For many of us, the passing of BB King still leaves a massive gap – he truly had the 3 keys to living a fulfilling and impact-filled life:
– He was a generous soul, self-made and continued to lift everyone around him with his music, advice and example long after he had made it big
– He stayed true to his passion and talent…from the churches he always played music that had feeling never succumbing to over-production or changes in direction he did not believe in
– He worked hard (perhaps the hardest working musician out there) to ensure he could bring his music and positive message to the masses
On this day, BB King would have been 91 and I still miss him and his spirit each day.
Here’s a great retrospective from blues guitar phenom Joe Bonamassa – as he see’s BB King’s influence professionally and personally…
Filed under bb king, blues guitar by on Sep 17th, 2016. Comment. 
Absolutely stunning performance by Joe Bonamassa of the Tim Curry (1978) song Sloe Gin (albeit with some cleaned up lyrics).
By the way – how did Bowie miss this one…tell me this wouldn’t have been an awesome David Bowie + Joe Bonamassa collaboration?
Anyway – Joe has shown many times before he can master slow blues…what I really like about this version is that he hangs onto the notes as he sometimes has a tendency to blast his wicked speed running through the scales. He still manages to show his flash, but also holds back and really hangs on to the notes as only true bluesmen will do.
Weird background to this song too…Tim Curry is perhaps better known as an actor, but had this song written and had a version that may surprise you under Joe’s version (for those of you who like to go back into the wayback machine)
By the way – the lineup for Red Rocks was terrific including David Letterman’s House Band drummer Anton Fig and Stevie Ray Vaughan Double Trouble keyboard aficionado Reese Wynans (now a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of Double Trouble)
And Now The Tim Curry version
Filed under blues guitar, Joe Bonamassa by on Feb 4th, 2016. Comment.
What makes a blues rock performance turn into pure magic? Watch this video, and you’ll find out:
This video was taken from the wonderful DVD “Joe Bonamassa Live At Rockplast” – perfect trio where tone, amazing songs and energy come together for one magical show.
If you like Joe at all, this is one of his best concert DVD’s of all time.
Filed under blues guitar, Joe Bonamassa by on Jan 9th, 2015. Comment.
Funny post by Joe Bonamassa on Twitter today showing the crazy life a rock star (or in this case, guitar GOD) must live…reinforces the notion that you better as hell love what you do…
Clay and Eric did a little number crunching this morning for our entire tour from March through the end of this week. pic.twitter.com/utMmorDqTX
— JOE BONAMASSA (@JBONAMASSA) June 23, 2014
Filed under blues guitar, Joe Bonamassa by on Jun 26th, 2014. Comment.
I really like these “behind the scenes” views into the recording process musicians use on their songs.
This video shares such a view (albeit still officially produced) into the recording studio during a recording of the song “Stop” from Joe Bonamassa’s 2010 CD “John Henry”.
Notice a few things:
- How several overdubs of vocals and guitar solo is done
- How Joe switches guitars on the solo – starting with a very clean “Lucille” model Gibson into a much dirtier Les Paul for the latter half of the solo
- How Bonomassa even switches from sitting to standing on different parts of the vocal (honestly I don’t know how anyone can record sitting down)
Anything else you notice of note in the video?
Filed under blues guitar, Blues Legends, Joe Bonamassa by on Dec 26th, 2013. Comment.
Gibson recently published a listing of their top 10 list for current/new blues guitar greats…obviously this is subjective, and I wanted to give my opinion…
First, let’s look at their list:
1. Joe Bonamassa
2. John Mayer
3. Jack White
4. Eric Gales
5. Don Auerbach (The Black Keys)
6. Davy Knowles
7. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
8. Derek Trucks
9. Johnny Lang
10. Ben Harper
I agree with about half of this list, but here’s who I would swap/add
1. Joe Bonamassa – no argument here, this guy is rooted in the blues and can take it in so many directions with his talent
2. Derek Trucks – have to have him second, pure genius and with Susan Tedeschi he’s moving beyond his roots
3. Kenny Wayne Shepherd – yup, SRV is alive in well in the spirit and guts of Kenny Wayne
4. Gary Clark Jr – how can this guy be missing…so dynamic, skilled, pure foundation in the blues holding a ton of potential
5. Davy Knowles – definitely
6. Walter Trout – Blew me away in his latest concerts, the guy has found something special of late
7. Jimmie Vaughan – only because I think he is still re-inventing blues by keeping true to the roots, think he still has at least one more innovative CD in him, perhaps in a collaboration with someone else on this list
8. Doyle Bramhall II – hugely creative, great pedigree, played with Clapton for years, watch for him in the next few years
9. Buddy Guy – Yes, still MODERN after all these years!
10. ?????
Who would you pick as #10?
I’m on the fence with guys like Jack White, Johnny Lang, Colin James, and from my area there are guys coming up like Tony D (MonkeyJunk), David Gogo, and JW Jones…these are names you will hear more from in the coming years.
What would your list be? Leave us a comment.
Filed under New Blues by on Aug 12th, 2012. 2 Comments.
