Carlos Johnson

Carlos Johnson - In And Out - 2004 - Mister Kelly's

Carlos Johnson is a fine blues singer who is an even better guitarist. On this Japanese release, Johnson and his excellent working group play a variety of material including classic blues, some soul, blues ballads and R&B-ish vamps. His heart is primarily in the blues and every note he plays is bluesy. This is excellent party music that also rewards a close listen. Among the high points are "Blues Man," "Leaving on the Next Train," "Spirit," Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway" and "Delta Blues." © Scott Yanow, All Music Guide © 2010 Answers Corporation http://www.answers.com/topic/in-and-out-blues-album

Chicago bluesman, Carlos Johnson will celebrate the release of In And Out with a CD Party at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Wabash Avenue November 27/04. Originally scheduled for release only in Japan, Southport Records have decided to make it available in North America as well. Johnson has a faithful group of fans in Japan since touring there with B.B.Kinga dozen years ago. He will shortly appear at the Half Note in Greece with the Matthew Skoller Blues Band. Mister Kelly’s Records is a natural offshoot of the nightclub of the same name in Osaka. It seemed logical for the Japanese producers to record Carlos Johnson on his home turf. Akira Sakurai and Hideaki Tanaka arranged to hold the session at the studios of Sparrow Sound. Johnson is a Chicago native and was born in the Windy City in 1948. He was only entering his teens when he played his first paying gig. At that time, he idolized Jimmy Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Later influences were Otis Rush, Albert King, Elmore James and T-Bone Walker. He is now a regular at such Chicago hotspots as Katerina’s, B.L.U.E.S., Rosa’s Lounge and Buddy Guy’s. The guitarist sometimes appears with harp player Billy Branch and the two turned out a CD together. In And Out finds Johnson in the company of friends Roosevelt Purifoy, Linard Stroud , Sam Green and Jesse Cross. Together, they launch into several Carlos Johnson originals, one by Al Green and a glorious version of Big Bill Broonzy’s Key To The Highway. Broonzy first recorded the tune in 1941 and the Johnson outfit does it justice on this CD. The leader’s vibrant guitar really stands out on the eight minute track. Al Green’s It Ain’t No Fun To Me gets an equally spirited treatment by the quartet. The leader’s own songs echo the urban blues traditions of Chicago. The title tune, In And Out and Spirit truly reflect Johnson’s versatility. It’s contemporary and exciting! © 1997 - 2010. All Rights Reserved. jazzreview.com ® / jazzpreview.com ® http://www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm?ID=8129

Chicago born Carlos Johnson made a great comment during an interview, in which he said that "I feel sorry for the people who can technically play, but don't have any emotion. Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Hendricks couldn't read". " In And Out" shows plenty of passion and emotion. The relatively unknown Carlos Johnsos has a unique baritone voice infused with deep soul and blues, as is his beautiful guitar style. A very good album with a great variance in styles, from the soul of Al Green's "It Ain’t No Fun To Me" to the "Gospelly" Willie Broonzy and Charles Segar's "Key To The Highway" to the New Orleans soul blues shuffle of "Do Do Do".Some of Carlos' albums are only available as expensive Japanese imports. Buy his great "My Name Is Carlos Johnson" album, if you can find it at a reasonable price.

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Blues Man - Carlos Johnson
Leaving On The Next Train - Carlos Johnson
Don’t Ever Leave Me - J.W. Williams
It Ain’t No Fun To Me - Al Green
In And Out - Carlos Johnson
Spirit - Carlos Johnson
You Need a Man - Jim Messina
Key To The Highway - Willie Broonzy, Charles Segar
Lisa - Carlos Johnson
Do Do Do - Carlos Johnson
Delta Blues - Carlos Johnson

MUSICIANS

Carlos Johnson - guitar, vocals
Sam Green - bass
Roosevelt Purifoy - keyboards
Linard Stroud - drums
Jesse Cross - background vocals

BIO (WIKIPEDIA)

Carlos Johnson (born January 17, 1953, Chicago, Illinois) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is left-handed, but plays a right-handed instrument upside-down like players such as Otis Rush and Albert King. Johnson is known for his aggressive playing which has attracted audiences in Chicago blue scene since the 1970s. He has played on recordings of notable musicians including Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and Son Seals. In 1989, he made is first tour to Japan with Valerie Wellington, and caught attention of the Japanese blues fans. He revisited the country in 2004 as a supporting guitarist for Otis Rush who became unable to play the guitar due to the stroke he suffered earlier that year. These concerts helped him build a fan base in Japan. Though he has been active since the 1970s, he had to wait until 2000 to release an album under his own name. That year saw the release of his debut CD My Name Is Carlos Johnson recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina from local Blues Special label. He was featured on Billy Branch 's CD Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues featuring Carlos Johnson released in 2002. Johnson also made an album as a duo with Branch titled Don't Mess with the Bluesmen in 2004. Another CD In and Out from Mr. Kelly's Records followed the same year. In 2007, he released a live album Live At B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted recorded in Chicago. He toured Japan as a solo artist in 2007 and 2009.