Texas Johnny BROWN - Blues Defender 2001

Texas Johnny BROWN - Blues Defender 2001
Label: Choctaw
Recorded in Houston, Texas, Sep 2000

Blues

Born in Mississippi in 1928, Texas Johnny Brown moved to, Texas in 1946, and began his professional musical career with R’n'B pioneer Amos Milburn. He toured extensively and played on Milburn’s Aladdin Records sessions. He made his own Atlantic recordings in 1949, backed up by Milburn and his band, and also played on Ruth Brown’s early Atlantic recordings.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Johnny toured as the lead guitarist and band leader for Bobby Bland and Junior Parker and was a studio musician at Houston’s Duke/Peacock Records, before becoming leader of his own Houston-based band. His distinctive guitar style graces many classic recordings. He is the composer of the beautiful blues classic “Two Steps from the Blues” which became one of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s biggest hits.

Johnny has a beautifully fluid, sophisticated guitar style. His clear, soulful bluesy voice complements his fine songwriting and arrangements. He has 2 CD releases, “Nothin’ But the Truth, ” (1999) and “Blues Defender” (2001) on Choctaw Creek Records. “Nothin’ But the Truth” was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award (1999) and received Real Blues Magazine’s Real Blues Awards as Best Texas Blues CD and Best Independently Released Blues CD for 1998. Texas Johnny Brown has been given numerous Houston Press Awards for Best Blues, Best Blues Guitarist and Best Male Vocalist. He plans to release a live CD this summer.
By Cindy Mcleod.
**
Texas Johnny Brown  has a fine new independent release, Blues Defender (Choctaw Creek Records), a follow-up to his Handy-nominated effort of 1998, Nothin' But The Truth, exploring much of the same Texas blues/soul territory. However, this new disc has more original material, some of it even better, and Brown seems to be more relaxed vocally this time around. The band is even better than before and the horns seem livelier. Of course, Brown's guitar is right there, too, and his playing is always tasteful, with jazz and blues influences. He plays in the Houston blues guitar style (Pete Mayes, Clarence Hollimon, Roy Gaines, and Joe Hughes), but at the same time is very much his own man. He says a lot with a few notes. Some of my favorites on the disc are the lively "In The Dark," the horn-propelled opener "Handy Man," the beautiful instrumental "Quality Blues," the slow blues "Moanin' and Groanin'," the edgy "Just Can't Do It," and the introspective instrumental "Rained Out." As always, Brown's songwriting is top notch (he is the actual composer of the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic, "Two Steps From the Blues," often credited to Dedric Malone, and his own "There Goes The Blues"). It would be nice if the late, lamented Black Top Records were still around, because this would fit in their catalog perfectly. Though it may be hard to find, fans of the Houston sound, as well as blues guitar fans will want to grab this disc.
By Steve Hinrichsen.
**
Blues Defender aptly demonstrates that Texas Johnny Brown is more than capable of competing with the best. This is top drawer soulful Texas blues which should appeal to blues lovers of any genre. Run for the hills if you are afraid of hearing some magnificent blues! This CD burns the barn in a multitude of blues fire.... It's a joy and delight to hear a master doing what he does best.
**
Texas Johnny Brown- Vocals & Guitar
William Hollis- Piano & Organ
Donald Owens & Jelando Johnson- Bass
Kerry Cartwright & G.M. Godley- Drums
Anthony Jackson, Gerardo Davila, Ed Love,
Keith Anderson & Myron Jackson- Horns
Alvin King- Piano
**
01. Handy Man 3:54
02. In the Dark 4:40
03. Did You Lose Your Way? 3:43
04. Runaway Girl 4:27
05. Bad Hair Day 4:57
06. Quality Blues 5:36
07. Blues Defender 3:41
08. Moanin' and Groanin' 5:06
09. Just Can't Do It 6:15
10. Love So Strong 5:19
11. Rained Out 3:13
**
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