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The
Ivas John Band – Street Music
{2007 | www.ivasjohn.com}
Ivas John is
working hard to build a new blues tradition on a
solid foundation. Blues has always found a home
in the college town of Carbondale, Illinois (home
to Southern Illinois University). Blues legends
like Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Lefty Dizz,
and saxophone greats A.C. Reed and Abb Locke, all
called Carbondale home at one time. Now, after playing
extensively throughout the Midwest, sizzling in
over 200 live performances a year, and sharing stages
with such top shelf acts as Leon Russell, Guitar
Shorty, and The Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings,
the Ivas John Band has issued their debut CD, Street
Music.
The disc features
twelve songs, all written by Ivas John and Edward
John Dambrauskas. The Ivas John band is Ivas John
– guitar & vocals, James Layman –
electric & upright bass, Wayne Goodwin –
drums and Brad Bell – piano. Additional musicians
joining were Bob Pina – piano & organ,
Chris Phillips – piano & organ, Shadi
Frick – baritone, tenor & alto saxophones
and Larry Robinson – trumpet & trombone.
1. I’ve
got a Woman – no, not the Ray Charles song,
jazzy blues
2. Honky Tonk Girl- loved the organ
3. Fool for Men – starts with slow, precise
blues guitar
4. The Streetlife – good song, the 30 second
instrumental intro was great
5. The Woman I Want – cool song for the rhythm
section
6. Playhouse to Poorhouse – great guitar playin’,
lyrically a great blues tune
7. Remember the Day – reminded me of the late,
great Jimmy Smith, one of the best songs on the
CD
8. Baby by my Side – a faster rockabilly swing
song
9. Halfway with You – this ditty is a slow
dancin’, whisper in her ear, make out song
10. Live Your Own Way – Wow….the best
song on the CD, maybe because it’s real bluesy,
maybe it’s the piano or the backing vocals,
the slow slide guitar or lack of horns, I’d
like a whole CD like this song!
Total playing
time = 49:02
Ivas’
vocals are really good; grit up the playing and
the singing and it would be outstanding. As it is
it’s almost too clean sounding; if you like
a clean recording; good production blues with a
jazzy flair then you’ll dig this recording.
My guess if you see Ivas John Band live it would
be roughed up a bit and a different experience than
this recording. Buy the CD, see the show and tell
me what you like better.
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