American blues singer/songwriter Joe Bonamassa just released his 9th studio album 3/22/2011 DUST BOWL, which opened 4th on the BBC UK Charts. The guitar wizard with an electrifying stage presence is a huge hit in the European markets. The British Blues awards 9/10/2010 voted Joe “Best Overseas Artist”.
Joe says he was influenced by the British & Irish Blues greats, like Eric Clapton, John Mayhall, Jeff Beck, rather than the American style of blues, which is just plain silly. Not sure if he knows the history of British blues, which comes from American greats like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and the likes of John Lee Hooker, and many more prominent bluesmen from way back when blues was the blues, the Brit’s merely electrified the sound. Maybe he is too young, (early 30’s) but never the less he is a bluesman. While he may feel like he is closer to the British style blues, he is a Rockin’ Blues guy with guitar swagger. His sound is Blues Rock, sometimes Delta/Swamp Blues, and occasionally he mimics the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Texas Bluesman.
In the early to mid 90’s when Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lange emerged from the shadow of the great SRV, Bonamassa was around, but unlike his counter-parts he did not release his first solo album until 2000, five years after Lang, and Shepherd.
Joe picked up the guitar at the age of 4 and by the age of 12 he was touring with Buddy Guy and Robert Cray, and caught the ear of B.B. King. He is a guitar virtuoso, but he continues to evolve and grow into the musician he has become. By the way, he can actually sing! Nice voice, soft, not gravelly or screaming. His voice is not unique but his guitar playing is.
DUST BOWL has some great tracks, and sure to be a favorite if you like Blues Rock.
Joe features John Hiatt, and Vince Gill on “Tennessee Plates” and Vince Gill on “Sweet Rowena”. Favorites are, “Dust Bowl”, “Slow Train”, “Prisoner” and “The Meaning of The Blues”. Also a good sound is his LIVE FROM ROYAL ALBERT HALL, which came out in 2009. Joe Bonamassa, will be around for years to come, and only time will tell if he developes into one of the greatest bluesmen of our time.
http://jbonamassa.com/
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