Blues
In the 1920s and early 1930s, Lonnie Johnson was simply the greatest blues guitarist there was. His work with Eddie Lang the guitarist for Paul Whiteman's band, as well as his recordings with great jazz bands like Ellington and Armstrong's units, mark him as a founder of Jazz guitar. Even into the thirties, musicians like Robert Johnson would model their work on Lonnie's playing and not make that mark.
Lonnie had tough times in the depression and afterwards that would sometimes take him out of music. Though he had national R&B hits in the early and late 1940s, Johnson was found working in a store in Philly in the late 1950s and brought back to recording.
The old fire he had 40 years before on the guitar may be missing, although on every tune he shows his mastery not just of blues techinique but of Jazz harmony, and the voice is older and lacks the fire of some of his early recordings or the jubilant jive of his work in the 1940s, but there is wisdom here of a man who has lived in these tunes done with just Lonnie's voice and a very acoustic sounding electric guitar.
When he speaks of Fine Booze and Heavy Dues were know this is a man who knows of what he speaks. He gives you the feeling in all of these tunes of a real person telling you the lessons not only in the words of these songs, but in between the words, behind the words, even the truth the words hide.
Playing this and other records of this period are more like having the man over your place. You need to pull out some of your best whiskey. Sit down, pay attention, listen, and learn and gain not just some of his music, but some of his life!
By Tony Thomas.
**
Lonnie Johnson, a talented vocalist and guitarist who chose to spend much of his life playing blues (although in the 1920s he recorded with some of the top jazz stars), had his fifth recording for Prestige/Bluesville (a solo set) reissued on this CD. "Blues After Hours" is an instrumental that shows off his jazz roots and many of the 11 songs (all of which are Johnson originals) have spots for his guitar. Since there is only around 34 minutes on this set (which could have been combined on one CD with the music from another LP) and none of the individual songs even reach four minutes, this is not one of the more essential Lonnie Johnson releases but it does have its strong moments.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
**
01. Another Night to Cry Johnson 3:19
02. I Got News for You, Baby Johnson 3:15
03. Blues After Hours Johnson 3:27
04. You Didn't Mean What You Said Johnson 3:46
05. Fine Booze and Heavy Dues Johnson 3:05
06. I've Got to Get Rid of You Johnson 2:37
07. Bow Legged Baby Johnson 2:46
08. Make Love to Me, Baby Johnson 2:54
09. Lots of Loving Johnson 2:47
10. A Story About Barbara Johnson 3:18
11. Goodbye Kitten Johnson 3:26
**
NoPassword
*
DLink
*
No comments:
Post a Comment