Hats off to Adam and all involved at what turned out to be a fantastic event. All "virgin" events have problems, but this one soaked em up and kept on groovin.
I was released from the hospital on Monday after battling these damn stomach ulcers. Late night blues, ribs, a little shine, etc..etc.. I guess caught up with me finally...not to mention my addiction to that fine southern healer..the Goody powder.
Anyway, I didn't decide to go until Wednesday evening and I'm sure glad I did.
Adam kicked it off Friday night at Rooster's Blueshouse with a killer set, followed by Deak rockin the house. I was a little surprised that Adam called me up next to jam, but it turned out to be the adrenaline rush that got me thru the weekend. Thanks Adam. My one song, while feeling a little queezy, made me wonder how many of the old blues guys have played very sick, all night long, because they had no choice...sounds like another thread maybe.
Anyway, ALL performers were very impressive!!...but if one guy stood out in my mind it was Johnny Sansone. This guy really feels the blues and takes you along with him. WOW!
Made some great friends and already looking forward to next year.
What was amazing about Johnny's performances was that his was not paid. He did it for the love of the Music, the love of other Harmonica players, and because he is just a good guy. Ask the 7th Dave.
Make sure you buy his CDs, because they will blow you away, and make sure you come to New Orleans and see one of his show.
Ditto that. Johnny's a solid entertainer and multi-instrumentalist. I know a few people who have seen Johnny at shows and had no idea he even played harmonica! The man has a great voice and can also tear up an accordion. I'm glad he was able to go up to Hill Country and garner some new fans, as well as some serious respect. ---------- Todd L Greene. V.P.
Definitely, Harvey. Spending that little bit of time with him is something I'll never forget. I just listened to the CD he gave me and was completely blown away. Along with everything else, the man's a true poet. My friends are going to be hearing about Johnny Sansone.
Last Edited by on May 25, 2010 1:39 PM
Johnny came for free. He got wind of the event about eight weeks out and asked to be included. At that point it wasn't clear how we were going to do and we just didn't have the budget. So we put him on the bill, gave him a spot in which to blow, and gave him no other official duties.
We ended up paying him--not nearly what he is worth, but something. He never asked, but there was no way we couldn't throw him some cash after the way he played on Saturday night.
Last Edited by on May 25, 2010 2:58 PM
did not know about johnny sansone before but know him now great vocalist,harp player and guitar player he probably could play drums and keyboard he is a great player
I agree Johnny's preformance was steller and I'm glad he got paid. The gesture of playing for free really say's a lot to me. I was fortunate enough to get to play the harp while Johnny played guitar and sang. I hope some one got a picture cause I didn't! I think Johnny's Chromatic preformance at the end of his set really blew every one away, I was stunned for one and the others just had their jaws hanging open. Damm , he poured out his heart and soul right there on stage. I'll be truthfull, I had never heard of this guy before but I can tell you this, I'll never forget him now. If I ever see he's playing close to where I'm at I'll make damm sure I go see him! Hey Johnny, come on over to the Beaumont area we need entertainers like you over here. lastly, thanks to Adam for getting HCH up and going. Mike
Adam, thanks for hooking Johnny up with some cash!
Most of you have seen many harp shows. I've seen many by Johnny but never have I ever seen something as heart felt as those few songs he poured out Saturday night. It was truly mind altering for me. No hooch, no drug, no beer, no woman (well maybe not woman, and i don't do drugs) could give me the feeling he gave me Saturday night!
Had a great time this weekend, the event was better than I imagined! A really well-organized deal. All of the performers were fantastic, but Johnny Sansone blew me away! I have been wearing out his C.D. (I had a 12 hour drive home, so I grooved on a bunch of music)
Kyzer, Shredder, Kingobad, I really enjoyed hanging out with you guys, we'll do it again.
Beltone: I agree with you. I've seen a lot of great players, up close and personal. Johnny's performance had that something extra that made it truly memorable. He was blowing through my mic and small amps--the HG2 and the Premier--miked up through the PA, and I have to say: part of the magic was the fact that he was getting a sound that inspired him; a sound that gave him some dynamic range to work with. But as you know, a thousand harp players can be presented with a given "sound" and only a couple of them are capable, in that context, of throwing something down that makes your jaw drop. I saw William Clarke like that on at least two occasions; Cotton on several occasions; and Butterfield on one occasion. The thing about Johnny is, he was drawing on a whole lifetime of experience, and he knew how to take advantage of everything at his fingertips--the sound, the band, the audience of crazed harp players.
I told him later that I hadn't heard anything like that since William Clarke and he said, "I learned from William Clarke and George Smith."
Johnny did a Sonny Boy riff that James Cotton uses from time to time: a triplet that consists of three notes: 4b, 4d rolled off into a bend, 3d, with the second note on the downbeat. It's not hard to rip into the lick and groove it solidly on the beat. But Cotton takes it beyond that by speeding up and slowing down the lick, floating it in front of and behind the beat, and messing with time. Johnny did that, and he did it BETTER than Cotton, with more English, so to speak, on the float. That is way advanced harp. I can hear it, I can gesture at it, but I can't do it with that kind of finesse, and there may not be anybody alive who can do it the way Johnny did it. I saw him at Jazzfest on the big blues stage and he was very good, but I honestly didn't know he was THAT good.
It's all on the video. pharpo, I think you need to post something by Johnny Sansone.
Last Edited by on May 26, 2010 6:08 PM
johnny and terry both had that one song they did where they just absolutely tore it up...on fucking fire... lit the night up. made everyone in the room stop talking with one another, jaws dropped... just an awesome spectacle to behold. pure passion oozing out of the PA...
adam, get terry back next year...and especially...get johnny back next year, i want to see more of those men... ---------- Kyzer's Travels Kyzer's Artwork
I have it on a digital recorder which I listened to on the way home. Unfreakinbelievable. You can't even approximate what it was like live, but the recording is still jaw dropping.
Like I said in another thread the performances alone were worth the drive. And yeah, Johnny Sansone touched me. On Sunday I went up to him and asked if he had a CD for sale. He went back to his RV and found a stack. Haven't been able to listen to the CD yet as I need to rip it before I can play it... :-( Can't wait to listen to it in the Seattle rain. Yeah, my lovely wife says it has been pouring.
had I known johnny was there with no pay I would have passed the hat-it was good that adam was able to work out an arrangement to pay him I want all these folks back next year along with maybe madcat ruth
Jeff and I actually planned to pass the hat, but after Johnny played I told him not to. I decided that since most attendees didn't know that Johnny was playing for free--i.e., not on our official payroll--passing the hat would embarrass him. It would potentially bring him down a notch in the eyes of registrants who might otherwise see him as an integral (and suitably-paid) part of the ticket.
So I told Jeff, "Don't pass the hat. We're just going to pay him." That's the truth.
Don't get me wrong: I'm a big believer in passing the hat. I'm a former busker. I've worked lots of gigs where the hat was part of the deal. But I didn't want Jeff and me to look like cheapskates, and I didn't want Johnny to look like a guy who was so hungry to play that he'd play for free. Neither thing was the truth, but appearances have a way of playing havoc with the truth. So now you know..........the rest of the story.
Last Edited by on May 27, 2010 1:59 PM
Loved Corn Whiskey and loved Johnny Sansone's CD as well. I highly recommend purchasing it! Didn't know anything about him but was blown away by his performance. It was the first CD I listened to when I hit the highway. I don't know if it was the after shock from the incredible experience, lack of sleep, or just Johnny's heartfelt poetry about Katrina but it brought me close to tears. Hearing the story of him coming for free makes his appearance that much more special. Adam, I'm glad you were able to get him a little cabbage. Classy move IMHO.
BOR - I've been trying to upload it but youtube is being fussy. Hope to have it up today on the vid / photo thread. ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
