Sonny Terry – Blues Harp – Born October 24, 1911 Greensboro, Georgia
Among the many instruments that I love is the harmonica or more specifically the blues harp, and there are few who play that instrument better than Sonny Terry from Blues Harp…..
The joyous whoop that Sonny Terry naturally emitted between raucous harp blasts was as distinctive a signature sound as can possibly be imagined. Only a handful of blues harmonicists wielded as much of a lasting influence on the genre as did the sightless Terry (Buster Brown, for one, copied the whoop and all), who recorded some fine urban blues as a bandleader in addition to serving as guitarist Brownie McGhee‘s longtime duet partner.(From Blues Harp)
Today (October 24th) we can remember that joyous whoop and celebrate the 104th birthday of acoustic blues musicians Sonny Terry. Sonny was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and started his blues career playing in the trio of Blind Boy Fuller. He played with Fuller until Fuller’s death in 1941. After Fuller died Terry began playing with Brownie McGhee and as they say the rest is folk history!!
Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry (24 October 1911 – 11 March 1986[2]) was a blind American Piedmont blues musician.[1] He was widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.
Terry died from natural causes at Mineola, New York, in March 1986, the year he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (Wikipedia)
IThe Best of Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry is in my music library and the memory lingers of driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway singing along to songs from Brownie and Terry like “Walk On”, “Down by the Riverside”, “Blues from the Lowland” and “Blowin’ The Fuses” ! Boy, what a great blues harp player!
So Happy Birthday Sonny- Hope you and Brownie have a nice day!!
So the other day I decided to visit an album that I haven’t listened to in a long while,Jazz Blues Fusion from John Mayall. The album is a live album. The first side is from a concert in Boston on 18 November 1971, and the second side was selected from two concerts at Hunter College, New York, on 3 and 4 December 1971.
John released two albums with this jazz fusion bent. On the albums he brought jazz musicians into his band. On this album the musicians were Freddy Robinson on guitar, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Ron Selico on drums and Clifford Soloman on tenor and alto saxophones. Larry Taylor long-time member of the band provided bass.
I wore this album out in college and throughout the years that followed. Listening to the album brought back a lot of memories, including seeing John perform at the University of Florida in 1973.
Anyway I loved listening to it the other day and I thought that a Saturday morning is a good time for a little “Good Time Boogie”…. I love Freddy Robinson’s guitar!!
If You’d like to dive a little deeper here’s the compete Jazz Blues Fusionl
Originally Posted October 2014 Revised and Updated June 2026
With the IQ test over and having done better than my wife anticipated, I now have my eyes set on my first 5K of the year, this Saturday in Delanco. Tonight was my second-to-last workout before the race, and it turned out to be my best run of the late summer early fall!
I tried to run short pickups throughout the run and a couple of times my pace dropped below 9 minutes per mile and was under 10 minute per mile pace through most of the run. I pushed it through the first 3.1 miles of the run and then backed off.
I was able to pick it back up though for a decent push at the end. Overall the time was 39:32 over 4.03 miles for a final pace of 9:48. which I am happy with!
The Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the run was Bona Fide, the latest release from Chris Thomas King who is somewhere today celebrating his 49th birthday (according to his website and 50th according to AllMusic)!
Who is Chris Thomas King?
King was born on October 14, 1964, in Baton Rouge. His father, Tabby Thomas, is a locally prominent bluesman who owned a club called Tabby’s Blues Box, which opened in 1979 and closed in 2004 following Tabby’s retirement.
As a result, King, started early toward his musical future; even as a youngster he was well known as Rockin’ Tabby’s son and a child genius. While frequenting his father’s club he performed with the late Silas Hogan, Guitar Kelly and Clarence Edwards, three masters of swamp blues.
By sixth grade, King was learning to play the trumpet and later traveling as a rhythm guitar player of famous musicians like Lowell Folsom and Joe Tex. As he matured in the musical setting of New Orleans area blues culture, King was encouraged to experiment and develop his own style. Because each blues musician had a unique playing and singing style, he was discouraged from singing others’ songs or even playing the way they did.
He told Lisa Simeone on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition, “They would never sit me down and say, ‘Well, this is how it goes.’ They … told me don’t sing their songs … ‘Find your own song and sing that.'” Full Biography
About Bona Fide
After listening to Bona Fide, I wondered why I never heard of him (uh, because you never hear of anyone??) Ok here’s one reason. He came on the blues scene according to Wikipedia in the late 80s and early 90s, when I was busy raising four children!! From Wikipedia:
King is known as the pioneer of rap/blues fusion.[1] He conceived the first sample-based blues concept album in the early 1990s by writing and producing the first all-rap/blues album for RCA Records titled 21st Century Blues… From Da Hood.Read More
AHA! He Spent Many Years in Europe!
From his website, I discovered that he spent many years in the more liberal confines of Europe!!:
Like Miles Davis and Bob Dylan before him, Chris Thomas King was originally celebrated as the young savior of an aging musical culture when he first arrived on the national scene. Branded as a rebel King was banned form blues festivals across the United States.
He fled to Denmark to cool his heels in the more liberal environment that flourished in Europe. While in Denmark he recorded and released the critically acclaimed hip-hop blues album “21st Century Blues from da hood.”
The French embraced him as a major artist with vision and the rest of Europe followed. He toured with his Danish band extensively across Europe playing major festivals and theaters but longed to return to New Orleans.
Upon returning to the United States in 1995, he started his own independent production company and record label, 21st Century Blues. Soon after he found success as a film composer and actor. Winning three Grammy Awards by 2003 and several Country music CMA awards. Full Biography
I Saw Home in Movies! Who Knew?
While I may not have known his name, I did see him and hear him in the movies Ray, where he played bandleader and blues guitarist Lowell Fulson, and in O Brother, Where Art Thou? where he “portrayed a skilled blues guitarist who claims he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his skill on guitar.
The character is based on blues musicians Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson, both of whom have been linked to selling their soul to the devil at a rural Mississippi crossroads!” (From Wikipedia) But now that I know the name and love the album Bona Fide,
Final Thoughts and The Video
I will be checking out the rest of his discography – maybe I’ll even check out the music that got him branded a rebel and sent him to Europe to ply his trade!!!
Here’s the closing track from Bona Fide, “Goodbye Chicago” I say, “Hello Chris Thomas King and Happy Birthday!!”
Post Update and Confession:
I never did get around to exploring the ten albums Mr. King released prior to Bona Fide or the four he released after. However, I did listen to his most recent release 2023’s Big Gray Sky and loved it. I’ll give you my thoughts soon!
Son Seals – Blues Born Frank Seals in Osceola, Arkansas. (August 14, 1942 – December 20, 2004)
Exploring the Music of Son Seals on his Birthday….
On this date in 1942 blues guitarist and singer Frank “Son” Seals in Osceola, Arkansas. I must say that I have never been a big fan of Son Seals I have one Seals album on cassette Live and Burnin‘ and have enjoyed it whenever I play it. A birthday is always a good tine to learn more about a musician and listen to their music.
What I learn about Son Seals today..…
His father Jim “Son” Seals owned a small juke joint in Osceola, where Son began his professional music career as a drummer with Robert Nighhawk at the ripe old age of 13! Later he switched to guitar and by 16 he was performing at the local upper echelon club T-99 beside “Little Walter” (Seals’ brother-in-law). At the T-99, he also shared the stage with the likes of Albert King, Rufus Thomas, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, and Rosco Gordon. From Wikipedia:
In 1971, Seals moved to Chicago. His career took off after he was discovered by Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records at the ‘Flamingo Club’ in Chicago’s South Side.
His debut album, The Son Seals Blues Band, was released in 1973. The album included “Your Love Is Like a Cancer” and “Hot Sauce”. Seals followed up with 1976’s Midnight Son and 1978’s Live and Burning. He continued releasing albums throughout the next two decades, all but one on Alligator Records. These included Chicago Fire (1980), Bad Axe (1984),Living in the Danger Zone (1991), Nothing But the Truth and Live-Spontaneous Combustion (1996). He received the W.C. Handy Award in 1985, 1987, and 2001. Read more
Live-Spontaneous Combustion
The album that I listened to was Seals 1996 release – Live-Spontaneous Combustion, which was recorded at Buddy Guys Legends club. For me live albums from blues artist tend to be really good, at live shows they tend to stretch songs out more, especially guitarist.
Their solos tend to be more explosive and for me that’s the case on this album…. I like it a lot and makes me want to go and check out Seals’ back catalog.
Scott Yanov at AllMusic writes this about the album…..
Son Seals is a very powerful performer. While his vocals are full of passion, it is Seals’ explosive guitar solos (egged on by a driving rhythm section along with two fine horn players who have some solo spots) that are most notable. Recorded live at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, Seals’ interpretations of these spirited blues would certainly please the club owner. This enthusiastic set serves as a perfect introduction to the accessible and memorable blues of Son Seals.
Press about Son Seals
Seems I made the right choice. Here’s what some others say about Son’s music
“Seals’ guitar style is built on soul, speed, intensity and an unflagging sense of timing and blues invention. [He’ll] take a note and torture it, attacking a lick and repelling it five different ways, building power as he goes.” — Guitar World
“His deep, gruff, hard-edged voice perfectly matches the acid bite of his bad axe which sometimes moves up into Albert Collins overdrive, sometimes down for a peck of chicken scratch. His guitar work is searing and expressive…he strikes with no-holds-barred ferocity.” — Down Beat
Son Seals’ Death
Seals died in December of 2004, from complication stemming from the diabetes he suffered from. He had previously,in 1999, lost a portion of his right leg to the disease.
So let’s all wish Son Seals a Happy Birthday wherever he may be! And check out more about this Chicago blues legend at……
Links for the Further Exploration of the Blues of Son Seals
Reposted – Feb 17,2024 – ten years later….I was 62 ar the time of the run!
This week has been a topsy-turvy week. Monday it was in the 80s and then was cloudy all day. Yesterday (Tuesday) it looked like it was going to rain and the temperatures were in the 60s!
Today (Thursday) it was supposed to be back into the 80s. So last night (Wednesday) I decided that I better run then or face another hot day running!
So of course today turned out a lot like yesterday. However, I’m still glad that I ran last night!! I decided to run on of my oldest routes, a slightly up and down run going up and down the highest point in Riverside on Pancoast Avenue.
The run was a good one. While I didn’t set any land speed records, I did feel fairly strong throughout the run. Well except when I was going up the steepest parts of Pancoast!! The only good thing is that I do get to go down hill for a good part of the last mile!!
The splits weren’t too bad. First mile 10:20 – Second 10:28, Third 11:04 – the uphill battle, 4 – 10:42. Total Time was 42:34. When compared to Monday’s 44:54, it even looks better!!
The Soundtrack – A Special Life – John Mayall
On my last run I ran with on of the younger blues musicians, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who by the way is celebrating his birthday today. Happy Birthday Kenny Wayne. So last night I decided to run with someone older than me, by almost two decades!! That would be “the godfather of the British Blues” John Mayall,who turned 80 last November. I ran withnbhis latest release A Special Life.
A Special Life is like Mayall’s gazillionth release since he formed the Bluesbeakers in 1965. I started to listen to Mayall during my freshman year in college with the first album that I bought being The Turning Point and it has through the years been on of my favorites.This time period in Mayall’s music is my favorite. The Turning Pointalong with Jazz Blues Fusionand Movin’Onare three of my favorite albums. I loved Johnny Almond’s sax and flute work and every body on the later two albums, Jazz Blues Fusion introduced me to the trumpet of Blue Mitchell. For most of the world John may be best know for the musicians who have been a part of the Bluesbreakers.
From Wikipedia here are of some ex-members of John’s band…..
Guitar: Eric Clapton, Roger Dean, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey Mandel, Freddy Robinson, Jimmy McCulloch, Kal David, Walter Trout, Coco Montoya, Randy Resnick,Sonny Landreth, Buddy Whittington, Eric Steckel, Robben Ford
Bass: Jack Bruce, John McVie, Steven Thompson[disambiguation needed], Larry Taylor, Tony Reeves, Hank Van Sickle, Greg Rzab
Drums: Hughie Flint, Keef Hartley, Aynsley Dunbar, Soko Richardson, Jon Hiseman, Colin Allen, Mick Fleetwood.
Keyboards: Dr. John
Vocals/Harmonica: Paul Butterfield
I think that the first time I heard Coco Montoya was on John’s 1987 release Chicago Line. What I didn’t realize until a short while back, was that Walter Trout also played on that album. Looking at the list of guitarist see that both Eric Steckel and Robben Ford have recorded with John, so I will certainly look up the albums they played on.
The Current Bluesbreakers
The current lineup for the Bluesbreakers includes: Rocky Athas on guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, and drummer Jay Davenport. Rocky Athas and Stevie Ray Vaughan both hail from Oak Cliff, Texas.
By the time Athas was 23, he had already established himself on the Texas Blues scene and was named one of the first TEXAS TORNADOS by Buddy Magazine’s Top Ten Guitarists. The list of Texas Tornados went on over the years to include Eric Johnson, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, and Johnny Winter.
Both Greg Rzab and Jay Davenport grew up in the Chicago blues scene. Rzab has been a member of Buddy Guy and jimmy Page’s bands, and Warren Hayes’ Gov’t Mule!
Davenport has likewise played with some top blues musicians including: Junior Wells, Valerie Wellington, Pinetop Perkins,Jimmie Johnson and for the last several years he has been the drummer for west-side guitarist Melvin Taylor, where the other half of the rhythm section was? – Greg Rzab!!.
Last year, Mayall asked about his current band and he replied, “The band I have now is the best band I have EVER had. I think it would be impossible to do better than that!”
What American Blues Scene says about the album…..
Mayall is at the top of his game here, and the band comes together nicely, serving up some of the finest fare we’ve heard in a while. This music draws listeners in, and engages them on so many levels! The more we listened to A Special Life, the more we wanted to hear it. Superbly crafted and performed, it is at once earthy, elegant, and soul stirring. Listeners will wear this album out.
So Check IT out!!
The Video
Here’s “Speak of the Devil” from A Special Life – and I will say this may be my favorite track on the album and that I hope that I’m going as good as John, when I hit 80!!!
Links for Further Exploration of the Music of John Mayall
You know the old saying No Pan No Gain …. Well, If there’s pain, there’s gain then I gained a lot from today’s run!! It has rained on a off all day today and when I set off on my run, I think the relative humidity was like 150% and the air was completely still and it certainly seemed that it had no way to ge air into my lungs!
Needless to say it was one of those runs when you just try to trick yourself, well if I only make 3 miles I’ll be happy, oh 3 down I can make one more mile, at 3.5 only one half mile to go, a snap!!
\Before you know it you’re done, both the four miles and you!! First mile 10:22, acceptable, second mile 10:35 still ok, third mile 11:32 ouch! Fourth mile 12:25 and no I didn’t walk any of it! Average pace 11:14 which is I guess ok!
You know what they say “At least you did it!” and I’ll live to run another day!!
The Soundtrack – Kenny Wayne Shephherd – Goin’ Hom
Now the soundtrack of the run was the new album from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Goin’ Home and it’s a great album
However, t the last three tracks I heard on my run. which started with Buddy Guy’s “Cut You Loose” pointed my head in the wrong direction. .
The first line of the chorus is “I’m gonna throw my hands up and say “What’s the Use” Now I know n that the song the singer is not going to throw his hands yup that because he doesn’t want to run anymore, but the thought of taking that action did cross my mind!!
Next came “Born Under a Bad Sign” not really a positive mental attitude song now is it!!
And then as I finished “Still a Fool” and for running today, maybe I am, my wife would say that the name fits anybody who runs!
About the Soundtrack – Goin’ Home – Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Goin’ Home. was recorded in an 11-day whirlwind in Sheppard’s hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.
The raw, righteous release finds Shepherd revisiting a dozen of the vintage blues classics that originally inspired him to pick up the guitar and pursue a life in music. He approaches the material with an intensity that affirms his deep connection to these time-tested classics.
On Goin Home, Shepherd’s sharp interpretive skills and sublime guitar work shine on his renditions of tunes originally popularized by such blues icons as B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan,Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. Shepherd’s memorable readings of such beloved standards as “I Love the Life I Live,”
“The House Is Rockin’,” “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” along with some lesser-known tunes drawn deep from within the catalogues of his heroes. Shepherd’s new interpretations are faithful to the spirit of the originals, while serving as vibrant expressions of Shepherd’s musical soul.
My Thoughts
Kenny Wayne’s guitar work has never been better and the band composed of singer Noah Hunt, ex-Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton, former Firm bassist Tony Franklin and keyboardist Riley Osbourn, is great, too, particularly Riley Osborn!
Now Kenny Wayne and his band are enough by themselves, but to make the album over the top great some guest were added to the mix! The guests include: Joe Walsh, Warren Haynes, Keb’ Mo’ and Robert Randolph, longtime friend Ringo Starr, Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson,(that explains the great harp I heard) and the Rebirth Brass Band!!
So it’s a great album that will certainly be at the top of many best of 2014 lists!! So check it out (Press Release) it won’t be hard to find because it’s number 1 on Amazon and iTunes!
So right now Christina Skjolberg may be one of Norway’s best kept secrets, but after this years Blues Caravan Tour rolls across Europe and around the world she may not be. Skjolberg is a dynamite blues woman who Ruf Records has signed and released her début album Come and Get It!
About Christina Skjolberg
The left-handed young female guitar wiz was born and raised on the island of Smøla outside Kristiansund on the northwest coast of Norway.She has been playing guitar since she was twelve and was inspired by fellow lefty Jimi Hendrix.
Night after night Christina would wow them at clubs across Norway, where she caught the eye of Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records who saw her talent signed her and paved the way to her début release and a spot on his Blues Caravan 2014.
Accompanying her on the Caravan are fellow blues artists Albert Castiglia and Laurence Jones,
Christina’s Band
Her band composed of Brynjulf Blix on Hammond B3 organ. Blix has been playing Blues, Jazz and Rock across Norway with various bands for the last 40 years!, and Tore Slåttsveen who plays rhythm guitar and provides background vocals. Like Blix, Tore has played across Norway with various bands like Little Andrew & the Blue Masters, Triple T and The Mojo Workers.
Thoughts About – Come and Get It
Come and Get It is a great album, Christina’s guitar is smoking when it needs to be and her vocals are hard-rocking or sultry when the song calls for it. Blix on organ really is an added bonus on several tracks!! All in All the album is a winner and I’m confident that you’ll be hearing a lot more from Ms. Skjolberg in the future!!
2026 Post Update
I guess I assumed Christina would follow the same path as many other Blues Caravan artists and eventually release a whole bunch of albums. That’s why I was honestly surprised to discover that since this post first appeared in 2014 she has released only one additional solo release, 2022’s I’m on Fire.
Listen to the tracks below and see if you agree she deserved more.
The Playlist
Here is a six pack pkaylist. It includes three tracks from each of her solo albums. Check Her Music Out!
Originally posted in Jn 2014 Updated and Revised July 2026
Discovering Charlie Musselwhite
It’s amazing to me that I’ve never been a big Charlie Musselwhite fan. I love blues harp and he is certainly one of the best players of the harp around, so why?? It’s in explicable isn’t it, is it his voice or is it that there’s too much, music and too little time and somehow poor Charlie gets lost in the shuffle\!
Well that may have to change because last night and today I listened to one of the best blues albums of 2013 Juke Joint Chapel from Charlie and I must say at 69 years young he appears to be at the top of his game!!
Juke Joint Chapel is an amazing album, Here are some of the key tracks each are great. The descriptions are from Charlie’s Website:
The live and kicking Juke Joint Chapel showcases five originals and seven choice covers with a stone groove band of Matt Stubbs (guitar), Mike Phillips (bass) and June Core (drum
The classic Eddie Taylor shuffle “Bad Boy” chugs with grace and attitude as Musselwhite slyly quotes
“C.C. Rider” in his opening harp solo, his tone as thick as sweet molasses. His is one of the most recognizable voices in the blues, a true “instrument” he employs effortlessly to great expressiveness.
“Roll Your Moneymaker” cruises smoothly as a ’55 Lincoln Continental, the luxury ride only interrupted by dynamic stop-time. Written by crap-shooting Shaky Jake Harris, whom Musselwhite says played harmonica as “another hustle” and modestly admits to “showing him a couple of licks.”
Stubbs stands out and is a monster guitarist graciously allotted extensive solo space throughout from a leader who has enjoyed the services of many greats, but will never feel threatened by another instrumentalist.
The toe tapping two-beat of Tony Joe White’s “As the Crow Flies” is driven hard by the propulsive and endlessly inventive Stubbs along with Musselwhite, who has observed, “In country music, the singer might say ‘my baby left me and I’m gonna jump off a bridge.’ But in blues, they say ‘my baby left me, and I’m gonna get a new baby’.
” “Gone Too Long,” from fellow harmonicist Billy Boy Arnold contains one of his patented syncopated figures and an unstoppable rhythm from the Musselwhite band demanding you can’t sit down….. Read More
And of Course I asked Who is that on Guitar!
As I listened to the album aside from the great harp from Charlie, I kept thinking over and over, who is that on guitar? Because the playing was great as was the chemistry between the guitarist and Charlie.. and now I know the answer Matt Stubbs! It’s also good to read that I’m not the only one who was impressed by Mr Stubbs!!
Charlie’s Awards and Honors
Here’s some of the recent awards that Charlie has garnered…… impressive is an understatement!!
2011 GRAMMY Nominee for Best Traditional Blues Album
The Well – Alligator Records
2012 Blues Music Award Winner for Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year and for Best Instrumentalist Harmonica
2011 Blues Music Award Winner for Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica AND Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year! Also nominated for Album of the Year for The Well, Traditional Blues Album of the Year for The Well and Song of the Year for “Sad and Beautiful World”
Featured on Cyndi Lauper’s, Memphis Blues, also a 2011 GRAMMY nominee for Best Traditional Blues Album
2010 Blues Hall of Fame Inductee
2011 Living Blues Award. Readers’ Poll winner for Most Outstanding Musician award (Harmonica), for the fifth year in a row, his 9th overall Living Blues Award for Outstanding Musician.
2011 saw Charlie recognized in the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll in both the Blues Artist category and Blues Album
2011 DownBeat Magazine Readers Poll – ranked among the Best Blues Artists and Best Blues Albums for The Well
Featured on Tom Waits latest album, Bad As Me, which entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at #6 in November 2011. Charlie appears on five tracks, including the title track.
So after listening this afternoon, I went back to the beginning of Charlie’s career and listened briefly to his first album Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite’s Southside Bandand again I ask how come I didn’t listen?? Boy once again I have a lot of catching up to do!!
Here’s Charlie and the band performing: “As the Crow Flies” at Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma, for the 2nd annual Coahoma-to-Sonoma Blues Festival, 2013.
As I was rereading this post and updating it I realized I had never followed Jeff Strahan’s career beyond this post. When I went to Spotify to see his releases after this post I saw his discography stopped with Monkey Around. I did a search online and discovered that Jeff passed away in January of 2014.
Additionally,I realized the post was totally about Jeff with nothing written about Monkey Around. So as I was editing this post I gave Monkey Around a listen and have included my thoughts about the album in the post.
Discovering Jeff Strahan
I was running some errands on a typical Sunday before the Eagles game. I listened to a couple of new blues albums. The first was Jeff Strahan‘s latest Monkey Around followed by Five Finger Discount from Soulstack. I enjoyed both albums!
I started the post with Jeff Strahan…..
Who was Jeff Strahan?
“Strahan is a fiery Texas spirit, a killer guitar player & piano pounder and singer, as wild as the high plains from which he hails, and as cool as the hill country where he lives. He’s as real & strong as lightning, I swear, and I love being around him, to hear how he’s going to knock me out next.
Strahan is a native of Lamesa, Texas currently residing in New Braunfels, Texas,the epicenter of Texas’ Americana Music Scene. And while he may.reside in New Braunfels he lists his current location on Facebook as “always on the road”!.
Up until about five years ago, Strahan,was practicing law but Jeff saw the light and stopped lawyering and started performing the blues and the world is better for the switch!!! .
Jeff’s career began in 2005 with the release of Along for the Ride. Monkey Around released in October of 2013 was his seventh and final release.
Jeff was a 5-time Semi-Finalist, International Blues Challenge,in Memphis, TN, (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009)
The highlight of almost every Jeff Strahan album are his fiery guitars licks . Sometimes these licks are tinged with a Mexican influence. But most often.Strahan’s music is straight ahead southern rock, blues, folk and more all rolled into one or as he describes his music in his biography at his website…..
“If the Marshall Tucker Band had come from Lubbock, Texas instead of South Carolina, they might have sounded a lot like this”
Edward Revisits Monkey Around
Monkey Around is a solid blues album from the opening track of “Don’t Get Too Low” ( with some nice keyboard work that I didn’t realize was Jeff until I read the composition of his band) to the closing track “Two Shades”. It has everything I like in a blues album varied well written songs delivered by great vocals and of course great guitar!
My favorite tracks on the album include:”Dangerous Curves” “Monkey Around” “4:20” and “Baptist Bootleggers” and “Curtains when I truly listened to the song.
The band in the album is comprised of Jeff on guitar and keyboards,with a rhythm section composed of Jimmy Hartman on bass and Chris Compton on drums and they all do a great job
And while Jeff’s piano playing is great, the highlights of the album are Jeff’s “flaming hot Texas guitar licks”
The Video
Now when I went to look for a video for this post I found this one.” Southern Jeans”. The song can be found on his 2008 release Amen to the Blues. It’s actually his most played track on Spotify. So, check out Jeff’s music! As for me I am going to listen to music from his back catalog and wish I had found more of his music sooner!
So a few weeks ago as I was researching for a post about Walter Trout’s latest album Common Ground ,I discovered or rediscovered that Walter had played on John Mayall‘s 1988 release Chicago Line.
I say rediscovered because I probably knew in 1988 that Walter played on the album, but by the time I listened to Walter’s solo albums a few years ago, it was something I didn’t remember!
Anyway I went to the CD shelf and pulled out Chicago Line and listened to it. I haven’t listened to it for a while because it currently is not on the iPod. It was ripped a long time ago and now resides on one of the external hard drives that think it is a CD drive!
About Chicago Line
Chicago Line was an old time John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers type album like the albums when Eric Clapton and Peter Green were the guitarists. This time the lead guitar duties were shared by Coco Montoya and the aforementioned Walter Trout. Coco has the first lead guitar solo on the opening track “Chicago Line” a great number to open the album!
On the second track “Gimme One More Day” John shares guitar with Coco. On the third track “One Life to Live” about John’s experiences in the Korean War. Walter takes over lead guitar duty.
On the cover of Jimmy Rogers’ “The Last Time” Coco takes the first solo and Walter the second. Track 5 “Dream About the Blues” Coco plays lead and Walter provides rhythm and harmonica. Walter takes the 1st solo on “Fascinating Lover” and Coco the 2nd. On one my favorite tracks “Cold Blooded Mama” Coco plays lead and Walter provides finger picking and rhythm guitars. On “The Dirty Dozens” they share guitar duties with Coco in the lead spot on the next track “Tears Came Rolling Down”.
The closing track is a Walter Trout tune “Life in the Jungle” (I used a video of Walter’s version of the song on the Common Ground post) which sounds a little different than Walter’s version!
My Thoughts
Overall it was a great listen to a really good Mayall album with the overall strength of the album coming from the guitars of Coco Montoya and Walter Trout! I must confess that I haven’t listened to much from John since his 2005 release Road Dogs. I see that his latest album Tough is his 57th album and his band is now composed of Rocky Athas on guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, and Jay Davenport on drums. Guess I have to check it out! Oh, and by the way Chicago Line is now on the iPod! And while it doesn’t make any difference to you it does to me!
Here’s a Mayall performance of “One Life to Live” with Walter on lead and Coco playing rhythm and drinking! Filmed at Iowa State in 1987.
