#695 : Johnny Burgin - Ramblin' From Coast to Coast (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Straight Shooter Records

By Phillip Smith; July 20, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Johnny Burgin continues to produce blues music in its purest form with his latest album Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast. Nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2023 for Traditional Blues Male Artist, Burgin’s guitar performances share top-billing with his song writing, elevating him to a level of high-regard. Recorded in assorted studios across the nation in Dallas, Cincinnati, Memphis, and Rochester, New York, then mixed at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California by Kid Andersen, the album’s title Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast rightly fits. The record features a dozen solid-as-hell blues tracks and brings to the table as many special guests including John Blues Boyd, Rae Gordon, Ben Levin, Hanna PK, Jad Tariq, Jon Hay, and Dylan Bishop.

 Burgin ignites the album with title-track “Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast”. This cookin’ track includes Tariq on guitar and is backed by a rocking rhythm section featuring drummer Danny Banks, bassist Jon Hay, and pianist Christian Dozzler. Following immediately afterward is “Getting’ My Blues On”. I absolutely adore this. Burgin takes the song to the moon and back with his cosmic, note-bending delivery and soulful vocals. The backing vocals from Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Marina Crouse, and Jill Dineen are the icing on the cake and construct a sort of Hendrix-meets-Motown vibe. The flow continues strong with the classic Chicago Blues sound of “I Need Something Sweet”. Burgin’s lyrical mastery sets this up to be a timeless classic. The extremely talented Hanna PK accompanies Burgin on “Fresno Woman”. With Burgin breaking out the slide, I love hearing them trading guitar and piano licks back and forth. It sounds great. A juicy blast of harp from Burgin launches “I’m Playing Straight” as Little Village recording artist John Blues Boyd lends his suave vocals. The converging sound of guitars, piano, and harmonica creates a Mississippi juke joint experience for the listener. In a classic blues fashion, Burgin’s message to listen to one’s gut and refrain from second-guessing is the subject of “I Was Right the First Time”.  Accompanied by Levin on piano, this song swings with finesse.

 Ramblin’ From Coast To Coast is a high-caliber traditional blues album which all blues fans should give a listen to. It’s genuine, and it’s fantastic.  

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For more information about Johnny Burgin, visit the website at https://johnnyburgin.com

Catch up on previous PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Johnny Burgin through this link https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=johnny+burgin

This album available on Bandcamp

#311 : Howlin' at Greaseland

Various Artists

Howlin’ at Greaseland

2017 –West Tone Records

Release Date : 2017

By Phillip Smith; Dec 30, 2017

Howlin’ Wolf has always been one of my favorite bluesmen and I was quite excited to hear this new compilation of the Wolf’s music masterminded by producer Stephanie Tice and Christopher ‘Kid’ Andersen.  Howlin’ at Greaseland was recorded at Andersen’s Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California, and features a terrific crew of blues singers consisting of Alabama Mike, John Blues Boyd, Tail Dragger Jones, Henry Gray, Aki Kumar, Terry Hanck, and Lee Donald.   The band has a rotating cast of notable Bay area blues artists on hand too.  With Andersen himself on guitar for the majority of the songs, others include: Rick Estrin(harmonica), Aki Kumar(harp), Rockin’ Johnny Burgin(guitar), Johnny Cat Soubrand(guitar), Vance Ehlers(bass), Jim Pugh(piano), Dmar Martin(drums), Lorenzo Farrell(piano), Alex Pettersen(drums), Robby Yamilov(bass), Joe Kyle Jr.(bass), June Core(drums), Henry Gray(piano), Patrick Rynn(bass), Chris James(guitar), Eric Spaulding(sax) and Mike Phillips(bass).

The album wonderfully begins with the infectious hook of “Meet Me in the Bottom”.  Alabama Mike pours himself into his performance.  Kid Andersen’s slide guitar sounds so nice, especially paired with the harp playing of Rick Estrin.  It’s a terrific way to start the record.  This really has a way of warming the listener up for the killer rendition of “Smokestack Lightnin’” sung by John Blues Boyd.  This one features both Kid and Rockin’ Johnny Burgin on guitars, as well as Estrin on harp, delicately accented by the piano prowess of Jim Pugh(Robert Cray Band).  Tail Dragger delivers the goods on “Don’t Trust No Woman”, as he belts the tune out with tons of experience.  Rockin’ Johnny Burgin splendidly keeps the song rolling on guitar while Aki Kumar delivers a big juicy performance on harp.  I love Henry Gray’s remarkable piano and vocal delivery of “Little Red Rooster”.  It is blues at its purest.  The album comes to a close with sweet recording of “Spoonful” sung with conviction by John Blues Boyd. Players on hand for this track include Kid Andersen and Rockin’ Johnny on guitars, with Rick Estrin on harp, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass, Jim Pugh on organ, and Eric Spaulding on sax.  They sound so great together; I certainly would be up for hearing more of these compilations from Greaseland.