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| | Blues & Ballads | | | Music Artist : | | Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Obc | | Release Date : | | 1991-07-01 | | Store Price : | | $11.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $11.98 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Haunted House
2. Memories of You
3. Blues for Chris
4. I Found a Dream
5. St. Louis Blues
6. I'll Get Along Somehow
7. Savoy Blues
8. Backwater Blues
9. Elmer's Blues
10. He's a Jelly Roll Baker
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 Yes, He Bakes The Best Jelly Roll In Town
Submitted on: 2008-11-15 |
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Okay, Okay those of you who have been keeping tabs know that I have spend much of the last year, when not doing political commentary or book or movie reviews, reviewing many of the old time blues artists that were the passion of my youth (and still are). So this writer, who thought he had heard virtually all the key blues men and women of the old days, got his comeuppance recently when the name of Lonnie Johnson and his version of the classic double-entendre "Jelly Roll Baker" came up. To name drop just a little, the occasion was a local reunion of Geoff Muldaur and Jim Kweskin of the old Jim Kweskin Jug Band from the 1960's (that also included Geoff's ex-wife and great performer in her own right, Maria Muldaur, all of whom have been reviewed here). They did a stirring rendition of the song and attributed it to the performer under review here. After scratching my head I ran out to get some more of Brother Lonnie's work and I am here to tell you- get this CD because if you have any interest at all in the blues you will not be disappointed.
Why this particular album to start out with? Well, it features Lonnie Johnson and long time friend Elmer Snowden together after a long separation. Early on (back in the 1920's) they had worked together on some blues and jazz albums. That is, perhaps, why this work is interesting as an example of that closeness between the jazz and blues idioms before those musical forms parted ways sometime in the late 1940's. As others have mentioned Johnson, the father of single-note six-string soloing, is in a strangely haunting voice on this selection of blues, ballads, and jazz, crooning the double-entendre "Jelly Roll Baker" and the heartache-laden "Back Water Blues". I cannot add much to that description except you cannot go wrong by giving "Haunted House" and "I Found A Dream" a listen. That sets the mood. Finally, let me say WOW!
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Guitar Virtuoso
Submitted on: 2008-06-18 |
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| Lonnie Johnson is THE guitar virtuoso. He is the inventor of Jazz guitar, for God's sake! This album is made by the first three songs, which are exquisite. Johnson recorded in the '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s, and '60s, and sounded different in each decade. In my opinion, he was in his prime when backing Texas Alexander with those otherwordly guitar moans, and his guitar duets with Eddie Lang still sound fresh almost 100 years later. I've never heard guitar playing like there is on "The Risin' Sun". However, let's jump ahead three decades to this album that was made with Elmer Snowden. I highly suggest you purchase this disc, as Lonnie's guitar playing is beautifully romantic and his vocals are impeccable. |
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Recomendo
Submitted on: 2007-09-02 |
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Todo livro sobre jazz fala sobre blues. A maioria dos escritores, não sendo geralmente músicos, limita-se a tentar nos enrolar tecendo comentários sobre doloridas lágrimas africanas, o sofrimento, a ira e a melancolia da alma núbia escravizada. Citam depoimentos atônitos daqueles que ouviram gritos indiscerníveis que sobrevoavam campos esquecidos de algodão. Também nunca faltam referências à humilhação e ao ódio sofrido pelo povo colorido: alguns negros, em busca de libertação, suicidavam-se. Outros cantavam orações em igrejas ou clamavam por alívio ao voodoo. Outros simplesmente cantavam o blues. Alguns escribas, quando também músicos, tentam nos explicar (ou talvez confundir) dizendo que o blues é uma forma musical, composta quase sempre de 12 compassos, onde é freqüente o uso das chamadas blue notes, notas musicais instáveis que não se enquadram no temperamento usual dos 12 semitons legados por Bach. Para o desorientado leigo basta dizer que o bluesman, ao invés de utilizar as velhas e conhecidas notas DÓ RÉ MI FÁ SOL LÁ SI, passa a utilizar as notas DÓ, RÉ, MI BEMOL, MI, FÁ, SOL BEMOL, SOL, LÁ, SI BEMOL, SI. O terceiro grau blue (mi bemol) tem função exclusivamente melódica, dando aquele tom deprimente e melancólico a certas passagens do blues. O sétimo grau blue (si bemol) cumpre uma função melódica e harmônica, como que estabilizando o fraseado, além de ser bem menos sofrida que o terceiro grau. O quinto grau blue (sol bemol) é mais moderno e decorre da tendência dos músicos de jazz ao abaixamento da quinta (bemolizando a nota). Como nos esclarece brilhantemente Christian Bellest:
Enquanto o terceiro grau blue associa-se melodicamente à tônica e o sétimo grau blue à dominante sem intermediário, o quinto grau blue parece requerer, para sua resolução, um trânsito pela nota de passagem do sexto grau, a subdominante. Nota forte da escala, esse quarto grau tende, por sua vez, a resolver na fundamental (dó) através da terça maior ou, com mais frequência, menor.
Ou seja, nenhuma pessoa normal entende exatamente o que é o blues. Por isso, nada melhor para o leigo que apenas ouví-lo. Fazer como o não iniciado que, mesmo sem entender os cálculos matemáticos que o levam à Lua, limita-se a entrar na nave e verificar que, de fato, a Terra é azul.
Lonnie Johnson - Blues & Ballads - Compre sem medo. |
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Absolutely captivating
Submitted on: 2007-06-04 |
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| Wonderful slow blues. Song selection is great. A very intimate recording that goes far beyond three guys just making music. Some may find fault with the way the recording was mixed, with it's strict left and right channels, but going beyond that and listening to the raw emotion of each song left me speechless. This is an exquisite recording and one not to be missed. |
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Good ol way...
Submitted on: 2006-06-29 |
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Lately, i was eagering to listen to some acoustic melodic blues, and guess what? This record does the trick.
I have a couple of classics on cd from Missisippi john hurt, robert johnson, john lee hooker and so on.. And of course they're all great bluesman and great sounding acoustic records, but this particular album by Lonnie Johnson is very special. Maybe it's because I'm a fan of the standards, but the way he sings and plays it, I tell you, it's original, unique and outstanding.
Pay close attention and keep an open ear for every single track on this album, it's worth it. "Memories of you" even made me want to get up, grab my girl and dance to this wonderful ballad.
In the middle of some tracks, you hear conversations between Lonnie Johnson and Elmer Snowden really feeling the music and having fun with their playing.
It's amazing. Thumbs up for this record. |
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