CANNONBALL RECORDS
Detroit native Johnny Bassett has had a pretty good year. He first appeared on the new Cannonball label a few months back on a disc called "Blues Across America: The Detroit Scene." He also has a disc out on the Fedora label called "Bassett Hound." Johnny is a 62 year old blues guitarist with a style heavily indebted to jazz. His playing reminds me of the late Fenton Robinson. Its blues music with a touch of class.
Its Johnnys smooth, tasteful guitar with a two piece horn backdrop that opens the disc with a song called "Im Gonna Do, What Im Gonna Do." This is one of 5 songs written by Chris Codish who plays the B3 organ on all the cuts. I was amazed by how young Johnny sounds on this disc as most of the songs are about women with lyrics youd expect more from someone 26 than 62.
In the title song Johnny sings about still having the blues
but "I got em in my Cadillac." Funny thing is, later in the
disc in a tune called "Get Over Here Baby" Johnny is driving around in a Mercedes. Anyway, being from Detroit I guess you have to have the obligatory car songs. Theres another tune on the disc called "Cadillac Baby!"
Throughout the CD each musician is generously given the chance to solo at different times. Weather its Codish on the organ or Keith Kaminski on sax, or Dwight Adams on flugelhorn its really a beautifully layered recording. Much of the credit here has to go to the sure hand of producer extraordinaire Ron Levy. A case in point is the song "Memories Of Your Perfume." Here is a mellow song that opens with the church organ of Codish before the horns fall in so sweetly you barely notice it. Eventually the elegant guitar of Bassett takes over.
It has only been in the last couple of years that Johnny
Bassett has quit his job to become a full time touring musician. He recently appeared at Black-Eyed Sallys in Hartford in front of a huge crowd. Hes also fortunate to be a member of the Cannonball label group. This is the best new blues label since Evidence Music was formed. This is going to be a very well received disc and Johnny Bassett will deserve all the accolades that will be coming his way.
Bill Harriman
**** 1/2