Lester Leaps In [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Young, Lester [Saxo
Blue and All Alone [#] - Lonnie Johnson,
On the Sunny Side of the Street [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Fields, Dorothy
C Jam Blues [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Bigard, Barney
New Orleans Blues [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Johnson, Lonnie
Careless Love [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Handy, W.C.
Stormy Weather [Take 1][#] - Lonnie Johnson, Arlen, Harold
Stormy Weather [Take 2][#] - Lonnie Johnson, Arlen, Harold
I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None O' This Jelly Roll [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Williams, Clarence
Birth of the Blues [#] - Lonnie Johnson, Brown, Lew
This informal, relaxed collection of 1960 duets features Snowden's surprisingly impressive acoustic work as prominently as Johnson's rich vocals and smooth electric guitar. Both of these veterans had successful association... more »s with jazz legends during the early parts of their careers--Johnson with Ellington and Armstrong; Snowden with Eubie Blake and Count Basie among others--and the repertoire leans heavily on jazz standards. On five of six instrumentals, including "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Lester Leaps In," and "C Jam Blues," Snowden's fleet acoustic guitar jumps to the fore, while Johnson takes lead on four vocal performances, including two superb takes of "Stormy Weather." Only on "Careless Love" does a guitar battle materialize. Still, the unique material, sparkling performances, and the light-hearted approach make for highly enjoyable listening. --Marc Greilsamer« less
This informal, relaxed collection of 1960 duets features Snowden's surprisingly impressive acoustic work as prominently as Johnson's rich vocals and smooth electric guitar. Both of these veterans had successful associations with jazz legends during the early parts of their careers--Johnson with Ellington and Armstrong; Snowden with Eubie Blake and Count Basie among others--and the repertoire leans heavily on jazz standards. On five of six instrumentals, including "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Lester Leaps In," and "C Jam Blues," Snowden's fleet acoustic guitar jumps to the fore, while Johnson takes lead on four vocal performances, including two superb takes of "Stormy Weather." Only on "Careless Love" does a guitar battle materialize. Still, the unique material, sparkling performances, and the light-hearted approach make for highly enjoyable listening. --Marc Greilsamer
CD Reviews
Beautiful Music
political idiot | california | 10/09/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Two long time friends together, reminiscing and playing absolutely beautiful blues and ballads. If "New Orleans Blues" or "Stormy Weather" don't bring a tear to your eye, then you need to check with a doctor to see if you are still alive. Why the Amazon sales rank on this CD is so low is beyond my comprehension. Wonderful recording quality. These recordings along with the other in this series are among Lonnie Johnson and Elmer Snowden's finest --amazing since both are considered to have peaked performance wise in the late 20s/early 30s."
New Orleans Blues
Bruno A. N. Pietoso | London, UK | 06/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, I'm afraid that I might get a little redundant describing this album, since Blues And Ballads and this Vol.2 is just as good and as surprising as Vol.1.
All I can say about this album is, one more precious gem by this great bluesman that is Lonnie Johnson and his companion Elmer Snowden and bass player Wendell Marshall.
On this one, pay close attention to Lester Leaps in, On the sunny side of the street, C-Jam Blues... hmm thinking about it now, pay close attention to the entire album, it's wonderful.
It shows great improvisation by all musicians, but also a great sense of melody and harmony that even today is rare to find in some blues musicians and jazz musicians.
And to think that these two albums were recorded all at once at the same day , April 5 1960. Today, some musicians take 5 years to record a piece of garbage and these guys managed to record a wonderful record in one day. Who's got it, got it.
Thumbs up to this one."
Best Blues Guitar disk I have
B. Gidron | Israel | 12/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a real gem! two unbelievable blues guitar players (one also sings) who brought tears to my eyes. They are creative and soulful both in the slow and the fast tracks."
Recomendo
John Lester | Vila Velha, Espírito Santo Brazil | 09/03/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Em 1794 o francês Xavier De Maistre escrevia seu livro Viagem Ao Redor Do Meu Quarto (Ed. Mercado Aberto), onde fazia cada recanto do cômodo nos remeter a lugares imaginários. Ótima opção para brasileiros pobres ou internautas tarados. Ou, ainda, para miseráveis que, como eu, duzentos anos depois de De Maistre, cá estamos, viajando através do mundo a partir de nosso computador. Lembrando que dinheiro não traz felicidade e desconsideradas as terríveis dores no pescoço, pernas, costas e glúteos, fincamos pés virtuais em terras distantes de nossos quartos e inalcançáveis para nossos bolsos. Damos um pulo no Village, em New York, e olhamos toda aquela maravilhosa programação a que nunca poderemos assistir. Depois esticamos até a New Orleans da gripe espanhola, onde toda a família do guitarrista Lonnie Johnson morreu em 1915, com exceção de um de seus 12 irmãos.
Alonzo Johnson (?-1970) nasceu obviamente em New Orleans, numa família de músicos. Logo cedo aprendeu o violão e o violino. Após tocar em bares, bordéis e navios pelo rio Mississipi, viaja pelo mundo: aos dezessete anos parte para Londres, depois New York, Chicago e qualquer outra cidade onde um negro pudesse ganhar algumas moedas fazendo música. Na década de 20 tocou com astros como Eddie Lang, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington e Bessie Smith que, segundo as más línguas, teria levado uns pitacos do guitarrista. Os dois grandes problemas de Lonnie eram: primeiro ser um gênio negro da guitarra, inventor do solo desse instrumento no blues e no jazz, estando muito além de qualquer guitarrista de sua época, deixando um legado que influenciou Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, T-Bone Walker e B B King. Até mesmo Robert Johnson usava esse sobrenome para ser confundido como irmão de Lonnie. O segundo grande problema de Lonnie era não ser um negrinho engraçado e brincalhão. Lonnie Johnson era um homem educado, consciente de sua condição, nascido e criado numa grande cidade, onde os absurdos raciais eram denunciados e questionados por homens como ele. O próprio público negro afastou-se de sua música elaborada e inteligente, fazendo com que Lonnie fosse trabalhar como porteiro de Hotel.
Na década de 50 intelectuais brancos resolveram fazer o merecido resgate de Lonnie, levando-o para os estúdios e nos brindando com gravações que demonstram porque Lonnie é considerado o gênio do blues que revolucionou a guitarra do jazz. Os estudiosos do blues podem preferir aquelas obras mais autênticas, gravadas entre as décadas de 20 e 40. Para quem não curte chiados e tic-tacs, recomendo com ênfase o cd abaixo, com excelente som, gravado em 1960."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1