Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
The Delta offered its name to an early pulse of the Blues, the ties that bind them both are historical, and deeply engrained, and for many who seek the comfort and melancholy that the genre provides, to live in the glorious state that frames the listener’s mind when surrounding themselves with the introspective licks and summoning notes is surely a must; a visit at the least, but to immerse yourself in the culture completely it requires commitment to the cause…and in modern terms of the Blues appreciation there are few that can perform to the crowd in such a way that it takes them back through time to the godfathers of another age, whilst all the time remaining feet firmly placed in the modern era.
Live In Mississippi, or even inhabit the stage and perform to a crowd that fully backs your experience and wished good fortune to the hilt, and for Eric Johanson, a musician who has shared the stage himself with the likes of the superb Cyril Neville, Mike Zito, and Eric Lindell, that promise of experiencing life as a native to the area is remarked upon readily and with candour by the feel of the songs, and as the sense of the profound fills every pore as tracks such as Undertow, Yellow Moon, the stiff burn of Galaxy Girl, the excellent Hard Time Killin’ Floor Blues, Changed The Universe, and Just Like New lead the way in this riveting and delightful set framed on record for all to welcome into the collection.
It is said that the best live albums place you right at the front of the auditorium or the venue, in this case it is possible, thanks to clarity of the recording and the generosity of spirit of Eric Johanson’s sound, to imagine that you have been given a seat directly in front of the performer himself, he is playing directly, and only to you.
It is a resounding achievement that the Louisiana born band leader maintains throughout, and gives the listener a serious glow of enjoyment as each song flows as one with the river that begat the Blues genre’s name; and for those that will never be able to look over the silver blue surface that has been fed by a multitude of rivers, to be able to imagine the scene as you listen to the smooth music is a reminder that to live is to dream and experience life in any way possible.
Eric Johanson’s Live In Mississippi is out now and available from RUF Records.
Ian D. Hall