| Nat Simpkins-Saxophone, Eric
Johnson-Guitar, Dave Braham-Organ,
Cecil
Brooks III-Drums, Ralph Dorsey-Congas |
"Lots of Wes Montgomery
in Johnson, embedded deeply enough in his playing to never come off as
mere novelty. As in the case of the best organ/guitar bands, new
rhythms abound."
-Dave McElfresh, Cadence
"I have no doubt that Johnson is going to establish
new standards - much like the masters - that will be followed well into
the next millennium."
-Donald V. Adderton, The Sun Herald
Eric Johnson plays soulful, bluesy guitar in a style
which blends the influences of Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, and George
Benson. On his first Bluejay CD as a leader he displays his melodic
gifts in a late-night session fronting a classic organ quartet. Johnson
has made a name for himself playing with Jack McDuff, Groove Holmes, Lou
Donaldson, and Ramsey Lewis. This led to his first CD as a leader,
"Bumpin In LA" (Clarion Records.) "Bumpin" continues
to get regular air play on jazz stations. "Makin Whoopie"
features Johnson with Dave Braham on Hammond B3, Nat Simpkins on
saxophone, Harold Walker on congas and drummer Cecil Brooks III - a
veteran of over 100 CDs on Muse, Landmark, Evidence, ECM, as producer
and bandleader.
The opening track is an up tempo blues groove by Eric
called "Blues By Six" that gets everybody cooking and displays
the band's smooth interplay. The next tune is a bluesy staple "Ain't
I Good To You" by Andy Razaf and Don Redman. The title track,
"Makin Whoopie" is given a cha-cha rhythm here, an arrangement
that drummer and co-producer Brooks came up with. Producer Nat Simpkins
steps in on tenor sax for the next tune, an original by Johnson called
"Minor Madness" and also on Eric's "Fatback Blues",
and Jimmy Smith's "Mellow Soul". All of these tunes have a
classic bluesy groove reminiscent of the great organ groups of the past
and present. Cole Porter's "Easy To Love" gets a straight
ahead swing treatment here as does the classic, "If I Had
You." Duke Ellington's lovely ballad, "Prelude To A Kiss"
starts out a capella, then Braham comes in to make this a beautiful
tribute to the Duke. "Alone Together" gives Eric and Dave a
chance to stretch out. Compare this version to the Pat Martino recording
which has been reissued on 32 Jazz and you'll see that Eric Johnson is
on a par with some of the jazz guitar legends. Everything that Eric does
is soulful, melodic, and filled with a tinge of the blues. |
