Eric Johnson • Makin' Whoopie

 

Review

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 Adderton -- The Sun Herald, May 22, 1998

Lots of Wes Montgomery in Johnson, embedded deeply enough in his playing to never come off as mere novelty. - Dave McElfresh -- Cadence Magazine, August 1998

About the Artist

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. "Makin Whoopie" features Dave Braham on Hammond B3, Nat Simpkins on saxophone, Harold Walker on congas and drummer Cecil Brooks III.

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.

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Revisar

No tengo ninguna duda de que Johnson va a establecer nuevas normas, muy parecidas a las de los maestros, que se seguirán hasta bien entrado el próximo milenio. - Donald Adderton -- The Sun Herald, 22 de mayo de 1998

Mucho de Wes Montgomery en Johnson, lo suficientemente profundo en su obra como para no resultar nunca una mera novedad. - Dave McElfresh. Revista Cadence, agosto de 1998

Acerca del artista

Eric Johnson toca una guitarra soul y blues en un estilo que mezcla las influencias de Grant Green, Wes Montgomery y George Benson. En su primer CD de Bluejay como líder muestra sus dones melódicos en una sesión nocturna al frente de un cuarteto de órgano clásico. Johnson se ha hecho un nombre tocando con Jack McDuff, Groove Holmes, Lou Donaldson y Ramsey Lewis. "Makin Whoopie" cuenta con Dave Braham en Hammond B3, Nat Simpkins en el saxofón, Harold Walker en las congas y el baterista Cecil Brooks III.

El tema de apertura es un blues up tempo de Eric llamado "Blues By Six" que hace que todo el mundo se cocine y muestra la suave interacción de la banda. El siguiente tema es un básico de blues "Ain't I Good To You" de Andy Razaf y Don Redman. El tema que da título a la canción, "Makin Whoopie", tiene un ritmo de cha-cha, un arreglo que se le ocurrió al baterista y co-productor Brooks. El productor Nat Simpkins se pone al saxo tenor para el siguiente tema, un original de Johnson llamado "Minor Madness" y también en "Fatback Blues" de Eric, y "Mellow Soul" de Jimmy Smith. Todas estas canciones tienen un clásico ritmo de blues que recuerda a los grandes grupos de órganos del pasado y del presente. "Easy To Love" de Cole Porter tiene un tratamiento de swing directo, así como el clásico "If I Had You". La encantadora balada del Duque Ellington, "Preludio a un beso" comienza a capella, y luego Braham entra para hacer un hermoso tributo al Duque. "Solos Juntos" le da a Eric y Dave la oportunidad de estirarse. Comparen esta versión con la grabación de Pat Martino que ha sido reeditada en 32 Jazz y verán que Eric Johnson está a la altura de algunas de las leyendas de la guitarra de jazz. Todo lo que hace Eric es conmovedor, melódico y lleno de un toque de blues.

 

Tracklist:
1 - Blues By Six - 4:23
2 - Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You - 4:28
3 - Makin' Whoopee - 4:43
4 - Minor Madness - 5:14
5 - Easy To Love - 3:19
6 - Fatback Blues - 3:51
7 - Mellow Soul - 7:23
8 - If I Had You - 6:16
9 - Prelude To A Kiss - 4:13
10 - Alone Together - 10:40


Credits:
    Congas – Harold Jones
    Drums, Co-producer – Cecil Brooks III
    Guitar – Eric Johnson
    Organ – Dave Braham
    Saxophone, Producer – Nat Simpkins

Label: BlueJay Records ‎– BCD 5002
Released: 1997
Genre: Jazz

 

 

 

 

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