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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label The Soul of John Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Soul of John Black. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Soul Of John Black - Early In The Moanin' Out 2/3


The Soul Of John Black

Early In The Moanin’

Is Greasy, Slippery and Groovy

Album Out February 3, 2017

“Whole new brand of soul…” - Rolling Stone




“Doctor says I can't be helped - by nobody but thee - now lay some hands on me” - “Can’t Be Helped”

The Soul Of John Black is back – it’s part Chicago blues shaken and stirred with Delta mindfulness and a Memphis soul garnish.

The Soul of John Black has not been sold. It’s alive and well. He’s out and about – walking the streets with shades over his eyes.  This eclectic mix of blues, soul, jazz and funk with slices of hip-hop grows arms and legs as it spins on the record player. Early In The Moanin’ will be released on February 3, 2017, on Cadabra Records through CD Baby.

John Bigham; “JB” – as he’s known to friends – will be appearing at the 2017 Folk Alliance International Conference for two private showcases on February 17 and 18. This will be a one-of-a-kind acoustic setting showing off his guitar chops that are old school Delta style mixed in with reggae and soul.

After eight years in Fishbone and a stint with Miles Davis, The Soul Of John Black calls Early In The Moanin’; his “love letter to the blues. I’m taking it back to Mississippi to the Delta, in my own way.”

“Old school funk…spine-tingling.” – Interview

John himself produced and recorded Early In The Moanin’ at Tiger One Studio in Los Angeles bringing in some ace session players like Jake Najor (Big Daddy Kane), Mark Levy (Duradero Drums), Greg Camp (Smash Mouth) and Curtis Sanford (The Deele). The slice of Hip-Hop comes from the genius mind of Richard "Segal" Huredia, a well-known sound mixer, known for his work on Dr. Dre’s seminal album, The Chronic.

“I learned about music from my friends, my parents, and the radio,” JB says. “In Chicago a lot of soul-blues was popular and even doo-wop, but when I got turned on to Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, as a guitar player there was no turning back.”

With that broad stylistic education under his belt, Bigham moved to L.A. to pursue a career in music and began working as a touring sideman and session player. His first high-profile gig was playing guitar for R&B hit man El DeBarge. But JB’s personal history as an experimenter goes back to 1989 when he began an eight-year tenure playing guitar and keyboards in pioneering ska-funk-punk band Fishbone.

JB’s career has been filled with critical praise from Rolling Stone to NPR, nominations from The Blues Music Awards and The Independent Music Awards as well as studio session work with Dr. Dre, Eminem and Nikka Coats amongst others.

“Oddly enough, I didn’t get into really deep old school blues until I was working with Miles [Davis] and he recorded songs with John Lee Hooker for the soundtrack to a movie called The Hot Spot. That music affected me profoundly. John Lee Hooker became one of my main guys. I also figured that if his music and Miles Davis’ could blend so beautifully, I should be able to find my own way of combining everything that I love. And that’s what The Soul of John Black is about.”

Using words like wobble, talking about raking leaves and honoring Bobby “Blue” Bland in “Cher” (with a nod to the smooth crooner’s classic “St. James Infirmary”), The Soul Of John Black creates a sexy mood with his voice and rhythms.  

“I say, Cher  - I love your pretty hair - well I know this might seem strange, but I can't get you off my brain, and I'm well aware it's the type of thing that get you put in St. James” –  “Cher”

You can almost see a smooth grin; slide on his face.


So sit, pour a glass of your favorite potion and get seduced by The Soul of John Black. You will slip into another world. 

Friday, June 28, 2013

Yellow Dog Records artist: The Soul of John Black - A Sunshine State of Mind - New Release Review

I just received the new release, A Sunshine State Of Mind, from  The Soul of John Black and it's really enjoyable. John A. Bigham, playing most of the parts as singer, songwriter and instrumentalist really delivers a nice package here. Opening with Magic Woman a rock/R&B style track, JB provides a solid package with a catchy hook and snappy beat. Echoing his voice with layers of backing vocals and lead guitar melody, this is a track that easily find it's way to the airwaves. Beautiful Day is a great soul track with a certain Al Green feel... excellent! East LA Lady has an uptempo club beat but not venturing far from the soul thread established by Marvin Gaye. Higher Power is another soul ballad again with an Al Green style structure. No real question where influences come from here. My thoughts, listen to masters to make masterful music. Johnny Bear (Give It To Me), is another high energy dance track with R&B rhythms. I know that I make references to legendary artists in comparison but this music sounds fresh. Everyone is influenced by someone. It's what they do with it. JB is doing something new. With ripping guitar riffs JB pierces the standard for R&B dance music. Lenny Love Cha Cha is a great soul track strongly showing the vocal and rhythmic strength of JB. This is a great release to just lay around the pool and sip a beverage and take in the day. Too Much Tequila again has strong ties to Al Green and if I haven't made it clear, I really like Al Green. Again, not a clone but a branch of a great style. Wrapping the release with Summertime Thang, JB does a marvelous job of pulling all of the feeling of a great classic soul track (which this may be). I've only had the opportunity to listen to this release a few times, but it will be in my car soon, and I expect to listen to it quite a bit more... Very Strong!

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Monday, January 9, 2012

Ever Changin' Emotions - THE SOUL OF JOHN BLACK


The Soul of John Black is an American alternative soul,blues,rock duo formed by John Bigham and Christopher Thomas.
John Bigham was previously a member of the band Fishbone and also worked with Miles Davis and Everlast, while Christopher Thomas had played with Joshua Redman and Betty Carter. Their first release was a self-titled album which was issued in 2002. A different self-titled release arrived in 2003 on the No Mayo label and featured a blend of soul, funk, and hip hop. NPR named the track "Scandalous (No. 9)" one of the best of the year in All Songs Considered. By the release of the follow-up in 2007, Bigham was recording alone and essentially used the group as his own stage name. The sophomore release, The Good Girl Blues, focused on the blues but continued to incorporate elements from jazz, hip hop, rock & roll, and other styles. A third album, Black John, followed in 2009.

The Soul of John Black's "The Good Girl Blues" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for Blues Album of the year.
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