Search - Jimmy Johnson :: North/South

Fine early 80's blues album

G. Wallace | Hilliard, OH USA | 01/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jimmy Johnson emerged in the late seventies when blues were in their pre-Stevie Ray Vaughan doldrums. He was the major find in Bruce Iglauer's Living Chicago Blues series for Alligator, then signed with Delmark. This is the second album and it's very fine from start to finish. Johnson is not a typical blues singer; his voice is high gospel tenor. He's not a typical blues guitar player; there's very little flash and none of the long sustained notes that are many players' stock in trade (he doesn't sound like anyone else I've heard). But he writes and selects strong blues lyrics and fits them with clever arrangements which borrow from soul and even jazz. "Can't go no further" is one of the smoothest smoldering slow blues you'll ever hear."

Ain't your daddy's blues

Bigs | Connecticut | 04/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not your typical blues album. It's funky, souly, and most importantly, it's bluesy. Jimmy's sound is much more refined, in the sense that there's texture and layers in the music, if you know what I mean (I hope). The guys playing have the talent to take the music into uncharted territory, and at first you may not think you're listening to the blues. But once you hear Jimmy, and the things he's singing, you'll know it's the blues."