Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Bluesin' Around , from Donald Ray Johnson and Gas Blues Band and it's a different approach to the blues. Opening with BB King track, Bad Luck , Donald Ray Johnson gets the shuffle going leading on vocals and joined by Gaspard Ossikian on guitar, Pierre Cayla on guitar, Philippe Scemama on bass and Yannick Urbani on drums. The solid horn work of Samuel Dumont on sax and Nicolas Gardel on trumpet add to the original King feel and Daniel Antoine on Hammond super charges it. Joe Louis Walker's Bluesifyin' is up next and Johnson hit's his stride on vocals. With firm bass work by Scemama and tight guitar riffs from Gas and Cayla, this track hits the mark. Willie Dixon's Ain't Superstitious gets a cool remake with a rolling bass riff and altered guitar riff. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release clean guitar riffs and blues intentions. Philip Walker's Ninety Proof is a super slow blues with horn backing. An...

I just received the newest release, These Blues - The Best of Donald Ray Johnson , and it's quite good. Opening with Al Green's Ain't No Fun To Me , Johnson hops right on Al Green's rhythm train and sticks it! Cool harp work over the melody gives it a more bluesy taste that Green's original R&B track. Gone So Long has a real nice blues saunter with call and response vocal/guitar riffs. An extended guitar solo with a Taj Mahal feel sets it off. With BB King style, title track, These Blues has a solid drive and stiff guitar riffs. A cool sax solo also sets this track apart. Pop ballad Always On My Mind is performed by Johnson with accompaniment on acoustic guitar. A crisp electric guitar solo add nice flavor. Slow Down Baby has a big swing and fat sax. One of the nicest grooves on the release, the guitar is hot and tasty. R&B style track Here To Stay features Johnson's vocals carried on a warm sax ride and a light percussion bass. Me And Jack (Danie...

Donald Ray Johnson was born on November 12, 1948 in Bryan Texas. He took an early interest in music, as did his older sister Janice Marie. They sang in church and at family functions. At age 7, Donald Ray became interested in playing the drums, beating on whatever he could get his hands on. In early 1970, Don was called to play weekends in LA with Phillip Walker, by long time friend Nat Dove, who now lived in LA. Some 29 years later the relationship with the Phillip Walker Band still exists. In 1971 Donald moved to LA to work with the Joe Houston big band backing some of the west coast's top blues artist. While trying to find a weekend gig Don met songwriter - producer, Perry Kibble who was in the process of developing a group that featured the talents of two young African American women, (bassist, Janice Marie Johnson & guitarist Carlita Durhan). We later became known as " A Taste Of Honey ". In 1979, this band was the first Afro - American Band to win and be present...