Bman: Hi Jimbo.I first became aware of your work back in the early 2000's. I don't remember exactly when but I know that you were touring with Buddy Guy. I actually went to see Buddy with a fellow picker and you opened and I said "who is this guy". I mean you blew us away. We weren't expecting a great group cause in Arizona a lot of times the bigger acts don't bring along such talent. Later I realized you were also playing in Buddy's band as well. I think that you were playing an old Bobcat or something. I immediately went home and dug into your earlier releases, trying to figure out how I had missed you. I mean I have blues antennae all over and wow!! Enough about me. The Knockdown Society was a great band.
Are you still playing any songs from that band or are you all Tri-State Coalition now?
Jimbo:I PLAY A MIX OF MATERIAL GOING BACK TO THE "SONGS FOR ROSETTA" ALBUM, ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE CONFEDERATE BUDDHA. I USUALLY CUSTOMIZE MY SET LIST TO THE TYPE OF AUDIENCE I'M PERFORMING FOR.
Bman: Yeah. That makes a lot of sense with the diversity of your music. Back around 2004 or so I understand that you opened your own studio with great old gear. I am a big fan of non digital everything so I know where you're going there... tell me how opening the studio has changed your schedule. Does it require a lot of your time?
Jimbo: MY STUDIO IS CALLED DELTA RECORDING CO-OP. I PURCHASED MY BASIC RECORDING GEAR BACK IN THE 1990S WHEN SNZ (Squirrel Nut Zippers) STARTED RECORDING OUR OWN MUSIC. MY BASIC GEAR CONSISTS OF FOUR TELEFUNKEN PRE-AMPS FROM THE 1950S, AN RCA-77 RIBBON MIC AND AN RCA-44 RIBBON MIC.
Bman: You just can't get the rich sound from newer gear. I know that having the studio has got to be a lot of work but getting the right sound is a lot of the battle. Are you expanding the studio or are you keeping it small?
Jimbo: I HAVE USED THE SAME GEAR THE WHOLE TIME, HAVEN'T PURCHASED ANYTHING NEW IN QUITE A WHILE.
Bman: I notice from watching your schedule that you play a lot close to home. Can't blame you to not want to "live" on the road. Is that the thought behind the Ground Zero Club? I know you get a lot of great talent down there.
Jimbo: CAN'T ANSWER, IN REGARD TO GROUND ZERO. IT'S NOT MY CLUB AND I DON'T DO ANYTHING THERE EXCEPT PERFORM. MORGAN FREEMAN AND BILL LUCKETT ARE THE OWNERS.
Bman: I appreciate that clarification. I thought that I had actually read that you were one of the partners.
I can imagine that as you traveled north there was a lot of confusion (like a foreign language) with your music until you hit NYC. It is really sophisticated and crafty. Is it getting through to middle America? I grew up there which is what raises the question.
Jimbo: I THINK MY MUSIC IS SLOWLY FINDING ITS AUDIENCE. MY MUSIC IS WRITTEN ABOUT THE SOUTH, SO SOUTHERNERS "GET IT" BEFORE ANYONE ELSE, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY I DON'T HAVE FANS FROM COAST TO COAST.
Bman: Oh, you definitely have fans across the country and overseas. I grew up in the Northeast around Pittsburgh and now live in the southwest. I have friends and readers in all corners.
The Tri-State Coalition is a bit of a change in direction from the Knockdown Society. All of your music has a common thread which to me is warmth and honesty. Tell me what you see the progression to be. How is it changing and where is it going?
Jimbo: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE KNOCKDOWN SOCIETY SOUND AND THE TRI-STATE SOUND IS THAT I'VE BROUGHT MORE OF A COUNTRY AND SOUTHERN ROCK INFLUENCE INTO THE MUSIC. I'VE ALWAYS LIKED TO MIX UP THE BLACK AND WHITE MUSIC AS I FEEL THAT IS WHERE MY TRUE SOUND LIES.
Bman: I can see that. A lot of the early blues musicians from the south have a lot of country influence (or vice versa). As music has become more available outside of regions, how music is perceived has changed considerably. Much of today's "country" music is more like "pop" than say Marty Robbins or Porter Wagoner and a lot of the "blues" has to be really polished and have a lot of notes in the solos to sell. I was watching some old Porter Wagoner shows on RFD the other day and thought "a lot of this has more kin to the blues than some of the stuff I hear today".
I can tell you're having a lot of fun with what you are doing but it's obviously very serious. You seem to be a very prolific writer. Are you working on new material right now?
Jimbo: I WRITE ALL THE TIME. I'M ACTUALLY WORKING ON NEW MATERIAL, GOT A NEW GROUP OF SONGS TOGETHER THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT. IT WILL DEFINITELY BE IN THE "BUDDHA" VEIN, WHICH IS COUNTRY-TINGED SOUTHERN ROCK WITH MORE STORYTELLING ELEMENTS.
Bman: That sounds great! I know I'm looking forward to it. I really like the new Confederate Buddha cd... "Who'll Sop My Gravy". How do you come up with something like that? I mean that is so on it!
Jimbo: GLAD YOU LIKE THE BUDDHA, BUT "SOP MY GRAVY" IS ON "SONGS FOR ROSETTA."
Bman: Yeah, I know. It was just a fleeting thought...something that occurred to me.
I started out as a kid listening to Duane Allman and found my way back through the blues to the Delta. Although I really like some of the newer style (polished) players, I really find a tremendous love for players like Skip James, Charley Patton and Robert Pete Williams. What is it about the south that breeds these sounds?
Jimbo: THE SOUTH IS A STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL INTOXICATING MIXTURE OF OPPOSITES. ART IS BEAUTY, BUT THE ARTISTS YOU MENTION WERE A PRODUCT OF SLAVERY AND OPPRESSION OF AN ENTIRE CULTURE AND RACE. THAT IS NOW CALLED "THE BLUES." THOSE ARTISTS STROVE TO PURSUE THEIR MUSIC AGAINST EVERY POSSIBLE OBSTACLE. JUST BEING A "BLUES SINGER" PUT THEM EVEN OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN SOCIETY. THEIR MUSIC MUSIC WAS "DEVIL MUSIC," RELEGATED TO LIQUOR AND WHOREHOUSE ENVIRONS.
Bman: Even your description of the music is poetic. Do you write your songs as a group or is it all composed in your head. I for some reason bet that you think... "the piano will play this here and I'll have this lick there" when you're penciling it in your head.
Jimbo: I WRITE AND ARRANGE ALL MY OWN SONGS WITH MY PARTICULAR BAND IN MIND.
Bman: Are there any photos of your studio that you might like to share with your fans. I was walking through a turn of the century cotton gin yesterday and I just dug the aesthetics. Now I'm sure that your studio is way cool but I just have this imagined notion that it is really raw... the way a guys place would be if there were no women.
Jimbo: YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY STUDIO, IN COMO MISSISSIPPI, IN MY VIDEO FOR "CONFEDERATE BUDDHA" -- PARTS WERE SHOT IN THE ROOM WHERE WE ALL RECORD.
Bman: Oh yeah. Now that you mention it I can see that. It never occurred to me. By the way I dig that "buckskin" jacket. I couldn't pull off the "Manuel" outfit though! Are you making your way out west again any time soon?
Jimbo: YES, THANKS FOR ASKING--HOPE TO MAKE IT OUT WEST SOMETIME IN THE SPRING OF 2012. BOOYAH.
Bman: We'll be waiting for an update and watching your schedule. I really appreciate your time.
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