Johnny Moeller's Blues Aggregation is the latest release from Dallas Blues Society Records and guitarist Johnny Moeller. Moeller is a seasoned Texas guitarist whose star is definitely on the rise. Moeller has worked with numerous Texas blues stalwarts including Darrell Nulisch, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli and Doyle Bramhall, Jr., to name a few. Along with his brother Jason Moeller on drums and Mike Flanigin on Hammond B-3 and occasional bass, Moeller's band holds down a regularly weekly gig at Antone's, the home of the blues in Austin, Texas.

On the latest CD, Moeller enlists the help of a few of his buddies from the Texas blues scene and performers who have followings outside of the Lonestar State. Mike Keller, currently making a name for himself as part of the Keller Brothers Band contributes heavily to the CD, splitting duties on upright bass 50/50 with Johnny Bradley (current bassist for Lou Ann Barton's backup band, along with the Moeller Brothers). Another member of the Keller Brothers Band, Matt Farrell, provides some wailing vintage piano riffs along with handling a major portion of the vocals on the CD. Better known for his fiery guitar, Shawn Pittman contributes vocals and piano on the Johnny "Guitar" Watson tune, "Thinking." Finally, Homer Henderson takes on vocals and rhythm guitar duties for three songs; "Oh Baby Oh," Roy Head's "Your Turn To Cry" and "You Got Me Crying" from the Jimmy Reed music catalog.

One of the impressive things about Johnny Moeller's Blues Aggregation is that the twelve cuts are not dominated by blues standards. Only two cuts on the CD, "Stagger Lee" and "Worried Life Blues," are reasonably common fare by numerous blues performers. Some of the other covers on the CD, "You Got Me Crying," "Let's Get High," Mistreated," "Your Turn To Cry" and "Mama, The Way You Look Tonight" are lesser recorded gems that give Johnny Moeller's Blues Aggregation an original feel beyond the two instrumental originals by Johnny Moeller, "Bak 'n' Forf" and "Slingin' Hash," along with the Slim Harpo-influenced tune by Jason Moeller, "J's Scratcher."

At various times through the CD, listeners will hear reminders of other Texas musicians from Jimmy Vaughan to Mike Morgan with a little Buddy Holly thrown in for good measure. Moeller's guitar stands out on the two instrumentals, "Bak 'n' Forf" and "Slingin' Hash," as well as on Roy Head's "Your Turn To Cry." It is nice that Moeller does not try to dominate the CD with lightning guitar riffs, instead promoting a more piano dominated, older style blues sound throughout the CD. Whether evidenced by the piano work by Shawn Pittman on "Thinking" or Mike Farrell's emotional piano magic throughout the rest of the CD. Farrell's piano really shines on Memphis Slim's "Mama, The Way You Look Tonight," "Let's Get High," and "Stagger Lee," along with Johnny Moeller's two previously mentioned instrumentals.

If you like Texas-style blues, especially with a more classic sound, Johnny Moeller's Blues Aggregation is a must listen. For more information on Johnny Moeller and his two releases on Dallas Blues Society Records, Johnny Moeller's Blues Aggregation and Return Of The Funky Worm (1996), visit the Blues Society's web page at www.dallasbluessociety.com. CDs are available through the Dallas Blues Society as well as a number of online music sellers listed on the DBS website.

This review is copyright © 2001 by Dave "Doc" Piltz, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.

Click button to join
our mailing list!