Gaslighter's Ball (feat. Joanna Connor)

#135 in the Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumental Series, Gaslighter's Ball, features the ferocious slide guitar playing of Joanna Connor. Born in Brooklyn NY, raised in Worcester MA, and then at 22 arriving in Chicago where she remains to this day, Joanna has burned her way to the top of the Blues heap. She has shared stages with legends like; James Cotton, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and A.C. Reed, made thirteen albums over twenty-five years, including her most recent, 4801 South Indiana Avenue produced by Joe Bonamassa, has toured the world, and oh yeah, she's managed to raise two kids in the process. Joanna cut this track on one of the coldest days of 2019 in Chicago and when we got the tracks back and I got done comping I sent Joanna an mp3 for her approval with a note just saying "It sure wasn’t cold in that studio" to which she replied "damn". I took that as the ultimate approval. So, here I present to you one of the stompin'est blues assaults I've ever been involved with, and remember if it isn't dangerous it probably isn't rock and roll. Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Rich Kirch (John Lee Hooker 1984-2001) on rhythm guitar, Andrew Guterman (Rick Estrin) on drums and myself on bass. The track was recorded at Skunkworks in Capitola CA, Joanna's son, J Mixx's studio in Chicago, and diabolically mixed and mastered by the Supreme Ruler of Greaseland, Christoffer "Kid" Andersen.

Lizard Brain (feat. Ryan Cavanaugh)

#135 in the Need To Know Badass Blues Instrumental Series, Lizard Brain, features the stunningly virtuosic banjo playing of Ryan Cavanaugh. A child prodigy and a protege of both legendary Jazz saxophonist Bill Evans, and THE father of fusion guitar, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Ryan is all about the music. The care and interest that he put into his contribution to this track was above and beyond the call of duty. And the performance that he has delivered here is at least, otherworldly. Maybe it's the combination of his North Carolina and New Jersey upbringing that informs the bluegrass meets hyperspace jazz rock shredability that Ryan possesses. I mean, WTF?...this is a five-string banjo! This quote from No Depression magazine sums it up; "the ambitious and musically relentless Ryan Cavanaugh is the most versatile banjo player in the world whose name isn’t Fleck…He can play anything, and he’s proven he’s crafty enough to impress John-Oh-My-God-McLaughlin.” Ryan has performed with Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, John Popper, Victor Wooten, Dennis Chambers, Warren Haynes and Robben Ford to name a few. A relative young'n, Ryan continues to play shows and make records...we can only imagine, or maybe we can't, where he's going to take it. And Mr. McLaughlin, if you're reading this, we have a track waiting just for you! Enjoy!

The backing band on this track is Oakland Born/Nashville residing, funky AF, Derrek Phillips, (Gloria Gaynor, Robben Ford, Charlie Hunter) on drums, and myself on rhythm guitar and bass. The track was recorded at NTA, South San Francisco, The Phamily Room, Nashville TN, and Ryan's home studio, also in Nashville TN. Mellifluously mixed and mastered by the infamous F-Bomb.