Bluesman
Bernard Allison Is In the Mix on First New Studio Album in Six Years,
Coming March 17 on Jazzhaus Records
FREIBURG, GERMANY – Blues guitarist and singer Bernard
Allison will release his first new studio album in six years, In the
Mix, on March 17 from the Germany-based label, Jazzhaus Records.
Produced and arranged by Bernard Allison, In the Mix features 10
tracks, including five originals, as well as covers of two songs from his
legendary father, Luther Allison (“Move from the Hood” and “Moving On Up”), plus
tunes from Colin James (“Five Long Years”), Freddie King (“I’d Rather Be Blind”)
and Tyrone Davis (“I Had It All the Time”).
Although firmly rooted in the blues, the music on
In the Mix shows Bernard’s myriad of influences, including soul,
rock and R&B. Allison says about the recording sessions: “I was very excited to record with my reformed group. We
went into this recording with the mindset to not make a recording flooded with
screaming guitars. I just wanted to share my arrangement and songwriting skills,
as well as play some tracks I‘ve been holding onto for years.With the help of my
bandmates as well as my mom Fannie Mae Allison, I can say I‘m very proud of the
outcome of In the Mix, which reminds me a bit of the old Memphis
soul sound with a touch of Hendrix's Band of Gypsys
group."
Born in Chicago as the youngest of nine children of iconic
bluesman Luther Allison (who bought his son his first guitar), Bernard got the
playing bug at an early age when his father began schooling the youngster in the
roots of black music and the art of the electric guitar.
“I didn’t start to play until I was maybe 10 years of age,”
Allison remembers. “I started by picking up the guitar and listening to my
father’s records.” He also absorbed the music of his dad’s influences, including
Magic Sam, Otis Rush, T-Bone Walker, Lightnin’ Hopkins and B.B. King, as well as
the next generation of stars: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny
Winter.
Bernard made his first appearance on record at 13 and by age
18 had joined his father onstage for shows such as the Chicago Blues Festival.
One week after graduating high school, he got the call from the great Koko
Taylor, who asked Bernard to be the lead guitar player in her band. He played
with Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine for three years, getting a wonderful education
in how to behave both on and off the stage, and also backing the great Willie
Dixon.
The 1980s brought contemporary influences and friendships
with Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and in 1990, Bernard Allison recorded
his first solo album. Over the next 20 years, he recorded numerous studio and
live albums, touring endlessly with his own band. When Luther Allison passed in
1997, son Bernard picked up the blues torch, but carried it with his own light,
assuming the challenge of helping to keep the blues alive with his own brand of
music that fused blues with rock, soul and other influences to carry it into the
next millennium.
“The blues is my roots,” states Allison. “Regardless of how
far outside of the blues I reach for tones, I can’t ever leave the blues.
Whenever I play, all those guitar parts are Luther Allison coming through me. My
dad was the same way; he wasn’t all blues. He loved Otis Redding and Chuck
Berry. I’m just showing where my influences come from, and respecting the people
who got me to this point.”
I've just received the newest release (UK release date may 6, 2013) Hurricane by guitar virtuoso Danny Bryant. Bryant, a protege of guitar slinger Walter trout has assembled a solid package of blues rock tracks heavily laden with confident vocals and edgy guitar. Opening with Prisoner Of The Blues, Bryant shows his take no prisoner attitude with strong vocals, fast finger work and stinging vibrato. Greenwood 31 is a really cool track blending early swampy blues roots with Jimi Hendrix flare and his own powerful style. This is a real strong track. Can't Hold On is a more solemn track opening with piano by Richard Hammerton. Constructed as a ballad, Bryant shows his singing chops before digging in on some hot bluesy guitar. Title track Hurricane is a rocker and really structured in the radio track vein. Actually puts me in mind of some of Bowie's work. Devil's Got A Hold On Me is a hot boogie track building into a rocking guitar fest. I'm Broken is a cool blues ballad with sweet guitar work over a heavy bottom provided by Ken Bryant on bass and Trevor Barr on drums. Possibly my favorite track on the recording. Losing You is a prototypical blues ballad for guitar... think Gary Moore. This is a strong track with hot guitar riffs. Bryant uses the entire fretboard for dynamics and it is very successful. The release is concluded with Painkiller, a ballad opening quietly on acoustic guitar and just Bryants voice... but concluded with raw electric pyrotechnics sure to engage any blues rock guitar enthusiast. Hot!
If you don't know Bryant's work, this is your chance to check it out!
