Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson - Once In A Blue Moon - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Once In A Blue Moon, by Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, recorded live in John Kelly's Hideaway Cafe' in St Petersburg, Florida. Opening with C.C. Rider, Johnson is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Curtis "Kid" Royal, Pat Herlehy on sax, Paul Nadeau on keys, Otis Doncaster on harmonica, Mikey Maguire on bass and Magic Drumski on drums. This is a full intro with a more than 12 minute jam featuring nice solos from Herlehy, Nadeau and Doncaster and of course an excellent solo by Junior. On Muddy Water's Hoochie Coochie Man/I'm A Man, Johnson really works the classics with plenty of vocal soul and emotion. On shuffle, Thank You Sugar, Junior really works the track on vocals with soulful wailing sax by Herlehy, and a cool walking bass line by Maguire. Slow blues, Stealing Chickens, is one of my favorites on the release with plenty of space for soloing by Herlehy, Nadeau and excellent guitar work by Johnson and Royal. Excellent! Another slow blues, You Got Me Wonderin' is really an excellent showcase for Junior and Royal on guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Mean Old World and again, the gang really hit it hard. Herlehy really gets his sax wailing over the rhythm guitar work of Johnson and Royal and the pumped up organ work of Nadeau and an excellent closing on guitar by Royal. Very nice. 

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