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the music was recorded in May 2022, over two days at Andersen’s Greaseland studios in
California, with Kid Andersen; bass, upright bass and guitar, Elvin Bishop; guitar and his Big Fun
Trio, Bob Welsh; guitars and piano and Willy Jordan; Cajon drum kit and percussion, of course,
John is on lead vocals and Harmonica. The reason for it being a straight down the line live album
was that John was facing an imminent operation on his lower jaw due to Ameloblastoma: a
benign, aggressive tumour which needed to be removed, involving specialised surgery as soon
as possible and John also needed to have his lower jaw re-built and regenerated. The eleven
numbers here are a mixture of old and new

The opener is a freewheeling interpretation of The Staples Singers traditional gospel ‘The Last
Time’, with a gloriously heady mixture of joyous vocals and blasting harmonica. This is followed
with a riotous version of Elvin Bishop’s ‘Rock Bottom’, the raw harmonica and guitar vie for your
attention as the splendid piano rolls with the pair, which scream on. J.B. Lenoir’s 1966, ‘Feeling
Good’, is led by a confident and strident upright bass, the gospel spirit feels delicious as the guitar
and harmonica cuts in with raw solos. A change of pace delivered with Wilson Picket’s ‘I Found
Love’, Willy Jordan shares vocals with John, together they talk and sing with serious heart and
soul about the perfect love they each have found. Junior Wells’ ‘Come On In This House’, is a
highly enjoyable, slow burning rambling piece, with enticingly morose piano and guitar, the
pleading vocals and harmonica are pleasingly raw. Slim Harpo’s ‘Shake Your Hips’, is without
doubt a rollicking, rolling classic played with gusto and verve, scrunching, snarling guitar,
wonderfully hoarse harmonica and pummelling percussion. The mood is maintained with Elvin
Bishops’ ‘I’ll Be Glad’, a lively raw, sawing guitar and percussion led mixture of gospel and home
hoedown.

Let’s hope, we hear more, from John soon!

Brian Harman.

Robert Hill & Joanne Lediger—Revelation—Independent
121922

Robert Hill was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas but, has been
living and performing in and around the New York City area for
the past 30 years. For the past 15 years, he has been performing
with Joanne Lediger as part of a duo. In 2014, he was inducted into
the New York Blues Hall Of Fame. An award-winning artist, not
only, for his slide guitar work but also, for his song writing
capabilities. His music has been widely used in films, television
and commercials throughout the world. Vocalist, Joanne Lediger
was born in Rockland County, New York. Over the years Joanne
has studied under Penn State’s vocal master, Mary Saunders and has been performing as a
vocalist, live and in the recording studios with various bands professionally for the past 35 years.
This new collection of eleven numbers consists of four originals from Robert and six covers of
traditional Gospel Blues. The album was recorded at the Special Audio Studios, Wantage New
Jersey. Robert is on guitar, slide guitar, vocals, keyboards and harmonica, Joanne Lediger; lead
vocals, Paulina Hill, (Robert’s daughter) is also on vocals, Steve Gelfand; bass and Frank Pagano;
drums and percussion.

Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘John The Revelator’, is the first number to assault the senses, the darkly,
spine shivering, opening strokes of a National guitar, set the solemn and fearful scene for Joanne
to ask the immortal question? The clear and querying vocals set the shivers off again while the