James Armstrong
Talks to Guitar Angels on New Catfood Records CD, Coming February
8
Follow-Up to
His Critically-Acclaimed Label Debut Is His Most-Personal Album
to-Date
EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces a February 18 release
date for Guitar Angels, the latest album from contemporary blues
singer/guitarist James Armstrong, and follow-up to his acclaimed label debut,
Blues at the Border.
“This new CD bears the stamp of James Armstrong throughout,
along with the assistance of his good friend, Michael Ross, as producer,” says
Catfood Records head Bob Trenchard. “Various musicians were used in the making
of the album and it was recorded at three different studios, but the common
thread is James Armstrong’s unique talent on every song. He is a true original
in his songwriting, guitar playing and vocals.”
The nine original songs on Guitar Angels are
bolstered by the inclusion of two stellar covers: a wonderful re-working of the
Eagles hit, “Take It to the Limit,” which he transforms into a bluesy shuffle;
and a solid take on Johnny Copeland’s “Blues Ain’t Nothin’.”
“Working with Bob Trenchard of Catfood Records has been a
blast,” says James Armstrong about the sessions. “I was delighted after the 2012
release of Blues at the Border that Bob wanted me to do another
one so quickly. The songs came from some new ideas, some old ideas and some
humorous ones.”
One of the “humorous ones” James refers to is the album’s
lead-off track, “Grandma’s Got a New Friend,” a song about how the Baby Boomer
approach to aging differs from previous generations. A tune that James has been
performing live for many months, it’s become a crowd favorite and was an obvious
choice to include on Guitar Angels. Another fan-pleaser is
“Saturday Night Women,” which never fails to elicit shouts from club audiences
when performed live.
James Armstrong’s approach to the blues and songwriting has
always been from a contemporary standpoint that keeps the music relevant without
forsaking its roots. To that end, there are several very personal songs that
mean a lot to James, but will also resonate with listeners, as well. “Healing
Time,” co-written by Armstrong and Michael Ross, deals with the death of
Michael’s brother, Norman, who had recently passed away. It’s a moving tribute
to a brother who also played guitar with such notables as Ronnie Spector and
Irene Cara.
The album’s title track “has been in my head for a few
years,” notes Armstrong. Since my injury in 1996, many guitar players, alive and
dead, have helped me. I still am unable to bend the third finger on my left
hand, or use my little finger, but I attribute some of the reason I’m actually
able to play the guitar again to my ‘guitar angels:’ my father, James Armstrong
Sr., Mike Ross, Coco Montoya and Joe Louis Walker.”
The incident James refers to was the horrible home invasion
attack he suffered in 1996 that left Armstrong without the use of his left hand
and arm, including permanent nerve damage. This threatened his career forever,
but that thanks to a lot of hard physical rehabilitation, plus the support of
friends, fans and the blues community, Armstrong returned to performing and has
never looked back.
Born to a jazz guitar-playing father and blues-singing
mother, James Armstrong was literally born to play the blues. Raised in Los
Angeles, he formed his first band in the seventh grade and by age 17 was already
touring the country. He soon became the youngest guitar player ever in Smokey
Wilson’s legendary band and was mentored by another legend, Albert Collins.
Shortly thereafter he was discovered by HighTone Records co-owner Bruce Bromberg
and signed with the label, recording several acclaimed albums for
them.
