As I just translated Eric Doidy's review of John-Alex's new CD he wrote for Soul Bag, I figured I might as well share it with the rest of you here :
**** (4 stars out of 5)
"John-Alex Mason is a young musician with several CDs under his belt who often performs as a one-man band. Let's tell it straight, this disc had the effect of a bomb on me! Among others, Mason is accompanied by the talented multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hundt (harmonica, mandolin, 9 strings guitar) whom he's been recording with for a long time now, as well as by the Burnside gang from Mississippi : drummer Cedric, rapper Cody, and the "added piece" Lightnin' Malcom on guitar and bass. If the CD starts well but in a rather classic way in the Hill Country Blues style, things start getting real serious with the second track, Gone So Long, were fearsome riffs, proud vocals with rap additions, killer rhythm section and unexpected instruments (violin & djembe) mix. A couple of tracks later, Riding On picks up on the same formula, adds some balafon and power : the listener is won. Alternating beautiful originals in the americana songwriter way and Fred McDowell inspired contemporary blues (Write Me A Few Of Your Lines), even allowing itself a version of Signifying Monkey that would make Skip McDonald of Little Axe proud, the album flows straight with the pleasure of hearing musicians with things to say. The success is collective, but Mason, vocally credible, is someone to be counted for as the equal of the likes of Alvin Youngblood Hart, the North Mississippi Allstars, Afrissippi or Moreland & Arbuckle. The instant favorite* of the year's first quarter for me, because of its freshness, but also because it shows the blues keeps irrigating Mississippi land and beyond. The CD has 10 tracks but the booklet mentions 12 : the intro and conclusion are to be downloaded from the artist's website
Eric Doidy" .
* sorry, I couldn't think of a proper English equivalent for the French expression "coup de coeur" which litterally translate to "a hit to the heart". It means something like love at first sight, except for things instead of people.
In case you'd wonder, yes, I do know Eric Doidy : he's a young scientist (in his mid 30's) and has been a contributor to Soul Bag and other French blues mags for over 10 years now.
He's - very - knowledgeable in blues thanks to his father's large records collection and attends live blues and soul as often as he can.
**** (4 stars out of 5)
"John-Alex Mason is a young musician with several CDs under his belt who often performs as a one-man band. Let's tell it straight, this disc had the effect of a bomb on me! Among others, Mason is accompanied by the talented multi-instrumentalist Gerry Hundt (harmonica, mandolin, 9 strings guitar) whom he's been recording with for a long time now, as well as by the Burnside gang from Mississippi : drummer Cedric, rapper Cody, and the "added piece" Lightnin' Malcom on guitar and bass. If the CD starts well but in a rather classic way in the Hill Country Blues style, things start getting real serious with the second track, Gone So Long, were fearsome riffs, proud vocals with rap additions, killer rhythm section and unexpected instruments (violin & djembe) mix. A couple of tracks later, Riding On picks up on the same formula, adds some balafon and power : the listener is won. Alternating beautiful originals in the americana songwriter way and Fred McDowell inspired contemporary blues (Write Me A Few Of Your Lines), even allowing itself a version of Signifying Monkey that would make Skip McDonald of Little Axe proud, the album flows straight with the pleasure of hearing musicians with things to say. The success is collective, but Mason, vocally credible, is someone to be counted for as the equal of the likes of Alvin Youngblood Hart, the North Mississippi Allstars, Afrissippi or Moreland & Arbuckle. The instant favorite* of the year's first quarter for me, because of its freshness, but also because it shows the blues keeps irrigating Mississippi land and beyond. The CD has 10 tracks but the booklet mentions 12 : the intro and conclusion are to be downloaded from the artist's website
Eric Doidy" .
* sorry, I couldn't think of a proper English equivalent for the French expression "coup de coeur" which litterally translate to "a hit to the heart". It means something like love at first sight, except for things instead of people.
In case you'd wonder, yes, I do know Eric Doidy : he's a young scientist (in his mid 30's) and has been a contributor to Soul Bag and other French blues mags for over 10 years now.
He's - very - knowledgeable in blues thanks to his father's large records collection and attends live blues and soul as often as he can.
