Luxury Experience - Johnny A. - One November Night

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.

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)

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.