The release Johnny A. - One
November Night features
a guitarist who is gifted and blessed with the talent to emulate a
vocalist's
ability for phrasing lyrics through his creative melodies and distinct
chord
changes. From fiery hot licks to touching melodies, Johnny A's guitar
work is
as unique and distinct as you will ever hear.
Johnny A. - One November Night
One November Night: I Had to Laugh; Sing Singin'; The Wind Cries Mary; Tex Critter; Lullabye
for Nicole; Two Wheel Horse; Get Inside; The Night Before; Krea Gata; Ignorance
is Bliss; Wichita Lineman; Memphis Tennessee; Jimi Jam; Walk Away Renée (DVD only)
Personnel: Johnny
A.: Guitar; Jesse Bastos: Bass; Chris Farr: Drums
Johnny A. - One
November Night was produced by Johnny A. and released on Aglaophone
Records an independent record label. Johnny A is not just a guitarist,
he is a guitarist who has never had a guitar lesson, and he is a guitarist who
has such a unique and distinct style and sound that Gibson guitars created a
signature Johnny A. guitar for him, an honor bestowed on very few guitarists. Johnny
A. has worked his way up through the ranks from being a member of bands when he
was a teen, to playing with a Who's Who of musicians, including a 7 year stint
with Peter Wolf's band (front-man of the legendary J. Geils Band). He has
several successful releases to his name Sometime
Tuesday Morning (2001), Get Inside
(2004), and the DVD Taste, Tone, Space
(2006), but when he recorded One
November Night this was his first live release, which contains a CD and DVD
version.
The release opens with I
Had to Laugh (Johnny A.) a lively and relentless track that builds through
long measures but in a controlled fashion where the fiery guitar work does not
overwhelm the sound. The track Sing
Singin' is a bawdy blues track with chord changes and licks that tease the
audience, but in the end you can hear a very satisfied and appreciative one.
Johnny A. pays tribute to one of his influences, Jimi
Hendrix, with his arrangement of the legendary track The Wind Cries Mary; though there are no vocals you have Johnny's
unique style of cutting chords and changes in a manner that accents the melody
and projects the sensation of lyrics. Johnny switches gears from rock n' roll
to country with the track Tex Critter,
and the band has fun cutting a rug with this arrangement that just touches on
the diversity that Johnny has. Moving
seamlessly between formats is the track Lullabye
for Nicole that was written for his daughter, which is the most involved
song on the release with intricate changes, sub melodies, and creative
transitions.
The track Two Wheel
Horse is stripped down Johnny A. dealing the licks front and center on a
song that is one my favorites on the release; he shows he knows how to deliver
a song to a live audience and capture the moment.
Very selective with cover tracks, Johnny selected the Lennon/McCartney
song The Night Before and through a
blues and rock arrangement livens up the track while adding new layers to the
sound. Other covers include: Wichita
Lineman (Jimmy Webb) where he pulls back on the fiery guitar work and
crafts a poignant arrangement; Memphis,
Tennessee (Chuck Berry) where he let loose and had the crowd engaged from
the opening note, which would make Chuck Berry proud; and Walk Away Renee (Brown / Sansone / Callili) which is found on the
DVD only.
Other great tracks on the release are Get Inside a combination of rock, blues, and funk; Jimi Jam a hard driving straight ahead
track that would have Jimi Hendrix nodding in acceptance; Krea Gata a love song sung from the fingertips of Johnny's guitar;
and Ignorance is Bliss a track that
will warm you up on a cold night and leaving you wanting more.
Websites where you can procure Johnny A. - One November Night are Johnny A., Amazon,
and iTunes.
© April 2010. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All
rights reserved.
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