Bernard Allison

Bernard Allison - Keepin' the Blues Alive - 1997 - Cannonball Records

Using a group of hand-picked Chicago musicians he was friendly with, and borrowed equipment, Bernard Allison recorded his stunning U.S. debut, Keepin' the Blues Alive. The album was released early in 1997, perfectly blending traditional post-WWII Chicago blues with a few blues-rock riffs from the 1970s and '80s thrown in. Songs like "Young Boy's Blues," "When I'm Lonely" and "Tell Me Why" demonstrate a refreshing approach to blues songwriting reminiscent of Louisiana bluesman Larry Garner. © Richard Skelly © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/keepin-the-blues-alive-r279351

Amid all the daily pop culture pressures to be the next American Idol why does Bernard stay rooted in the blues? "The blues is my roots. Regardless of how far outside of the blues I reach for tones, I can't ever leave the blues. Whenever I play, all those guitar parts are Luther Allison coming through me. My dad was the same way, he wasn't all blues. He loved Otis Redding or Chuck Berry. I'm just showing where my influences come from. And respecting the people who got me to this point." © www.rufrecords.de/

Great modern Chicago style blues rock album in the "less is more" fashion from the great Chicago guitarist, Bernard Allison. The album title means what it says and it's great to hear the old cliche put into practice. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Buy his outstanding "The Otherside" album and check out his "Higher Power" album @ BERNALL/HIPO

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. Baby Chile - Bernard Allison ( 4'40" )
2. Tell Me Why - Bernard Allison ( 4'26" )
3. Walkin' - Bernard Allison ( 3'30" )
4. Young Boy's Blues - Bernard Allison ( 6'28" )
5. In the Open - Freddie King, Sonny Thompson ( 4'16" )
6. You Gave Me the Blues - Bernard Allison ( 4'32" )
7. Home Goin' - Traditional ( 5'43" )
8. When I'm Lonely - Bernard Allison ( 3'20" )
9. A Change Must Come - Luther Allison ( 4'56" )
10. Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenson ( 3'41" )
11. Garbage Man - Aaron Burton ( 6'50" )

MUSICIANS

Bernard Allison - Guitar,Slide Guitar, Vocals
Will Crosby - Rhythm Guitar, Solo Interlude on "Garbage Man"
Greg Rzab - Fender Bass
Ron Levy - Acoustic Piano, Hammond B3 Organ
Ray "Killer" Allison - Drums
Matthew Skoller - Harmonica on "Baby Chile", and "Rocket 88"
Ray C.Drain - Vocal on "Home Goin'"

BIO

Bernard Allison is the guitar-playing, singing, and songwriting son of late legendary blues guitarist Luther Allison. True to form for this chip off the old block, the young Allison injects every bit as much energy into his live shows as his father did. Bernard counts among his influences icons like Albert King, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King, and later, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Johnny Winter. He began accompanying his famous father to blues festivals in the early '70s. There, he was introduced to a who's who of Chicago blues stars: Muddy Waters, Hound Dog Taylor, and Albert King, among others. When he was seven or eight, he began having aspirations of becoming a guitar slinger like his father. Luther Allison was more than just a casual record collector, and so Bernard benefited from his father and brothers' collections of classic blues and gospel. After graduating from high school, Bernard began playing with Koko Taylor in her touring band. He stayed with Taylor's band until 1985, when he left to hustle up his own gigs as Bernard Allison & Back Talk. Bernard spent a lot of time in Canada with his first band, and later rejoined Taylor and her Blues Machine for another two years in the late '80s. After joining his father in Europe for a live recording, Bernard was asked to join Luther's touring band and become his European bandleader. Luther helped his son along with the finer points of showmanship for several years until Bernard was good enough to lead his own trio or quartet. At Christmastime in 1989, while both were living together in Paris, the elder Allison arranged to give his son the most precious gift for budding musicians: studio time to record his first album. Bernard's debut, Next Generation, was recorded for Mondo Records using musicians from his dad's band. His other European label releases include Hang On, No Mercy, and Funkifino. In December 1996, Bernard was contacted by Cannonball Records founder Ron Levy. Bernard was home in Chicago visiting family at Christmas, and hadn't brought any of his guitars or other equipment with him. Levy wanted something based in traditional electric blues, with a few bones for newer fans of the idiom who had jumped on the blues bandwagon after 1990. Bernard released his stunning U.S. debut, Keepin' the Blues Alive, in early 1997, receiving a great deal of critical acclaim. On his successful tour of clubs around the U.S. in the latter half of 1997, Bernard was joined by drummer Ray "Killer" Allison (no relation) and Buddy Guy bassist Greg Rzab, among others. Times Are Changing followed a year later. In mid-2000, Across the Water was released. Based in Paris full-time, Bernard Allison has the comfort and security that the multitude of blues clubs and festivals around Europe can provide. © Richard Skelly © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-allison-p37004/biography



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Born in Chicago on November 26th, 1965, the youngest of nine children Bernard Allison was first introduced to the roots of black music and the art of the electric guitar by his father, the late great Luther Allison. Bernard made his first appearance on record at age 13, when he played on a live LP his father recorded in Peoria, IL. "I didn't start to play 'til I was maybe 10 years of age" Bernard recalled "I picked up the guitar, listened to records. I was in grade school and I played with the high school jazz band. They thought I was reading the sheet music, but actually I was making up everything I could play." Soon after graduating from High School, he began a three-year guitar apprenticeship in Koko Taylor's high-flying Blues Machine. He also played in the late Willie Dixon's Blues All-Stars and performed with his Dad at the 1983 Blues Festival - one of the event's highlights. Along the way, Bernard picked up slide guitar tips from Johnny Winter and in the 80's also learned from the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. With those experiences under his belt, Bernard moved to Paris in 1989 to live and play the blues with his father. He joined the tourband of Luther Allison after a furious collaboration of "Father & Son" at the '89 Chicago Blues Festival. A recording of this formation is to be heard on the Luther Allison album "Let's Try It again" (RUF Records). Bernard released his first solo album in 1990 with the significant title "The Next Generation". In 1999, two years after Luther passed away, Bernard decided to move back to the States to go back to his roots and push his career in his native country. Bernard seems to have inherited Luther's knack for igniting audiences, but he's no clone of his famous father. He is definitely blazing his own path with a style that reflects a unique mix of traditional and modern influences. The Allison torch has been passed, and it's clear that Bernard takes his role as its bearer very seriously. He's assumed the challenge of keeping the blues alive and growing - a commitment he renews every time he takes the stage. Bernard totes the same smokin' six string shooter that his late father Luther Allison assaulted the blues with. And he is blessed with his father's soulful voice, spiritual devotion, and a musical freedom which experiments with the blues. "In order for anything to expand, you have to take a risk," says Bernard. "Blues is about experimenting and getting your feelings across to someone else. And if you want to keep it going, people are going to have to give it all a chance because we're losing all our creators.It has taken Bernard a long time to feel free to talk or write a song about what's going on within him or his personal tragedies. After decades of chasing the muse, Bernard is now settled down raising a family without the old personal vices. Thus the music he's written speaks of the inner peace and companionship every human searches for. If Bernard's honesty touches just one person with a similar struggles then the power of the blues works. Then Bernard becomes the higher power by healing another troubled soul. "I've been through a lot since the passing of my father. I'm married and I have started my own family. This music comes from everyday responsibility and lifestyle". © www.rufrecords.de/