ON SALE NOW:
There is perhaps no more singular musical device in American music than the guitar solo. From Charlie Christian to John Mayer the guitar solo remains the central stylistic showcase in the popular idiom. Whether it is Jimi Hendrix famously dismantling the national anthem at Woodstock or Jimmy Page dive-bombing on Whole Lotta Love, when we listen to jazz, rock, funk, country or soul the guitar solo stands tall. In fact, this album was in part made to honor the man, who more than any other made this form of self-expression a reality, his name was Lonnie Johnson.Lonnie Johnson is credited by serious historians as being the first person to record a single note guitar solo. Period. Before anyone else laid one down, there was Lonnie, leaning against the door staring back and saying "I was there first." That is quite a distinction and strangely as monumental as it is, almost nobody seems to know it. In releasing Rediscovering Lonnie Johnson it is hoped that the record, so to speak, will finally be set straight.The album features a talented cast of musicians, nearly all of them with roots in the Philadelphia music scene. This is where Lonnie spent the penultimate chapter of his life and additionally was the place where he reemerged after a long hiatus toiling in obscurity as a porter in a downtown hotel. Blues Anatomy, a staple of the local landscape was selected to perform on the majority of the tracks. But in that most essential role of lead guitarist, Jef Lee Johnson, a semi-reclusive legend among musicians around the world was asked to take center stage. Jef jumped at the chance to do justice to a fellow Johnson from Philly and the electrifying results speak for themselves. In addition to this core ensemble another Philly guitar legend, Joe Mass, composed a slide guitar composition specifically for the album (“Ben Franklin Hotel Bluesâ€). Finally, after consulting with fellow producer Joe Boyd, Aaron Levinson brought in (the Lonnie Johnson inspired) Geoff Muldaur to lend his inimitable magic to the blues classic "He’s A Jelly Roll Baker".Most of these songs were composed by the man himself and all were recorded by him (with the exception of the tribute track by Joe Mass). Whether it was in a duet with South Philly musical monster Eddie Lang, or in the big band of Duke Ellington or finally with Louis Armstrong, the greatest soloist in the history of Jazz, Lonnie Johnson as a singer, composer, guitarist and pioneer is one of the giants of American music. It is hoped that in some small way this project will help cement his reputation as one of a glittering handful of people that permanently altered and enriched our unique cultural history and by extension, that of the entire world.___________________________________________________*Pr
oduced by Aaron Luis Levinson -- Engineered by Brian Ritrovato -- Mixed and Mastered by Phil Nicolo*
