Customer Reviews

Front Porch Blues

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I grew up in Fairfax Station, Va. and became acquainted with John Jackson thru St. Mary's Catholic Church(Clara Barton began the Red Cross there), where he dug graves by hand with shovel and pick in the 60's and 70's. Though the Amoco station at Butts Corner, Va. where John was "discovered" is no longer there I can still "see" it. I'll always remember and cherish John for an act of kindness that shows the person that he is, when my Mother, Anne Finegan, died in 1976, at the request of my Family, John came out of retirement to dig her grave at St. Mary's out of respect for her and as a tribute to her life. The beauty of his music comes from inside a kind and gentle man with a huge heart and a tremendous God-given talent. "Front Porch Blues" is both a triumph and an absolute joy to listen to, check out "Fairfax Station Rag"!

John Jackson is no more a "blues singer" than the late Mississippi John Hurt was. His repertoire has blues in it, of course, but essentially it is based in African-American folk styles current a century ago, before blues as such even existed. It also shows the influence of white vernacular music; even if Jackson didn't tell you as much, you'd know he grew up listening to Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family, and the Delmore Brothers. On this welcome new recording Jackson's gruffer voice is the only indication that he's older than he was when he recorded those great Arhoolie albums in the 1960s, soon after folklorist Charles Perdue happened on him as he was playing guitar at a Fairfax, Virginia, Amoco station in 1964. Jackson is still playing well, and he still has a fine ear for a good song, everything from the traditional black outlaw ballad "Railroad Bill" to church and gospel tunes (including the obscure but delightful "The Devil He Wore a Hickory Shoe") to rags to 1920s-era country blues. Like John Hurt, John Jackson is a performer whose sheer amiability matches his considerable musical talent. Hearing him just plain makes you feel good.

John has been and continues to be the master of the Piedmont Blues. Age has done nothing to dim his voice or slow his fingers. I had the pleasure of performing with John in Warrenton, Va in Nov '99 and he still continues to amaze. If you are only going to buy one collection of the Piedmont Blues, this should be it.

John Jackson was a true American treasure. Above all...he was a gentleman. His music and the impact he had on all who were fortunate enough to ever meet him will live on.

This is a stellar John Jackson record, and also the last record which the man recorded. Though his hands weren't as quick as they were on albums he recorded in the 1970s, the choice of material on this album is very interesting, as is evident by the presence of "Devil He Wore A Hickory Shoe" and "West Texas Blues". This is a highly enjoyable album, but should not serve as one's introduction to John Jackson.