Jumpin' Johnny Sansone
WATERMELON PATCH
Bullseye 9615
visit Johnny's website
also available on amazon
This is the finest disc Johnny has done to date, and it would be a very outstanding disc no matter who had done it. This is get up and move your body music from all the years of playing that preceded this disc. Johnny was considered a master of the hard-core Chicago blues before he ever settled into this Gulf Coast area. He had been selected by Ronnie Earl to play the harp with the Broadcasters while they backed such power hitters as Jimmy Rogers and Hubert Sumlin. When he moved into the Crescent City area he rapidly assimilated many of the genres percolating in that gumbo pot of musical styles. Before you get the idea this is one from this column and A from column B, stop, this is a well put together disc, each song stands on its own and they also flow effortlessly as a group from one to the next. Johnny has been voted outstanding harp player in the annual Offbeat poll for the past year. He demonstrates why his brand of music is in such high demand on this disc. He uses his all the weapons at his disposal to make this a top flight disc. He not only employed some of the finest people from New Orleans to play on the disc, but has gotten excellent performances from them. Then there are the more tangible assets he brings to this disc. He has crafted some excellent songs, that display the variety of the music he plays, and he brings his stellar harp playing, excellent, and still improving accordion work, and his very expressive voice to augment the tightly woven material on display. His selection of a rhythm section of Drummer Kenneth Blevins and Dave Ranson on bass gives an indication of where this disc is going. They have backed John Hiatt on his SLOW TURNING album, and worked with others such as guitar whiz, Sonny Landreth. John Cleary and Joe Krown on keyboards, both 'emerging' stars on their own, and the sax work of Joe Cabral and Derek Huston of the Iguanas, help fill out the line up that helps long time friend and collaborator Ric Olivarez, on guitar and slide, round out the sound here. Before you think this is all loud and shout music, stop and listen to the beautiful and expressive THE BRIDGE, which does choke me up each time I hear it. This is a disc that is a welcome addition to any collection, especially one that loves fine music from the Southern Louisiana area.
Produced by - Johnny Sansone
Songs, players, and times - All songs written by Johnny Sansone
1 THINK OF ME - 2:48
Johnny Sansone - vocals & accordion
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Cabral - tenor sax
Derek Huston - tenor sax
Duke Heitger - trumpet
Eric Lucero - rub board
2 WATERMELON PATCH - 3:58
Johnny Sansone - vocals & harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Jon Cleary - piano
3 LOOK AT US NOW - 3:23
Johnny Sansone - vocals & harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Cabral - tenor sax
Derek Huston - tenor sax
Duke Heitger - trumpet
Joe Krown - B-3 organ
4 QUAGMIRE - 3:53
Johnny Sansone - chromatic harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Jon Cleary - piano & percussion
5 COMIN' FOR SURE - 3:53
Johnny Sansone - vocals & accordion
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
6 MON FLEUR - 2:54
Johnny Sansone - vocals & accordion
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Cabral - tenor sax
Eric Lucero - rub board
7 THE BRIDGE - 5:08
Johnny Sansone - vocals & accordion
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Cabral - tenor sax
Derek Huston - tenor sax
Duke Heitger - trumpet
Joe Krown - B-3 organ
8 PIG'S FEET & TAILMEAT - 3:01
Johnny Sansone - chromatic harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
9 CIVILIZED CITY - 4:09
Johnny Sansone - vocals & harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Krown - piano
10 LOVELINE - 4:07
Johnny Sansone - vocals & harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Cabral - tenor sax
Derek Huston - tenor sax
Duke Heitger - trumpet
Joe Krown - B-3 organ
11 UPSIDE OF LOW DOWN - 4:05
Johnny Sansone - vocals & harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Jon Cleary - piano
12 STINK BAIT - 2:46
Johnny Sansone - chromatic harmonica
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
13 NEUTRAL GROUND - 5:24
Johnny Sansone - vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar & percussion
Rick Olivarez - guitar & slide guitar
Kenneth Blevins - drums
Dave Ranson - bass
Joe Krown - B-3 organ