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Jeremiah Johnson—Hi-Fi Drive By—Ruf Records

No doubt about it Mr Thomas Ruf has a great ear and a wonderful
skill in selecting talent. Here, added to his ever growing stable of
world class acts, he gives us Mr Jeremiah Johnson —is that his real

name, I wonder? Leadbelly did a song about a man of that
name—a young man of outstanding skill.
The opener ‘’68 Coup Deville’ Is a driving rocker with a great

walking bass part and some fiery axe work. The first hint of some
contemporary country music influences is the stoptime/harmony
chorus.

‘Ball and Chain’ has noting to do with Janice but again has a country edge and a kind of
contemporary pop feel. ‘Hot Diggity Dog’ is more bluesy with more nice guitar work, while ‘Skipin’
School’ is a song that reminds me of BB King in his more playful moods. ‘The Band’ is a big sound.
On the other hand ‘Sweet Money’ is a more traditional jam. I suspect the band has a geat time
on this one.

Mr Johnson and his band offer a great work out and there is no doubt he is a fine, fine singer.

Find this one and check it out!

Ian K McKenzie

StrayCat Willie and the Strays—On A Hot Tin Roof—Self
Produced

Willie Hayes has been in the business for a long time. He
describes his own music as “Nothin’ but solid original blues… old
school, done right!” Ain’t that the truth as they say. Some of this is
just wonderful.

Take the opener for example, called ‘Raisin’ The Rafters’. It is a
stunning work out on piano by Neal Massa who has talent enough
to hold his own — on his own album. I can’t hear any other
instrumentation on this and it is sensational.

When the full band comes along it is John Wilson on bass, Dave Fiorini on drums, Rich Graiko on
trumpet, Josh Cohen on sax, with Mabel Welch and Sing Trece on backing vocals. Mr Hayes is on
vocals and guitar. After the opener, comes ‘Cryin’’ an seriously bluesy slow drag piece featuring
call and response by Willie. Mezcal is an rocking instrumental with a pseudo-Bo Diddly beat.
The closer ‘Runnin’ with the Strays’ is a tribute to Chuck Berry and comes with somemore
outstanding keys work from Massa. The band is driving and tight.

Willie Hayes has taken a bunch of songs written during the peak of the pandemic, added some
uptempo, jump and swing blues, mixed in a few horn arrangements and inserted background
vocals and it really, really works.

Get it now

Ian K McKenzie