klenners new disc are throughout successful examples of the diversity, this style has to offer. From slow dance numbers like the titeltrack "The way I found the blues", songs with a touch of Rock like "Working for the weekend" to rockabilly-titels like "Party time" is the selection. Some with vocals, some instrumental. Besides that he resigned to cover legendary or famous songs.

All songs on the CD are originals, which is finally not the only particularly attraction of the record. For the former guitarist of "Lizard" has quite a feel for good melodies. Though that doesn´t apply without exception to Klenners english lyrics, which are from time to time a little simple. But that does the pleasure of listening barely a damage. Even the "Blues Revue" - the leading US-Blues-magazine - did a very positive review of Klenners CD. And that´s kind of adequate to a musical knighting. Of course the talent of composition of the Reichenbacher would have been worth only half as much, if he didn´t find the right people to set his music in motion. Three of the Blues elite out of Boston, USA - did help Klenner with the recording. Bruce Katz knows how to use the good old Hammond B3 organ in a dreamlike way, and that´s the reason why the organ has besides Klenners guitar the most weighty part. Rod Carey on the bass and Per Hanson on the drums take care for the right groove with a lot of feeling. These three US-musicians are in the Bluesscene of the american Eastcoast a notion for a long time. As "the Broadcasters" they played til 1998 with Bluesmaster Ronnie Earl. With the "Boston Blues Friends" Klenner already had a friendship for year. That´s why they welcomed and agreed his offer to record a CD. Even though Klenners first love is the Blues, he knows how to play the other styles. For 12 years he is a member of the "Erich Erber Showorchester" with gigs all over Germany.

Blues Revue, Jan/Feb 2001

(by Ed Ivey)

Multinational blues: Volker Klenner & His Boston Bluesfriends´ self-titled release features Boston players from Ronnie Earl´s former band (organist Bruce Katz, bassist Rod Carey and drummer Per Hanson) in a rollicking party recorded in Germany. Klenner, well known in Europe, is an accomplished player with 11 sturdy originals here. Katz´s organ work is top notch, dueling with Klenner´s churning rhythm chords, each inspiring the other to greater heights. Best Cut: "Remembering Curtis," an emotional and rich soul instrumental ballad.

Kansas City Blues News,
September 2000

Volker Klenner & His
Boston Bluesfriends
The Way I found the Blues
Self produced

(Reviewed by Jim Wright)

I crossed paths with Volker and ... at this year´s KC Blues & Jazz Festival. They had come all the way from southern Germany, near Stuttgart, to attend the festival. It was Friday night and they were out of film, so I was able to set them up with a roll of mine. In return, Volker gave me this CD.

All cuts are originals by Volker. He´s on guitar and vocals backed up by Bruce Katz on keyboards, Rod Carey on bass and Per Hanson on drums and harmonica.

He opens with a couple of rocking little get up and dance tunes - "Gimme Some Wheat Beer" and "Working for the Weekend" - followed up by the title cut, which shows that a white German guy can indeed play and sing the blues.

Other cuts include "Waiting for the Train," "Remembering Curtis" (an instrumental slow dance number with fine guitar and organ work), "Tell me why" (I don´t understand the world either, Volker, but it´s a good question), "Ocean Breeze" (a jazz guitar piece that sounds very like in the style and octave playing of Wes Montgomery), "Sittin´ at the river" (tasty harp solo opening and fills throughout this bluesy piece), "Party Time" (a rockabilly sounding tune that will have you chair dancing), "Your Soul Will Live On" (a blues song in memory of his dad) and finishing up with a sort of swing boogie number "Addicted to the G.A.S." (that stands for Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, something that Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Eric Clapton suffer from!) A good addition to my collection. For anyone interested in obtaining this CD, the mailing adress for Volker Klenner is....