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| Blues-Rock Star Joe Bonamassa's New Album Released Feb. 24, The Ballad of John Henry, the new album from guitar virtuoso, vocalist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa, debuted at #1 on Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Other chart success includes the #103 spot on the Billboard Top 200, #1 Heatseekers, #35 Rock chart and #7 and #8 for Internet and Indie album charts, respectively. Joe's last studio album, 2007's Sloe Gin, also debuted at #1 and stayed there for a full year after release. The Ballad of John Henry is Bonamassa's seventh solo studio album (and ninth solo record). Released on his own independent label J&R Adventures, the album features twelve tracks, split between Bonamassa originals and selections by songwriters including Ailene Bullock, Tom Waits and Tony Joe White. It also continues Bonamassa's collaboration with producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Black Crowes) and showcases both his famed guitar heroics and his versatile vocals. Already getting rave reviews, Nicky Horne from the UK's Planet Rock Radio is calling it "a quantum leap from his previous albums, and they were damn good - if he keeps this up, he is destined to walk alongside the truly greats." Currently, Joe is featured on the cover of the April 2009 Guitar Player. They say, "He's an old soul, and that comes through in his bends, vibrato, singing voice, and note choices, which - with each passing year - gets more restrained and refined." He also just embarked on the first leg of his 2009 Tour, a tour that has been building more fans each year and which Blues Matters recently likened to "bordering on a religious experience." That tour will land him in London at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall for a sold out show on May 4, 2009. In 2008, Bonamassa was named "Best Blues Guitarist" and "Artist Of The Year" in readers' choice polls from Guitar Player and Blues Wax, respectively. He was also honored with the issuing of the "Inspired By Joe Bonamassa Aged Les Paul Goldtop" from Gibson Custom. Just 300 of the limited edition guitars were made, valued at $6, 000 each. Gibson.com wrote, "Right now, there's no better blues-rock artist than Bonamassa write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |