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Born: James Thompson on Nov 25, 1928 in Holly Springs, MS Genres: Blues, Latin Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Chicago Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Soul-Blues, Alternative Latin Instruments: Bass, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals
Chicago guitarist Jimmy Johnson didn't release his first full domestic album until he was 50 years old. He's determinedly made up for lost time ever since, establishing himself as one of the Windy City's premier blues artists with a twisting, unpredictable guitar style and a soaring, soul-dripping vocal delivery that stand out from the pack.
Born into a musical family (younger brother Syl Johnson's credentials as a soul star are all in order, while sibling Mack Thompson was Magic Sam's first-call bassist), Jimmy Thompson moved to Chicago with his family in 1950. But his guitar playing remained a hobby for years - he toiled as a welder while Syl blazed a trail on the local blues circuit. Finally, in 1959, Jimmy Thompson started gigging with harpist Slim Willis around the West side. Somewhere down the line, he changed his surname to Johnson (thus keeping pace with Syl).
Since there was more cash to be realized playing R&B during the 1960s, Jimmy Johnson concentrated on that end of the stylistic spectrum for a while. He led polished house bands on the South and West sides behind Otis Clay, Denise LaSalle, and Garland Green, cutting an occasional instrumental 45 on the side. Johnson found his way back to the blues in 1974 as Jimmy Dawkins's rhythm guitarist. He toured Japan behind Otis Rush in 1975 (the journey that produced Rush's album So Many Roads - Live in Concert).
With the 1978 release of four stunning sides on Alligator's first batch of Living Chicago Blues anthologies and the issue of Johnson's Whacks, his first full domestic set on Delmark the next year, Jimmy Johnson's star began ascending rapidly. North/South, the guitarist's 1982 Delmark follow-up, and the 1983 release of Bar Room Preacher by Alligator continued to propel Johnson into the first rank of Chicago bluesdom. Then tragedy struck: on December 2, 1988, Johnson was driving his band's van when it swerved off the road in downstate Indiana, killing bassist Larry Exum and keyboardist St. James Bryant.
Understandably, Johnson, himself injured in the wreck, wasn't too interested in furthering his career for a time after the tragedy. But he's back in harness now, cutting a solid set for Verve in 1994, I'm a Jockey, that spotlights his blues-soul synthesis most effectively.Every Road Ends, recorded in France and released on Ruf, followed in 1999. A collaboration with his brother Syl appeared in the summer of 2002, the cleverly titled Two Johnsons Are Better Than One."
- Bill Dahl (All Music Guide)
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CD коллекции, связанные с исполнителем: |
как основной исполнитель ... |
Jimmy Johnson - 'Pepper's Hangout' - 2000, Delmark |
как соисполнитель ... |
David Benoit - 'Urban Daydreams' - 1989, GRP |
Bobby 'Blue' Bland - 'Blues At Midnight' - 2003, Malaco |
J.J. Cale - 'Really. Okie' - Mercury |
Billy Childs - 'His April Touch' - 1991, Windham Hill |
Billy Childs - 'Twilight Is Upon Us' - 1989, Windham Hill |
David Clayton-Thomas - 'David Clayton-Thomas' - 1972, Repertoire |
Aretha Franklin - 'I Newer Loved A Man The Way I Love You. Aretha Arrives' - 1967, Rhino |
Aretha Franklin - 'Lady Soul. Aretha Now' - 1968, Rhino |
Aretha Franklin - 'Soul'69. Spirit In The Dark' - 1969, Rhino, Витаком |
Aretha Franklin - 'This Girl's In Love With You. Young, Gifted And Black' - 1970, Витаком |
Grant Geissman - 'In With The Out Crowd' - 1998, Higher Octave |
Stan Getz - 'Apasionado' - 1990, A&M, Dora |
Dave Grusin - 'Harlequin' - 1985, GRP |
Don Grusin - 'Raven' - 1990, GRP |
Allan Holdsworth - 'Against The Clock: The Best Of Allan Holdsworth' - 2005, Alternity |
Allan Holdsworth - 'Metal Fatigue' - 1985, Enigma |
Allan Holdsworth - 'Sand' - 1987, Enigma, Restless |
Allan Holdsworth - 'Secrets' - 1989, Intima |
Allan Holdsworth - 'Then! Live In Tokyo' - 2004, Alternity |
David Lanz - 'Finding Paradise' - 2002, Decca |
Keiko Matsui - 'A Drop Of Water' - 1996, Unity Label Group, White Cat |
Keiko Matsui - 'Night Waltz' - 1991, Snow Crane Music, Sin-Drome Records |
Keiko Matsui - 'Under Northern Lights' - 1989, MCA |
Phil Perry - 'The Heart Of The Man' - 1991, Capitol |
Art Porter - 'Undercover' - 1994, Verve Forecast |
Boz Scaggs - 'Hits!' - 1980, Sony |
Shirley Scott - 'Shirley Scott And The Soul Saxes' - 1969, WEA |
Paul Simon - 'The Essential Paul Simon' - 2007, Warner Bros. |
Paul Simon - 'There Goes Rhymin' Simon' - 1973, Legacy |
Percy Sledge - 'It Tears Me Up: The Best Of Percy Sledge' - 1992, Rhino |
Steve Tavaglione - 'Blue Tav' - 1997, Creatchy Records |
Big Mama Thornton - 'Sassy, Mama!' - 1975, Vanguard, Galactic |
Chad Wackerman - 'Dreams, Nightmares And Improvisations' - 2012, Marquee |