Wayne Nicholson, John Campbelljohn – Elmore's Blues

25-03-2022

Combining his outstanding guitar work & powerful songwriting, John Campbelljohn is a multiple award winner. Born in 1955 in Cape Breton NS, Canada, John grew up surrounded by the rich Cape Breton Island culture of Scottish jigs, reels and strathspeys. But at an early age he discovered the power of the blues shuffle. He studied the blues masters as a teenager and eventually put together a blues rock combo. John toured relentlessly throughout the country winning numerous awards for his record releases, guitar playing and songwriting ability. During his career John has been featured on recordings, live shows and TV productions that include names like Sting, Joni Mitchell, Emmy Lou Harris, Leonard Cohen, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, Robben Ford & Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) Sony Television & Showtime TV. Rich vocals and distinctive prowess on the slide guitar has made him a favourite at music festivals in Atlantic Canada & Europe. Rolling Stone Germany said, "The string magic of the front man fascinates !" Blues News Germany said, "What applied to Neil Young or Joni Mitchell in former times, now applies to John Campbelljohn." Blues Revue USA deemed him a "guitar-god-in-the-making". John's accomplishments include wins and nominations for Maple Blues Awards, East Coast Music Awards, Real Blues Awards, Music Nova Scotia Entertainer Of The Year, Blues Recording Of The Year & Musician Of The Year. In 1999 John got his first European release with a German blues roots label called Taxim/Hermans. In 2007 John signed an international deal with ZYX Music/PepperCake Records, the largest independent record company in Germany. Now with continued success in Europe for more than twenty years, John signed a new record contract with ZYX Music and a scheduled 2020 new release is in the works. John's sophisticated and progressive approach to song writing gives him a distinctive edge, mixing rock, blues, reggae, celtic & country into his signature style. The result is a roots driven sound that can pummel the audience into submission one moment, while captivating them with its subtlety the next. "Elmore's Blues" is almost naturally a tribute to slide guitarist and bluesman Elmore James aka Elmore Brooks. At the age of ten, Elmore learned to sing blues and play guitar on a homemade guitar. He played with the likes of Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson I. He made his debut in 1951 with recordings for Lillian McMurry's Trumpet Records and became one of the exponents of the Chicago blues. He recorded over 100 songs and soon became known as King of the Slide guitar. With his raw, ripping music and soulful voice, he laid the foundation for what would later become rock and roll. Well-known songs are "Talk to me Baby", "Look on Yonder Wall", "Shake your Moneymaker", "Madison Blues" and "Sky is Crying". His most famous song is "Dust My Broom", a song written by Robert Johnson. Especially the intro of this song is a riff that is often used by blues guitarists as the opening of their songs. The song was also used in the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013). Elmore James was influenced by Robert Johnson, Kokomo Arnold and Tampa Red. Elmore recorded several Tampa Red songs. He also "inherited" two musicians ("Little" Johnny Jones: piano and Odie Payne: drums) from Tampa Red's band, who joined his own backing band, the Broomdusters. It still remains an open question whether Johnson or James wrote "Dust My Broom". In the late 1930s, James teamed up with Sonny Boy Williamson II. "Elmore's Blues" features 12 of Elmore James' greatest (often well-known) songs and two originals. The opener dates from 1953. "Little" Johnny Jones (frontman of the Chicago Hound Dogs) then released "I May Be Wrong (Boogie Woogie)" on Flair Records, with 35-year-old Elmore James on the line-up as guitarist. . Elmore James also recorded it himself. "Standing at the Crossroads" is one of the songs that Elmore wrote together with Joe Josea aka Joseph "Joe" Bihari (one of the four Bihari brothers). The single, which he recorded with his Broomdusters, first appeared in 1954. Also "I Believe" can be found on the Elmore James 4-box set (compilation album) 'King of the Slide Guitar' (1992). The version by Nicholson & Campbelljohn has quite a few reggae influences. "Knocking at Your Door" was recorded in 1957, but did not appear as a single until three years later. It doesn't matter that Elmore doesn't scream as loud as Wayne in the final. Joe Bihari wrote "No Love in My Heart". It is a song that stands out because of its Latino rhythm. More famous is Elmore's "Rollin and Tumblin". It is a blues song that was first recorded in 1929 by American singer/guitarist Hambone Willie Newbern. It was "interpreted" by hundreds of blues artists, including Muddy Waters. Saul Behari wrote the slow blues "Sinful Woman" with Elmore. The version on the Wayne & John album closely resembles the original. "Happy Home" is already Joe Bihari's next song. Barry Cooke's piano may ring full here, just like on the original. Even more famous is Elmore's "Shake Your Money Maker" that should certainly not be missed here (including a great bass solo by Bruce Dixon). The next Joe Bihari compositions are "Sunnyland", which with its repetitive riff sounds better in the original and, the rocker "Strange Kinda Feeling". A song that should not be missed is "It Hurts Me Too". But again with the comment that this blues is by default "one of the most interpreted blues songs". It was first recorded in 1940 by the Tampa Red (with whom, as mentioned, Elmore collaborated). When Elmore recorded it in 1957, he (or Mel London, who is credited on the release) wrote some of the lyrics, which are best known today. With "Dancin with the Blues" we are already on the second original and closing track. "If I Was Blue", which we skipped for a while, is a successful original and melodic composition that, with lots of Campbelljohn's slide guitar, fits perfectly on this album. "Dancin With the Blues" is an uptempo rocker, which certainly belongs here as well. Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn deliver a strong album with 'Elmore's Blues', which once again puts one of the greatest American blues men in the spotlight. Their musical interpretations testify to craftsmanship and class. With "Elmore's Blues" Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn deliver a strong album, that puts one of America's greatest blues men in the spotlight again. Their musical interpretations testify of craftsmanship and masterly class. Wayne Nicholson is a singer song-writer from Nova Scotia, Canada. Elmore James (1918-1963) was born Elmore Brooks in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi. He was the illegitimate son of 15-year-old slave Leola Brooks. His father was probably Joe Willie "Frost" James, who moved in with Leola and gave Elmore his last name. Elmore started making music at age 12, using a simple one-stringed instrument (didley bow or jitterbug). As a teenager, he performed as a dancer under the names Cleanhead and Joe Willie James. He married Minnie Mae about 1942. Veterans Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn are both musicians and Canadians. Nicholson has long been considered one of the best blues/rock singers in Atlantic, a community in the province of Nova Scotia, and guitarist/songwriter Campbelljohn proudly says he was born in Cape Breton, an island on the East Coast off the Atlantic coast of North America. -America. Administratively, Cape Breton is part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Both have been in the studio solo and with a band before, but now they did a joint studio project, 'Elmore's Blues'. Wayne Nicholson grew up with the old jazz and blues music of Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson and Louis Armstrong and was musically influenced by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Stones, Beatles and Bob Dylan. In his 50-year career he toured with many "greats", such as Ike & Tina Turner, Gregg Allman, J Geils Band, Jeff Healey and James Cotton. Songwriter/(slide) guitarist John Campbelljohn grew up with music. From an early age he played guitar and immersed himself in blues and roots artists such as Son House, Fred McDowell, Robert Johnson and BB King. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, he traveled around Canada. Meanwhile, Campbelljohn has been a worldwide touring artist for over 40 years, winning multiple awards (including Maple Blues Awards, East Coast Music Awards, Real Blues Awards, Music Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year, Blues Recording of the Year, Musician of the Year, ...). Campbelljohn has already shared the stage with Sting, Joni Mitchell, Emmy Lou Harris, Leonard Cohen, Robben Ford, Alvin Lee and others. Campbelljohn has already recorded fourteen albums and was recently in the studio with Wayne Nicholson. Their common album is called "Elmore's Blues".vWayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn have curated and recorded a masterful tribute to legendary bluesman, Elmore James. "Elmore's Blues" is a loving tribute to Elmore James with veteran Halifax singer Wayne Nicholson. Barry Cooke is at the piano, Kim Dunn on organ, Bruce Dixon bass and Neil Robertson, drums. These players have lived and breathed this music all their lives and it shows. "Elmore's Blues" is a spirited and loving tribute to the slide master, it has a sort of rustic, rugged feel, and I'd even go as far as to say Elmore himself would approve of how they've handled his legacy. Wayne Nicholson and John Campbelljohn's latest album, Elmore's Blues, an homage to Elmore James. Featuring twelve commendable covers and two original tunes ("If I Was Blue" and the closer, "Dancin' with the Blues,") it celebrates James' most renowned work with the casual zest of a backyard barbecue. Some tracks are more flavorful than others ("I Believe," "Rollin' and Tumblin'," "Sinful Woman" and "Sunnyland"), but on the whole, these two have nailed it. Nicholson's robust vocals and Campbelljohn's storied guitar work, it's a must for die-hards. Wayne Nicholson has long been considered one of Atlantic Canada's greatest blues-rock vocalists, often compared to legends such as Paul Rodgers, Jim Morrison and David Clayton-Thomas. Having grown up with the sounds of early jazz and blues, Nicholson evolved into his own musician with a unique understanding of the genre. With a career spanning fifty years, he recorded eight albums, touring with artists such as Ike and Tina Turner, Gregg Allman, James Cotton, Jeff Healey, and more. As for John Campbelljohn, he's a multiple award winner that includes wins and nominations for Maple Blues Awards, East Cost Music Awards, Real Blues Awards, and other plaudits. He's recorded and released fourteen albums and has been featured on numerous others throughout his career. This is essentially a duo album, as depicted on the CD jacket cover and the middle inside flap. Nicholson stars on vocals and flute for "Strange Kind of Feeling." John Campbelljohn takes center stage on guitar. Joining them are Bruce Dixon on bass, Neil Robertson on drums, Barry Cooke on piano, and Kim Dunn on organ. How well do the two original tracks fit into the overall repertoire of Elmore James songs ? In a word, perfectly. "If I Was Blue" boasts a killer slide guitar intro with melodic beauty throughout the entire number. Nicholson's vocals are full of vim and vigor, well-suited to the heartache of the narrator. "Dancin' with the Blues" will make listeners get off their seat and on their feet, ending this CD with a memorable bang. Barry Cooke's piano and Bruce Dixon's bass sound terrific here, and Neil Robertson's drums provide a swinging mid-tempo beat. Elmore James would be mighty proud of his two aficionados and their feisty "fan blues" tribute !

1 I May Be Wrong Written-By - Johnny Jones 3:12

2 Standing At The Crossroads Written-By - Elmore James, Joe Bihari 2:49

3 I Believe Written-By - Elmore James 4:20

4 If I Was Blue Written-By - John Campbelljohn, Wayne Nicholson 3:33

5 Knocking At Your Door Written-By - Elmore James 3:31

6 No Love In My Heart Written-By - Joe Bihari 2:39

7 Rollin' And Tumblin' Written-By - Elmore James 3:17

8 Sinful Woman Written-By - Elmore James, Saul Bihari 4:22

9 Happy Home Written-By - Josea 3:38

10 Shake Your Money Maker Written-By - Elmore James 2:52

11 Sunnyland Written-By - Elmore James, Joe Bihari 4:01

12 Stange Kinda Feeling Written-By - Elmore James, Joe Bihari 2:51