“Town and Country” CD Review
blue barry – smoky mtn. blues
society
Here’s some great music by a
new, creative, and exceptionally talented young man named John-Alex Mason. John plays some really sweet electric blues,
acoustic blues, and resonator slide music.
He is a one man band, and has really got the right stuff. Tasty slide work, great vocals, very nice
compositions with 7 originals and 8 historical tunes. Country blues is what we call this style. He has two versions of “Shake “Em On Down”
and both of them are great. He opens up
the CD with one version, and ends it with the other. He does a version of
Charlie Patton’s “Pony Blues” and a few Robert Johnson tunes. “Terraplane Blues”, “Milk Cow Blues”, and back
to Patton’s “Boll Weevil.” All done in
his style, and his way. He even does a
Skip James tune in here. “Cypress Grove”
shows how capable a player he is with the haunting slide in a minor
tuning. He plays a version of Bukka
White’s “Jitterbug Swing,” and a great shuffle piece called “Shake Your Money
Maker.” Shades of Elmore James. With 15 songs in all John-Alex really
captures some fine blues. His slide
work is deliberate, and very clean. He
ain’t no trashy player, although they have their place. John-Alex has the “touch.” It’s really hard to be a solo performer, and
this guy is better than he should be at such a young age. As time goes by he will be something to
behold. Check this one out. Go see him if you can. If you are a slide player, there are some
nice tasty licks in here for you. Go to
JOHNALEXMASON.COM for more info. Thanks
buddy. Your friend......blue barry