I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Just Johnnie, by Johnnie Johnson and it's cooking. Opening with title track, I'm Just Johnnie, Johnnie Johnson on piano and vocal leads the way with terrific style. Tony T lays in some blistering slide work on guitar, backed by the heavy horn section of Jm Manley and Ray Vollmar while Kenny Rice on drums and Gus Thornton on bass round out the band. Excellent opener. On I Get Weary, Max Baker plays a heartfelt blues intro and solo on guitar and Charles Glenn sings a silky smooth lead. Johnson plays a hot, well articulated solo on piano and with Paul Willett on organ, Dickie Steltenpohl on bass, and Andy O'Connor on on drums, this is a strong track. Powerhouse horns by Doc Simpson, Tom O'Brien and Ray McAnallen open Let The Good Times Roll with Kenny Rice on lead vocals. Bonnie Raitt really shines on slide guitar followed by Johnson's signature piano style. Excellent. Three Handed Woman gets a real nice swing going with Johnson really rocking the piano and singing and featuring Tony T on guitar laying down some potent riffs on guitar. Instrumental, Blues In G, features Johnson front and center on piano and again rich piano styling by Tom Maloney. Trading solo's this is a great track. Another great boogie is Johnnie Johnson Blues with Johnson on lead vocal and piano, Johnny Rivers on piano, Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Johnnie just has a flair that shines beyond the music. Wrapping the release is piano shuffle, Long Gone, with Johnson leading the way on piano. Maloney stands on it with a real nice guitar solo and some tight double stops giving the track and greasy feel, even more accentuating Johnson's clean delivery, backed by Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Very nice. The two disc set also includes a second disc on interviews with Johnson and Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St.John discussing Johnnie's career in one of the last interviews before his passing on April 12 2005.
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