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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
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Showing posts with label Rockin' Johnny Burgin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rockin' Johnny Burgin. Show all posts
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble, showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and harmonica soloing gives this track a rich feel. Guitar boogie, Goin' To Court features Harman and Ramos and it's hot. With a great rhythm guitar line by Stone, Harmon plays for style and Ramos smokes the frets. Very nice. On Coin Operated Woman, Holiday has the mic again and Chicago guitar man, Rockin' Johnny Burgin fans the frets. Holiday is front and center on harp and does a really nice job balancing his smooth vocals and lead harp and Burgin is restrained but his riffs are tight and aggressive. Wrapping the release is This Time I'm Gone For Good featuring the excellent vocals of William Kidd. Holiday's harmonica nicely surrounds the deep richness of Kidd with only a touch of Stone's precision guitar punctuation. Very nice closer for a strong release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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We all see ordinary talent in shows around town but there are a few bands that will draw me out late at night every time they tour because of their artistry and Rockin' Johnny is definitely one. When I saw that he was playing the Rhythm Room, definitely the best place to see a band in Phoenix, I made it a date. The club was packed and I sat in the corner because I arrived just before the show started but I wouldn't miss it. Johnny came on stage carrying his classic Emperor and his classic tone. He did a short set, maybe 6 or 8 tracks and he didn't take a note to get on track. He was hitting on 12 cylinders from note one. I don't know if you've seen Johnny, but this is a guy who is all about style. He isn't Jeff Beck who wrote every trick in the books, nor Joe Bonamassa who plays every Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton riff. This is a pure Chicago blues guy who has been around the block and has assembled some absolutely terrific old style riffs that he applies at just the right time and in style. He's a serious player and an excellent singer. I don't think that he knows how good a singer he is having played lead guitar behind leaders like Tail Dragger but this guys vocals are strong and sometimes downright exceptional. But the really cool part about Johnny's playing is his style. Here's a guy who is standing up with a band of 3, carrying most of the weight himself, and then just blowing out a riff that curls your hair. We're not talking about blistering speed like a metal rocker. We're talking old school riffs that make you go...wow...that was a great riff and the man can go! But here's the great part... after he plays it, he seems to look around quietly and say to himself... I did it... and smile with accomplishment. No pretense...pure love for his trade. The band took a short break and then club owner and world renown harp player Bob Corritore stepped up to the mic announcing that they had some surprises for the crowd. Due to a larger blues event, Blues Bash, that was happening in Phoenix this weekend, there were a number of performers on hand. A man with deep blues roots and quite a pedigree, Jimi "Prime Time" Smith was there and took the stage with Rockin' Johnny and Corritore. The crowd really loved Smith with is silky vocals and license plate guitar. He put on a really good show including walking the audience while playing and singing.
Johnny Main, guitar and lead vocals of the 44's set up (using Rockin' Johnny's guitar) and a really hot guitar player that I hadn't seen, Henry Carvahal (Rod Piazza Mighty Flyers among others) was on fire. This guy is a powerhouse and has great hands. matched with the balance of RJB's band these guys were electric.
After another short break, Rockin' Johnny took the stage again with Corritore, and local blues legends, singer George Bowman, and guitar player Donnie Dean. This bands focus was primarily prime Chicago style blues providing a stable base for players who don't play together daily and Corritore's harp work was really strong. Bowman's vocals were solid and guitar exchanges between Dean and Burgin really cool. After maybe another 5 tracks, Burgin took the stage back to his basic 3 piece ensemble and closed out the night. He brought along a solid bodied Danelectro and in open tuning, played some really nice slide. Johnny really knows how to put on a show and with a sea of talent in the room, this was a really great show for what is a fairly small club. This was likely one of the best blues shows in Phoenix for 2019. If it sounds like I had fun, I rolled into bed around 2am. This band literally played till shutdown. Very very nice. Watch for a review of Corritore's upcoming release, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! in the next few weeks.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dos Hombres Wanted, from Rockin' Johnny and Quique Gomez and it's classic Chicago blues with a spin. Opening with Burgin original, Your Charm Won't Help You, old style with Johnny on lead vocal and his understated but wild guitar playing, Quique Gomez on classic harp, Eric Przygocki on bass, Stephen Dougherty on drums and Christian Dozler on piano. Excellent opener. A strong, slower blues Robert Jr Lockwood track, Funny But True, is up next and Gomez has the lead spot on vocal. Burgin plays out richer jazz style riffs and hands the floor to Gomez who really milks his harp for juice. Very nice. Burgin's Ain't No High Roller has a cool rock beat and Gomez rides high on the harp and with Dozzler on accordion and Burgin's steady hand on guitar this track hits a nice slot. Another classic Chicago style track, Everybody Loves My Baby is a great work out track for both Burgin and Gomez. Burgin has the lead on vocal and Gomez puts up first with a real nice harp solo but after another chorus Burgin has the floor and with some crisp fan runs, closes it out. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Coffee Can Blues with some of Burgin's best vocals on the release. Gomez really has rich tone and Burgin's phrasing is unusual and very cool. Otro Hombre is the best showcase for Gomez on the release with his featured on vocal and smoking harp. Solid Chicago all day. With Louis Jordan style, Step It Up Bro, has a real cool saunter. Gomez gets to let out his style playing on this one and with highlights by Farris Jarrah on trombone, accordion by Dozzler and some clean soloing by Burgin and Josh Fulero, this track is a real treat. One of my favorites on the release, The Right To Hurt Me features Burgin and some great lead vocals on his part. Full bodied guitar playing give this track a real warmth and I love Gomez's harp attack. Perfect. Blues rocker, Are You Ever has great tempo and spirit. Both guys juice this one up with hot riffs and with the addition of Greg Izor on harp. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Don't Blame Shorty, an easy shuffle with shared lead vocal and nice harp lead by Gomez.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (releasing today), Don't Let The Devil Ride!, from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's super. Opening with Willie Buck's shuffle track, Went Home This Morning, Bob Corritore on harp joins up with Willie Buck on lead vocal, Mojo Mark on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on drums for a solid opener. On Little Walter's Tell Me Mama, Oscar Wilson is on lead vocal and Corritore lays out a real nice harp solo with Priimetime Smith on guitar, Henry Grey on piano and Johnny Rapp on guitar. Alabama Mike has the lead on Laundromat Blues and with really expressive lower octave work from Corritore, particularly nice soloing from Atkinson on guitar and strong piano work from Welch making this one of my favorites on the release. Corritore original, Fork In The Road, features Oscar Wilson on vocal, with Henry Grey on piano and Johnny Rapp on guitar with Corritore in in mostly a strong supportive role choosing cool riffs over long solos...his general trademark. Bob Welch's rockabilly guitar riffs on Lovey Dovey Lovey One set the stage and Corritore sails on harp. Another terrific track. Particularly strong vocals by Alabama Mike set title track, Don't let the Devil Ride! with complimentary guitar work by Danny Michel. Willie Mae features the vocal and guitar work of Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry and with it's Latin rhythm, it simmers. George Bowman has the lead on I Was A Fool with Chris James adding tasty texture on guitar. Wrapping the release is Thundering and Raining featuring Tail Dragger on lead vocal, Grey on piano and Bob Stroger on bass. Rockin' Johnny Burgin and Corritore balance guitar and harp nicely for a solid ending to a real cool release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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I saw a great show at the Rhythm Room, the premiere blues club in Phoenix, last week and it was great. The Rhythm Room is a real Phoenix landmark that took over where the mason Jar left off. That's where I last saw Albert King. At the Rhythm Room I've seen a number of super shows and artists including Johnny Winter, Joe Bonamassa and Jimbo Mathus. I moved a while back and live outside of the city now. It makes it a lot tougher to see a mid week show, but when I heard that Rockin' Johnny was playing town, I knew I was going to be there. I've seen Johnny a number of times both on his own and with Tail Dragger. I remember seeing him on film a number of years ago where he was playing backup player and just with a few riffs, he stood out and got my attention.
Now with a number of his own excellent releases under his belt, Rockin' Johnny puts on one hell of a show! He pulls from his most recent release Neoprene Fedora as well as a few other terrific releases including Greetings From Greaseland and Grim Reaper. Johnny is a great showman and at the Rhythm Room he plays 2 sets. Obviously what originally got my attention was Johnny's powerful if not often wild guitar riffs but Johnny is actually turning out to be a really good singer. Every time I see him I think, man this guy is really a good singer but I always remember those power riffs of his. Johnny isn't a Bonamassa or Clapton clone and he doesn't ape Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page or any of the other spectacular guitar players like most of his contemporaries. Johnny has his own style which is a mix of classic, underplayed riffs and his own style and blues, R&B, soul and rock. I don't take a lot of notes at a concert (hell, I'm there to drink beer and listen to a band just like you). Johnny hits the floor hard and pushes himself to gets things hopping fast. After only a few tracks, he really settles into a groove and it just keeps getting better and better throughout the show. I believe he played most every track from his Neoprene Fedora release (which is terrific by the way) and my recollection is that he played the title track near or at the end of the first set.
Excellent! Club owner and renown blues harp player, Bob Corritore, joined Johnny on stage for a few hot Chicago blues numbers and Bob never fails to impress. He's a great harp player and extremely knowledgeable blues enthusiast, running a blues radio show on National Public Radio for many years.
Recalling the show, I'm certain that he played Guitar King, Won't Get Married Again, Give Me An Hour In Your Garden, Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear, and Goodbye Chicago. there were a few tracks that were just over the top. From Greaseland I remember Cold Chills, She's A Hit and Homework as well as the highlight of the show for me, Johnny's take on The House Of The Rising Sun. Unfortunately the footage was unusable for reasons out of my control. Grim Reaper and I Did The Best I Could were among the best of the rest but the ultimate best groove is Smoke and Mirrors. I really think that this is one of the best grooves caught on a contemporary blues release in years.
Off the floor, Johnny is a hell of a nice guy and just wants to put on a great show. Catch him in a smaller club while you can. It may not be next week, but this guy really has something special and you should get your share.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
It's great to be back in California after a fun tour in
Sweden with Aki and some great shows in the Midwest and at The Chicago
Blues Festival.. The shot above is by Franky Bruneel and was
taken at the Mary Lane show at the Fest-- what a great time! Here
are the upcoming Cali and road dates for the next couple of
months:
Today, Fri,
July 7: Smoking Pig BBQ, Fremont, 9-12 This Sat,
July 8: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, 6-8 w Andy Santana This Sat,
July 8: Joe's Place, Boulder Creek, 9-12
Thurs, July 13: American Legion Post 474, Half Moon Bay 7-10
Fri, July 14: Poor House Bistro, San Jose
Sat, July 15: Solis Winery, Gilroy 1-4
Sat, July 15: Hopmonk, Sonoma, w Aki Kumar 8-11
Sun, July 16: Power House Pub, Folsom, w Kyle Rowland, 3-6
Tues, July 18: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, 6-8 w Andy Santana
Thurs, July 20: Little Lou's BBQ, Campbell, w Aki Kumar
Sat, July 22: Odd Fellows Hall, Nevada City, ft Freddie Roulette
Mon, July 24: Jo Bar, Portland, OR
Tues, July 25: Catfish Lou's, Portland, OR special guest of Rae Gordon
AUG DATES
Aug 6: CALGARY
BLUES FESTIVAL w Toronto based blues harp
player/songwriter/singer Sugar Brown
Aug 10: Hollihan's, White Bear Lake, MN
Aug 11: Park Ave Bar, Oshkosh, WI
Aug 12: Schooners, Minneapolis, MN
Aug 13:
BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL, Duluth, MN
Aug 13: The Blind Pig, Duluth MN: Bayfront Blue Fest Afterparty!
Tues Aug 15 and 22: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, CA 6-8 duo shows with
special guests
Sat, Aug 19: Tavern on the Green, Windsor, CA solo show 4-6
Thurs, Aug 24: Salt Lake City, TBD
Fri, Aug 25: The Green Pig, Salt Lake City, UT, w Tony Holiday
Sat, Aug 26: Sandy, UT, w Tony Holiday
Sun, Aug 27: The Corner Bar, Fremont, NE 4-8
Mon, Aug 28: The Fremont, Des Moines, IA, solo show
Tues, Aug 29: Shaw's Crab House, Chicago, IL, w Kenny Smith
Thurs, Aug 31: Thursday Night Out Concert, Marion Ct, Downtown Oak
Park, IL
Fri, Sept 1: The Smoke Daddy, Chicago, IL
Sat, Sept 2: Celtic Knot Public House, Evanston, IL duo show
Sun, Sept 3: River Roast, Chicago, IL 12-3
Sun, Sept 3: Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago, IL 9.30-12.30
East Coast Tour! SEPT 7-19 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 9.9, Chan's,
Woonsocket, RI, The Beehive in Boston, and dates in CT, MASS, NJ and
NY. Check the shows page for full details.
More rave reviews are coming in on the new Rockin' Johnny Burgin CD
"Neoprene Fedora"-- to listen to it on youtube, click here, and to purchase or download a
copy, click here.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Neoprene Fedora, from Rockin' Johnny Burgin and it's spectacular! I've had the pleasure to review a few Rockin' Johnny releases and also to see him in person and I gotta say, there aren't too many players out there right now that I'd rather see. (Check here to see my recent interview with RJB). He is inventive, his guitar work is clean and distinctive, his vocals are cool and he's music is a lot of fun.
Opening with the title track, Neoprene Fedora, Burgin hits the strip running with a 50's style blues surfer with great great vibrato, and cool phrasing. The Latin beat and the shimmery guitar soloing is out of sight and Nancy Wright's sax work is hot and heavy. Excellent! Joining Burgin are Kid Andersen on guitar, Bob Welsh on guitar, June Core on drums and Chris Matheos on bass. On Guitar King Burgin swings back into his Chicago roots and I really like his vocals. Aki Kumar is back on harp and we know what he can do. Burgin's guitar soloing sets the groove and together with Kumar on harp and Stephen Dougherty on drums...this track hits hard. On Won't Get Married Again, Burgin blends a Bloomfield like vocal delivery with an off beat gait. Playing harp himself and with an odd scatter guitar style, this is a track to hear. Unusually cool. With a slower lope, Give Me An Hour In Your Garden, Burgin delivers solid, expressive vocals with Albert King like sting on guitar. Vance Ehkers bass work on this track helps to set off Burgin's masterful guitar riffs giving this track a memorable sting. Steve Willis opens Kinda Wild Woman, a R&B track, with accordion flair and Billy Wilson's rubbing board work adds to the natural texture. On Please Tell Me, Burgin's vocals are solid and his slide playing very slick but catch Wright blowing the roof off on this one (on sax). With real Cajun feel, Burgin and Willis create the environment and Welsh adds a nice piano riff giving the track even more texture. Another cool blues swinger, (Let Me Be) Your Teddy Bear has a cool BB King like feel with Rockin' Johnny at his most relaxed, just letting it flow over Ehler's bass line. Very nice. Ultra funky blues track, Smoke and Mirrors even has wah wah pedal. I mean...it's funky. Get ready to dance. Burgin steps into new territory on this one and he's channeling Buddy Guy. With Alabama Mike on backing vocals and Kumar on harp, this track is FUNKY! Alabama Mike takes the mic on I Did the Best I Could and Burgin digs in on guitar with Albert King like attack. This guy can really do it all and continues to show that with every note... I mean this guy has feel...excellent! Another Chicago style blues, Self Made Man, features Kumar on lead vocal and Burgin sits back and just stings the strings. You don't have to listen hard to hear this guy. He sticks it in your ear for you. Buddy Guy has to smile listening to this guy! On shuffle track, You Gotta Work Fast, Burgin is back up front on vocal. With a great walking bass line from Ehlers and Kumar on harp, Burgin steps high with powerful, solid riffs, which seems to pull his vocals even more into the groove. I Ain't Gonna Be A Working Man No More has super Morganfield feel and Burgin reinforces this on guitar (think Rollin' and Tumblin') and playing is straight and simple, this track just moves. Another funky track, My Life's Enough For Me, has a great bass line compliments of Ehler's and nasty, nasty guitar lead. Burgin's vocals really emphasize his work and I'm glad he continues to develop his own voice. Check how he absolutely slays the guitar solo on this one. Ouch...man that's great! Wrapping the release is slow, Willie Dixon like track, Goodbye Chicago with excellent John Lee Hooker like vocal phrasing and Howlin' Wolf like aesthetic by Burgin. Nancy Wright is so excellent every time I hear her and her playing on this track is no exception. The choice to feature her on this release was brilliant. Burgin pays tribute to all the blues kings as he loosely riffs on guitar with Kumar on harp. This is really is the path of the contemporary blues. I hope that the young players are listening. This is it! Truly amazing release!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
"Neoprene
Fedora" Rockin' Johnny Burgin CD release and tour!
Rockin' Johnny's new CD is OUT and available at all
shows and at CD Baby. "Neoprene
Fedora" documents Johnny's move to California after a long and
illustrious career in Chicago. Like his previous effort,
"Greetings from Greaseland", this CD shows a true Chi-Cali
blues summit going on! This time around, he's written 11
originals ranging from surf to zydeco to gut-bucket blues.
There's a great mix of talent on this disc: BMA nominees and
winners like Kid Andersen on guitar, piano and the recording console,
drummers Stephen Dougherty and June Core (Charlie Musselwhite, Little
Charley and the Nightcats), guest vocalist Alabama Mike, and
saxophonist Nancy Wright, and bassist Vance Ehlers all contribute
great performances. Rising Bay Area harmonica star Aki Kumar
contributes two guest vocals and great performances throughout.
Aki and Johnny's remarkable synergy is in great abundance-- you
can see why recent tours of their West Coast Meets Chicago package
are meeting with rave reviews and capacity crowds. Steve
Willis, long-time accordion player for Elvin Bishop, shines on Johnny's
zydeco numbers. Noted Bay area veteran Bob Welsh, who also plays
with Elvin Bishop, plays excellent guitar and piano as well. Rockin
Johnny's seventh CD since 1998 shows an artist at the height of his
powers as a songwriter, singer and guitarist. Get your copy today.
ON TOUR:
It's been a great tour since 1.31-- 28
dates so far swinging through AZ, NM, TX, MS, IL, IN, WI and MN.
Thank you to all the fans who have been coming out!
Wed, March 15: The Wheelhouse, Waupaca, WI
Thurs, March 16: Lagunitas Tap Room, Chicago, 4.20-7.30 solo
show
Thurs: March 16: BLUES on Halsted, Chicago, 9.30-1.30 CD Release
Party! ft Bennie Rickum, harp
Fri, March 17: The Smoke Daddy, Chicago, 9-12 CD Release Party!
ft Bennie Rickum, harp
Sat, March 18: WLUW 88.7 radio interview w author James Porter, 11 am
Chicago
Sat, March 18: KJ McKeown's, Morris, IL 7-11
Sun, March 19: The Blue Goose, Toronto, CANADA, w Gary Kendall and
Sugar Brown
Mon-Wed, March 20-22: Recording session w Sugar Brown
Thurs, March 23: Mississippi Queen Foods, Hamilton, ON, CANADA, w Sugar
Brown
Sat, March 25: Castro's, Toronto, CANADA, w Sugar Brown
Mon, March 27: Martyr's, Chicago, solo show. Triple bill with
Hugh Trimble and Justin Howl
Thurs, March 30: Sonograph, Le Thor, FRANCE, w Aki Kumar and Demetria
Taylor
Fri, March 31: Salais Blues Festival, Salaise Sur Sonne, FRANCE w Aki
Kumar and Demetria Taylor
Sat, April 1: Jazz En Nord Festival, FRANCE, w Aki Kumar and Demetria
Taylor
Sun, April 2: Pub 23, Kouvola, FINLAND, w Aki Kumar
Sun, April 9: Blues Kitchen, Shoreditch, London, UK, w Big Joe Louis
and Aki Kumar
Mon, Tues, April 10-11: dates with Giles Robson and Aki Kumar, details
TBA
Thurs, April 13: JAM Club, Moscow. RUSSIA w Aki Kumar WEST COAST MEETS CHICAGO tour
Fri, April 14: Roadhouse Blues Club, Moscow, RUSSIA, w Aki Kumar
Sat, April 15: Port Arthur, Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA, w Aki Kumar
Wed, April 19: Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago
Thurs, April 20: Leadbelly's, Champaign, IL w Joe Asselin
Fri, April 21: Joe's Bar, Marysville, KS
Sat, April 22: ZOO Bar, Lincoln, NE double bill w the Iguanas
Sun, April 23: The Corner Bar, Fremont, NE
Mon, April 24: The Garage on Beck, Salt Lake City Utah
Thurs, April 27: made it back to CA! Little Lou's, Campbell, CA w
Aki Kumar and Trickbag from Sweden.
Fri, April 28: Murphy's Law, Sunnyvale, CA, w Aki Kumar and
Trickbag
Sat, April 29: The Torch, Sacramento, CA, w Aki Kumar and Trickbag
For complete tour dates, check out my NEW site, www.rockinjohnnyburgin.com.
See you at the shows and thank you very much!
Bman: Hi Johnny, Haven’t
seen you in a while. I'm really sorry that I missed your show in Phoenix. I was in Europe and just got back. One show I really wanted to see. How did it go?
RJB:I had a great show in Phoenix. "Bob Corritore and " Dave Rileysat in. I had a great bassist from Alburquerque, J.D. Sipe, and Brian Fahey from The Paladains on drums. I hadn't played with him since a tour in Europe three or so years ago with Mud Morganfieldand Taildragger.
Bman: Wow. That must have been a great show! Damn. I really wanted to see you. Are you coming back again this year?
RJB: I hope to be back in October.
Bman: Great! I should be good then. I don't think I have anything planned for October. Last I heard you were in Europe with Aki Kumar. I love Europe. How did
the tour go? Where were you?
RJB: I left for Europe on Halloween, and got back at Christmas. The first two weeks of the tour were with Aki Kumar and our West Coast Meets Chicago project. We hit Sweden (w/ Trickbag), the Netherlands, and the Bay Car BluesFestival in France and some FR club dates. Then Aki went home, and I went to Finland, Italy and Spain.
Bman:So you’ve been back on US soil for a while. What have you been up to?
Still touring or in the studio?
RJB: In January, I was in the Bay area the whole time. I played New Year's Eve with Nick Gravenites and long time Elvin Bishop drummer Gary Silva on drums. That was fun. In January, I cut material for a new Rockin Johnny Burgin CD, Neoprene Fedora.
It'll be out by March 15. I had Nancy Wright on it, Vance Ehlers, June Core (the rhythm section on Greaseland), not to mention 3 zydeco songs I wrote with Billy Williams on rub board and Steve Willis (plays w Elvin) on accordion. Kid Andersen and Bob Welsh played guitars and pianos, and Aki was on it as well. He did two songs on vocal, and Alabama Mike did two songs I wrote. Out of 16 tunes, I did three covers, a Johnny Littlejohn song, an LV Banks song, and a Little Joe Blue Song. And Aki did a song by Willie Williams, which makes 12 originals-- that's a record.
Bman: Outstanding! I love the stuff that comes out of Greaseland and that lineup is top notch. I'm looking forward to see what you came up with. I also heard that you caught up with Quique Gomezin Spain. Outstanding! I'm really looking forward to hearing it.
RJB: Quique is a good friend, I've worked with him in Spain and America many, many times. When Aki went home I caught up with him. I cut a cd's worth of stuff with Quique in Toledo. It'll come out in the summer. I'm glad we finally did a cd together.
Bman: Weren’t you also in
session with Mike Mettalia?
RJB: Yes, I've known Mike since the Smoke Daddy days in the 90s. He wanted to do some sessions with Little Jerry Jones, Mary Lane, and Milwaukee Slim (and me!) so I acted as a liaison. We've done some nice shows together over the years. He's really keeping the blues alive in my book!
Bman: I really need to check that out! What else have you
got cooking as if that isn’t enough?
RJB: Right now I'm doing a three month tour that started in San Jose, then went to Phoenix, Alburquerque, Dallas, it's going to Houston, Clarksdale, Springfield, Chicago, Minneapolis, Toronto, France, Russia, then flying back to Chicago and driving back to SF doing gigs in NE and Utah. Doing a session with Jeremy Johnson in Minneapolis in March, he's a great engineer (he did RJ Mischo's latest cd) drummer and guitarist. I've always wanted to record with him.
Also doing a session on this trip with Sugar Brown(Ken Kawashima) in Toronto. We're old college buddies and started out together with Taildragger. He's a great player and songwriter.
Bman: Yeah, I like Sugar Brown's work. Lot of talent there.
RJB: I am doing a tour in Sweden in May with Aki and Trickbag. I'm doing the 10th anniversary Blues Fest after party at Reggie's with special guests TBA in Chicago in June. Also I'm playing the Bluesfest with Mary Lane. Playing King Biscuit with Taildragger in October and I'll be touring a lot to promote Neoprene Fedora, as well and my release wtih Quique when it comes out.
Bman: Man. You are a busy guy. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. Now I got to get some CD's and sit back and enjoy!
RJB: Thanks a lot Bman
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
Bob Corritore, one of the top Chicago blues harp players on the planet today and owner of the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ brought a terrific concert to town last night and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance. Corritore, a native of Chicago moved to Arizona over 30 years ago and is such a part of the blues music fabric here that he is sometimes taken for granted by locals. Making routine appearances here around his own recording and touring schedule he often becomes a complimentary musician to guests in his own house. His instrumental release,Taboo is certainly one of the best contemporary blues harp releases that I have heard. Last night, hosting a great group of Chicago musicians, Corritore took the stage with Eddie Taylor Jr. (guitar and lead vocal),Illinois Slim (guitar) and Brian Fahey (drums).
This was a terrific set of straight up Chicago blues showing just how
good Taylor is both as a lead singer and blues guitarist and giving
Corritore the opportunity to really shine.This initial set was maybe 6 -10 songs and was extremely well received.
Exceptional bassist and vocalist Bob Stroger joined the group on bass and lead vocals. Stroger is an exceptional performer who stands out as a musician when in a back up role but as a leader really takes control. Having performed with
Eddie King, Odie Payne, Otis Rush, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Big Eyes Smith and Carey Bell, he knows how to do his business and he took control. This was a short but powerful set with Strogers queezing solid gutsy
blues from this set of excellent musicians.
This probably isn't a secret to any of my daily readers but I was especially here to see Rockin'
Johnny Burgin. Johnny took the stage like wild fire playing two dynamic
tracks from his most recent release, Greetings from Greaseland which is exceptional. I had only seen Johnny on video, backing others such as Tail Dragger on his DVD Live At Rooster's Lounge and on Youtube so I was extremely anxious to see him in person. This guy has his own style of guitar playing and is a really super singer. Now don't go off half cocked thinking I'm saying he's Stevie Ray Vaughn or Joe Bonamassa. He's Johnny Burgin and he takes his craft seriously, playing the rocking edge of the Chicago blues and doing it with dynamic style. Burgin only played two tracks as a band leader/lead vocalist, but I've been to concerts where there weren't two songs that I enjoyed as much as these two tracks so don't take that lightly.
Next up was ninety year old Henry Gray has played with a literal who's who of blues including Sonny Boy Williamson II, Homesick James, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, Hubert Sumlin, Lazy Lester, Little Walter Jacobs, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Little Milton Campbell, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, and Koko Taylor. I reviewed his most recent release
with Corritore, Blues Won't Let Me Take My Rest and his appearance in person was dynamic and memorable. His
vocals are solid and his piano playing inspiring. His style to my ear
is somewhat similar to one of my favorites, Booker T Laury and his set
as a leader was really great as well.
Finally Tail Dragger took the stage, or the entire room as the case was, singing to and hugging most everyone in the room. Kneeling, crawling and growling the entire way, Tail Dragger lived up to every show of his that I have ever seen. Check out my review of his most recent release, Stop Lyin'from 2013. Burgin, who is a now regular with Dragger had some super opportunities to fan the flames and although careful to never take over the show, was super hot gasoline on the smoking fire.
Needless to say this was an exceptional show. If you have the opportunity to see this line up, do it. It won't happen too many times and clocking in at over 3 hours, you get way more than your monies worth! Oh, and Rockin Johnny has some terrific hot blue t shirts. If you know the Bman, you know he's all about the blue (s) so don't be afraid to ask Mr Burgin. They are very affordable and really cool. Mine's in the mail so don't be surprised to see me sporting one at the next blues show!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
I just received the newest release, Greetings from Greaseland, California by Rockin' Johnny Burgin and it's spectacular! I received a lot of new releases each month with a lot of blues tracks but these are so fine! Rockin' Johnny, along with Aki Kumar (harp), Kid Andersen, Vance Ehlers (bass) and June Core (drums) have really hit it here. Opening with Love Me Like I Want it features Johnny on lead vocals and guitar with Kumar on harp is an excellent shuffle with Johnny's trademark guitar style out in the front. Did I say this track was super? Hip Linkchain's Cold Chills has that funky blues beat and Ehlers and Core set up the essential groove. Johnny has that raw looseness on guitar that is so lost from blues records today that he owns it. Excellent! She's A Hit, a conventional sauntering 12 bar track, shows Johnny's sure feel for vocal delivery in Chicago style. Sit back and listen to his expressive riffs. This man is flying! Robert Jr Lockwood's The Western Horizon is an easy shuffle with Kumar up front. Does Johnny take a back seat... nah...he just lets Kumar breathe. Then he rips some excellent riffs of his own. If you don't know this guy's work, this is an great place to start. Slow blues track, Telephone Angel, is up next and you know you're in for a hard run. If there is a more exciting "real blues" guitar player on the planet today, tell me who it is (Buddy Guy excepted). An instrumental version of classic, House of the Rising Sun, made popular by the Animals, has a lot of polish and excellent articulation. Another slower blues track, Empty Bed Blues, features vocal on top and tasty guitar and harp riffs under the lead. Johnny shows a much more controlled guitar delivery with dynamic attack on this track. Expressive, gutsy riffs remind me of a young Elvin Bishop who blew my sox off in the Fillmore days. Excellent! Tribute To Big John Wrencher keeps it direct with solid vocals and cool harp work from Johnny. Havana Rock gives Core the chance to really play some fancy riffs supporting Kumar on lead. Turning into a straight ahead boogie, Johnny steps up with jazzy style riffs and swinging blues bends. Shouldn't say ground breaking, but compared to anything I'm hearing on the blues scene today...it is! Perkins/Rush composition Homework, made popular by Fleetwood Mac and J Geils to mention a few has a great rocky feel. There's underlying keys by Kid Andersen who does a real nice job. Johnny settles back to mostly solid vocals but his few guitar riffs hot and stinging! Wrapping the release is Jimmy Reed's Tell The World I Do. Johnny keeps a nice even pace with expressive vocals and harp setting it up for the killer swat on guitar to slam this release shut.
This is a must hear release!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
I just received the newest release, Greetings from Greaseland, California by Rockin' Johnny Burgin and it's spectacular! I received a lot of new releases each month with a lot of blues tracks but these are so fine! Rockin' Johnny, along with Aki Kumar (harp), Kid Andersen, Vance Ehlers (bass) and June Core (drums) have really hit it here. Opening with Love Me Like I Want it features Johnny on lead vocals and guitar with Kumar on harp is an excellent shuffle with Johnny's trademark guitar style out in the front. Did I say this track was super? Hip Linkchain's Cold Chills has that funky blues beat and Ehlers and Core set up the essential groove. Johnny has that raw looseness on guitar that is so lost from blues records today that he owns it. Excellent! She's A Hit, a conventional sauntering 12 bar track, shows Johnny's sure feel for vocal delivery in Chicago style. Sit back and listen to his expressive riffs. This man is flying! Robert Jr Lockwood's The Western Horizon is an easy shuffle with Kumar up front. Does Johnny take a back seat... nah...he just lets Kumar breathe. Then he rips some excellent riffs of his own. If you don't know this guy's work, this is an great place to start. Slow blues track, Telephone Angel, is up next and you know you're in for a hard run. If there is a more exciting "real blues" guitar player on the planet today, tell me who it is (Buddy Guy excepted). An instrumental version of classic, House of the Rising Sun, made popular by the Animals, has a lot of polish and excellent articulation. Another slower blues track, Empty Bed Blues, features vocal on top and tasty guitar and harp riffs under the lead. Johnny shows a much more controlled guitar delivery with dynamic attack on this track. Expressive, gutsy riffs remind me of a young Elvin Bishop who blew my sox off in the Fillmore days. Excellent! Tribute To Big John Wrencher keeps it direct with solid vocals and cool harp work from Johnny. Havana Rock gives Core the chance to really play some fancy riffs supporting Kumar on lead. Turning into a straight ahead boogie, Johnny steps up with jazzy style riffs and swinging blues bends. Shouldn't say ground breaking, but compared to anything I'm hearing on the blues scene today...it is! Perkins/Rush composition Homework, made popular by Fleetwood Mac and J Geils to mention a few has a great rocky feel. There's underlying keys by Kid Andersen who does a real nice job. Johnny settles back to mostly solid vocals but his few guitar riffs hot and stinging! Wrapping the release is Jimmy Reed's Tell The World I Do. Johnny keeps a nice even pace with expressive vocals and harp setting it up for the killer swat on guitar to slam this release shut.
This is a must hear release!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
I just received the newest release, Cell Phone Man, by Willie Buck. This release sounds really fresh but it fits like an old glove. This new release is a mixture of new tracks written by Buck and some old classics written by Muddy Waters among others. The release opens with Doin' Good And Bad At The Same Time, a contemporary Chicago style blues track. Buck is backed by Rockin' Johnny Burgin (lead guitar), Rick Kreher (rhythm guitar), John Sefner (bass), Steve Bass (drums), Barrelhouse Chuck (piano) and harp men Bharath Rajakumar and Martin Lang. Darling I Miss You So, the classic Ted Taylor track is right on the spot with crisp riffs by Burgin. Muddy Waters' Strange Woman has a beautifully slow pace which provides plenty of space for Bucks' gritty blues voice, Rajakumar's soulful harp work and tasty guitar tweaks from Burgin. Each featured artist takes a turn showing their stuff, you find yourself just closing your eyes and letting it in. Excellent! Cell Phone Man, another traditional Morganfield Chicago style track sound as if it could have been performed by Waters himself. The authentic feel of the execution is fresh. Another Waters song, Two Trains Running is given a very stripped down,just vocal and acoustic guitar, traditional run and is also executed very well. It has the life of original delta blues. Goin' Down Main Street is a romping blues and features Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and Rajakumar again on harp. It's also great to hear tight little guitar riffs from Burgin on this track. Morganfield's Streamline Woman, gets a very solid cover again sounding very fresh and keeping you wanting more. I love the slide sound on this track. This band just has the sound of having played in the best blues club in Chicago for a long time. Tried To Work Something Out With You is a real sweet track following suit with the balance of the recording but in this case featuring Lang on harp. I Want To Talk To My Baby is another standout on the release again with a very stripped down feel. The track is electrified but kept at a very minimal really highlighting the blues men at their best. Blow Wind Blow closes the release with a smooth rendition of one of Muddy's most popular tracks. This release has a great delivery and is a pleasure to kick back and listen to. There are times throughout this 17 track release that I reach for my guitar because it sucks you in.
Great job!
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, - ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!
The concert begins with Wolf's Louise and Dragger and the band are tearing it up. This is an authentic Chicago blues club with an authentic Chicago blues band playing! Louise shows great guitar solos by Rockin' Johnny Burgin and Kevin Shanahan as well as well as great harp work by Martin Lang. Next up is Big Joe Williams's Baby Please Don't Go. Dragger works the crowd as the band stays tight. Shanahan plays a cool older looking worn red 335 and Johnny what looks to be a tobacco burst Epi Emperor. Johnny plays particularly articulate licks and Lang's harp riffs are right on target. The video and sound quality is strong and you can almost smell the inside of this club (if you've ever been in a club like this). There's a dart board behind the drummer and stains on the ceiling tiles. The walls have the 4x8 luan mahogany paneling that was popular in the 60's running both horizontal and vertical. The walls are painted red elsewhere and you can see the inside of the toilet from the stage. This is the real deal. She's Worryin' Me, a Dragger original, finds Dragger crawlin on the floor and some nice raw slide riffs from Shanahan. Johnny takes a nice soulful solo and pulls some particularly cool vibrato bends out of his bag of guitar tricks. Stop Lying, another Dragger original, gives Lang the opportunity to lay down some nice harp riffs and Shanahan again some cool slide riffs. The entire band including Todd Fackler on Bass and Rob Lorenz on drums are tight. Keep It To Yourself, an old Sonny Boy Williamson tune, puts Dragger right in the crowd and gives Lang the opportunity to shine again. Johnny squeezes out some fluid runs that are brief but tasty. Be Careful, another Dragger original, gives the band another opportunity to play a slow number and again Shanahan steps up with some beefy playing. His style isn't scorching fast... it's deep and telling. I love his use of trem bends in contrast to Johnny's articulate blues run solos. Wander, another Dragger original, finds Jimmy Dawkins replacing Shanahan onstage. On Bought Me A New Home, another Dragger original, Johnny takes an extended solo and so does Shanahan. The style difference between these two men parallel Bloomfield and Bishop in Butterfield's band of a few decades ago. Each has his unique style and they are complimentary to each other behind a traditional Chicago blues band. Ooh Baby Hold Me, an old Wolf song, finds the crowd dancing and Dragger charming the women. John Lee Hooker's I'm In The Mood is next up and Johnny pulls out some old Hooker riffs on his guitar. Dragger even changes the timing on the song a few times as Hooker was know to do often when not overproduced. I like the authentic feel of this song in particular especially in Dragger and Johnny's presentations. Everything Gonna Be Alright, a Little Walter tune, is next up. Johnny uses a trill stroke to play the basic melody throughout and it gives the song a real great feel. Last Up Is Little Walter's Blues With A Feeling. Lang gets his harp talking right off of the bat. Dragger shows some of his best vocals on this last song and the band is tight.
There is also some story telling by Dragger as a bonus track which gives you some insight into his life and history. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
