Wayne Nicholson & John Campbelljohn – Elmore’s Blues
Format: CD
Label: Independent
Releasedatum: 15 mei 2020
Cape Breton slide guitar master John Campbelljohn has just been signed to a worldwide record deal with the German company ZYX Music Pepper Cake Records and his first album under that deal will be ‘Guitar Lovin’ Man’, to be released shortly.
Until then we get a most magnificent fill-in: ‘Elmore’s Blues’ is a loving tribute to Elmore James with veteran Halifax singer Wayne Nicholson.
Barry Cooke is at the piano, Kim Dunn on organ, Bruce Dixon bass and Neil Robertson, drums.
Wayne Nicholson has long been considered one of Atlantic Canada’s greatest blues-rock vocalists, often compared to legendary vocalists such as Paul Rodgers, Jim Morrison and David Clayton-Thomas. Having grown up with the sounds of early jazz & blues music (Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson and Louis Armstrong) and evolved into a musician of his own with the strong influences of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Beatles, Stones, Yardbirds and Bob Dylan, Wayne Nicholson developed a very unique understanding of music.
With a career spanning 50 years, Nicholson recorded and released eight albums and has toured with artists such as Ike & Tina Turner, Gregg Allman, James Cotton, J Geils Band, Jeff Healey, and more. Nicholson is also a past winner of the East Coast Music Awards Stompin’ Tom Award, given to performers who have made a mark in the music scene of Atlantic Canada and who are perceived as unsung heroes.
Combining his outstanding guitar work & powerful songwriting, John Campbelljohn is a multiple award winner that includes wins and nominations for Maple Blues Awards, East Coast Music Awards, Real Blues Awards, Music Nova Scotia Entertainer Of The Year, Blues Recording Of The Year & Musician Of The Year.
An incredible force on the Canadian music scene, Campbelljohn’s outstanding guitar work, powerful songwriting, rich vocals and distinctive prowess on the slide guitar have made him a favourite at music festivals in Atlantic Canada & Europe. He’s recorded and released 14 albums and has been featured on numerous others throughout his career.
Together, Nicholson and Campbelljohn have curated and recorded a masterful tribute to legendary bluesman, Elmore James. John Campbelljohn recalls the beginnings of the project “Wayne called me up and said, John, I’ve got an idea. We need to talk. I want to do an album of Elmore James songs and you are the slide guy! I said Wayne you’ve got one of the biggest blues rock voices to ever come out of the Maritimes. I’m in!”
Elmore’s Blues is a fresh and brilliant tribute to the slide master featuring 12 of Elmore’s greatest released songs and two originals, “Wayne and I have been songwriters all our musical lives so it made sense to include a couple of originals”, says Campbelljohn. “We hope you enjoy If I Was Blue and Dancin’ With The Blues.”
Tracks:
01. I May Be Wrong
02. Standing At The Crossroads
03. I Believe (4:20)
04. If I Was Blue
05. Knocking At Your Door
06. No Love In My Heart
07. Rollin And Tumblin
08. Sinful Woman
09. Happy Home
10. Shake Your Money Maker
11. Sunnyland
12. Strange Kinda Feeling
13. It Hurts Me Too
14. Dancin With The Blues
Website: John Campbelljohn