BLUES BLAST review for Jimmy Johnson

APRIL 12, 2020 BY JOHN MITCHELL

Jimmy Johnson – Every Day Of Your Life

Delmark – 2020

9 tracks; 45 minutes

The four covers are well selected and feature some strong performances. BB King’s ‘I Need You So Bad’ has wonderful piano by Roosevelt and Jimmy makes his guitar sing in BB style. Fenton Robinson’s ‘Somebody Loan Me A Dime’ has been covered many times (not least by Boz Scaggs featuring a young Duane Allman) and is always enjoyable to hear; Jimmy wrings the emotion out of the vocal lines but also plays exquisitely here. Percy Mayfield’s ‘Strange Things Happening’ is the slow blues here with plenty of space for Jimmy’s guitar and Roosevelt’s piano. Perhaps the best is saved for last with Jimmy sat alone at the piano for a moving version of ‘Lead Me On’, best known from Bobby Bland’s version.

Having seen Jimmy live at the Blues Blast Awards in 2018 (when he was given a Lifetime Achievement award) and at his regular Sunday session at Lagunitas Brewery in Chicago I know that he still performs brilliantly. This album would come highly recommended whoever had recorded it, it’s that good. The fact that Jimmy has recorded a disc like this at 91 years young is staggering – and in just three sessions too. This superb album should be on every blues fan’s shopping list and will be on many ‘Best Of’ lists at the end of the year.

http://www.bluesblastmagazine.com/jimmy-johnson-every-day-of-your-life-album-review/

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