Music
Songs From The Record World
"A soulful mix of blues and jazz classics from harmonica wizard Jelly Roll Johnson. Backed by a rock-solid trio of Pat Bergeson on guitar, Dave Pomeroy on bass, and Chris Brown on drums."
This instrumental release showcases Jelly Roll's emotional harmonica on classics that range from his hauntingly romantic chromatic on "In a Sentimental Mood" to his down and dirty blues harp on "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" to the joyful "Hallelujah I Love Her So." Jelly Roll's latest instrumental offering was inspired by some of the songs he first heard at Jerry's Record World in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1972. "I discovered blues by Little Walter and Paul Butterfield, jazz by Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington, and the genius of Ray Charles," Jelly says. "It was a life-changing experience for me, and I hope this album will pay tribute to that music."
Jelly Roll Johnson and a Few Close Friends
"Jelly Roll Johnson and a few close friends" features Johnson's distinctive harmonica complementing acoustic performances by some of Nashville's best singer / songwriters. With its spare production style, this album recreates the experience of Johnson's performances with these songwriters at Nashville clubs. The result is an 11-track compilation of Americana tunes with flavors ranging from blues to pop to folk, woven together through the magic of Johnson's soulful harp.
Singer / songwriters featured on the album perform all vocals and most of the acoustic guitar. They include : Tony Arata, writer of Garth Brooks' hit "The Dance"; Malcolm Holcombe; Fred Knobloch, creator of George Strait's current smash "Meanwhile"; Suzi Ragsdale; and Verlon Thompson, who penned the Trisha Yearwood hit "You say You Will."