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| Johnny Nicholas Brings A Breath Of Fresh Air With New Blues/Roots CD Acclaimed roots musician Johnny Nicholas has announced a September 2 release date for his new CD, Fresh Air, which showcases his multiple talents on various guitars and soulful vocals for an album surely to be one of the best musical revelations of the year. Fresh Air was produced by Bruce Hughes and recorded at Arlyn Studios in Austin. Featuring an all-star cast that includes Scrappy Jud Newcomb (guitars, mandolin, mandocello), John Chipman (drums, percussion, vocals) and Bruce Hughes (bass, vocals, percussion), plus a guest list that includes Cindy Cashdollar (lap steel and additional guitars), the new CD creates a satisfying statement of true American roots music at its finest and most authentic. УFresh Air is a collection of stories and melodies that have haunted me for some time, Ф says Johnny Nicholas. УThere are some different styles here but all of this is the blues as I know itЧas all American music and rock and roll has sprung from the same source. I donТt understand a whole lot of what is going on in the modern world, but I do know I could use a little Сfresh air.Т I hope you dig these tunes.Ф Containing a bakerТs-dozen 13 tracks, Fresh Air covers a wide swath of JohnnyТs roots Ц everything from the Delta blues of the albumТs opener, УMoonlight Train, Ф to the Chicago-style city blues of the HowlinТ Wolf classic, УBack Door Man, Ф along with sojourns into swampy Cajun styles, Americana and everything in between. The constant throughout all these songs is JohnnyТs high-lonesome blues vocal style, lithe harmonica playing and soulful string work on an assortment of guitars. Other than УBack Door ManФ and the Sleepy John Estes chestnut, УФKid Man Blues, Ф Johnny Nicholas had a hand in writing all of the other songs on Fresh Air. УJohnny Nicholas is one of the best bluesmen ever, black or white.Ф Ц Stephen Bruton. When it comes to Americana roots music and especially the blues, the late, great Stephen Bruton knew what he was talking about. His description of his long-time friend and musical comrade in arms is succinct and quite a heady compliment, but then, Johnny Nicholas is an amazing talent. For four decades, JohnnyТs consummate musicianship and vocal skills have graced live music scenes across the country and abroad. He has toured, performed and recorded with many true blues and Americana roots music legends, including Mississippi Fred McDowell, Robert Lockwood Jr., Johnny Shines, Big Walter Horton, Roosevelt Sykes, Nathan Abshire, Robert Pete Williams, Eddie Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor, Johnny Young, Houston Stackhouse, and Boogie Woogie Red. Johnny recorded and toured with Johnny Shines and Snooky Pryor, producing and playing guitar on their W.C. Handy Award-winning album, Back to the Country. He was one of the lead vocalists with Asleep at the Wheel when they won their first of many Grammy Awards. He gave blues guitar icon Ronnie Earl his first gig in the now legendary band, Guitar Johnny and the Rhythm Rockers. He has also performed with the likes of HowlinТ Wolf, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Rait, Eric Clapton, Pops and Mavis Staples, Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Marcia Ball and Jimmie Vaughan, among many others. He can wow a festival crowd of thousands or a small room of devotees. Born in Rhode Island, Johnny discovered the blues at an early age, grooving to the great R&B that was blasting from the airwaves in the late С50s and early С60sЧJimmy Reed, LightninТ Slim, Lloyd Price, Slim Harpo, Larry Williams, Little Walter, Ray Charles and HowlinТ Wolf were all big blips on this impressionable young manТs radar screen. Like fellow Greek-American Johnny Otis had a generation earlier, this Johnny easily made the leap into the soulful world of the blues. He was high school friends with Duke Robillard and the two of them shared licks and records after school, as well as each leading their own band (DukeТs was called the Variations and JohnnyТs was called the Vikings). In 1966, he hopped the train to New York City to see his idol, HowlinТ Wolf. He ended up hanging with WolfТs band at the Albert Hotel by day (where Wolf, the Muddy Waters band and Otis Spann were all staying), and at UnganoТs nightclub by night, where the Wolf was holding musical court while on a two week prowl of the Big Apple. This experience cemented his love of the blues while providing inspiration and a gateway to friendships and musical adventures that would help mold a successful career, and still smolder in this talented and restless soul. In 1980, Johnny decided to take time off from touring in order to raise a family. He married Brenda Schlaudt, one of the co-founders of AntoneТs night club; and played music at (and helped manage) what became a Texas culinary and music legend: Hill Top Cafй (housed in a former 1920s-era gas station - Уinconveniently located in the middle of nowhereФ) near Cherry Spring, not far from Austin. Hill TopТs eclectic menu includes items that reflect his and BrendaТs Greek, Cajun and Texas influences. After fathering three sons, Nicholas stepped up his music ventures, highlighted by Back to the Country in 1991. Since then, he has released several more albums and returned to a more rigorous touring, songwriting and performance schedule. Johnny Nicholas will support the release of Fresh Air with a series of dates in the Texas area, as well as showcase venues and festival dates around the country. write your comments about the article :: © 2016 Jazz News :: home page |