CD Review
Little Jonny and the Giants
"Windin"
Cornbread Records (CR 04982)
by TR Marshall
Review date: March 2000
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Little Jonny and the Giants CD "Windin" offers 12 cuts of mostly ensemble blues with a well balanced quartet of accomplished musicians. The uptempo opening track "One of These Mornings" was recorded live, and sets the tone for some fun, good time Blues tunes, Jon Lawton (guitar and vocals on all tracks) demonstrates his slide prowess on the standard "Rollin and Tumblin," on the second cut and though his interpretation is a little "unconventional" it serves as yet another example of the innumerable ways to approach the material. Throughout the twelve selections the band plays a variety of Blues styles from a slow 12 bar (Stop Putting Me On), boogie (Barstool Boogie), a Blues cha-cha, with a "Ventures-like" (heavy use of vibrato, tremolo and single string picking) on the moody "Tijuana". Even a funked up blues "Tough Luck" is included. Another standard, "Trouble No More" gets a slowed down slide treatment that works well within this selection of material. Other members of the band include: Mike McCurdy, bass, Jim Overton, drums, Jimmy Dewrance harp, and guest appearances by several other musicians add to the "easy to listen to" sound of this CD. It’s not complicated or compromised by layers of production that detract from the easiness and straightforward presentation. Closing the CD is "Freight Train" a fine mix of country-blues with some dynamic slide work. This song was also recorded live and another memorable example of the band’s ability to deliver some very good Blues music. I recommend "Windin" and would definitely like to see them in a club setting based upon the live tracks from this CD. You can learn more about and contact the band online at www.littlejonny.com
This review is copyright © 2000 by TR Marshall, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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