Howlin Jack and The Alligators

Jack is currently living in the backwoods of Missouri; creating new material and playing shows on the chittlin circuit. Bluesplayer and protege' of the late John Campbell. His new material is reflective of his blues evolution and musical journey. Often drawing on his personal experiences and life observations; his new album to be released in Spring of 2009, will reflect that growth. Stay tuned friends and fans. "Howlin Jack" so nicknamed by Australia's premier guitarist "Mauri Berg" has come into his own right by determination and grit and by honing his chops with the likes of Missouri's Ron Conkin and a melting pot of talented players from Missouri's river bottom which includes the Great Bo Ramsey, T-Bone Mcpherson, David Daniels, and others. In this cookie cutter world of blues wanna-be's Jack has earned the right to be on the forefront of the blues field. Honing his chops and carrying on the true tradition of the one, four , five but with a twist. Injecting his raw energy into his live performances and connecting with his audiences on a personal level; on any given night, he might jump off the stage and wail right in your face or grab the mike and howl with an urgency of a wailing coyote. A Multi-instrumentalist, Jack is as comfortable picking up a harmonica and playing some down and dirty licks from days of old to slapping on an old bottle neck and hammering out some screaming slide on his old resonator. He's as comfortable playing Leadbelly to John Campbell or throwing in some contemporary Blues-rock to have the younger kats stomping away. His first self-titled album "Black Kat Tones" released on Mooncricket records garnered him regional and national exposure, and earned him a nod by the premier blues magazine "Kansas City blues" revue, as well as the San Antonio Times. His close association with Bones and Blues records out of Colorado and Darell Sage record founder and CEO have brought Jack to the attention of thousands of listeners and fans that might not have been. Jack is now a regular featured performer of the late great blues Master John Campbells Blues Tribute shows; held annually every year. "Howlin Jacks" latest album "Choppin Wood and Cuttin Teeth" will be released in spring of 2009. A two year project, that has been fraught with delays, and personal family issues; is coming to the light again with renewed fresh vigor and new material. No longer content with trying to please everyone on a commercial level with making a diversified record; Jack is aiming his sound into a smaller, tighter and trimmed down acoustical genre. Gone are the blazing rock twin harmonies, and the alternative feel of the first album. As Jack says...."I wanted to get down to the basics, I wanted to lose the volume but wanted to keep the bigness and fatness of what the old blues masters did with thier minimalistic style. "Think boxes, instead of drums, and that amazing fullness of the old radio recordings; yet with a modern twist and lyrics of what I really feel and not some baby baby I love you nonesence". So stay tuned and check out what this Homegrown Missouri man has got to say. He's got a lot on his plate and he's ready to serve it to you, hot, spicy and full of Bones and Blues! Ken Schmeckal (Kansas City Blues Review)