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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
From the 1920s to the 1960s, guitarist Lonnie Johnson broke new ground for jazz and blues guitar, performing stunning displays of six-string virtuosity on recordings with Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Kid Ory, and on numerous solo efforts. But, perhaps because he was so versatile--jumping between hundreds of Delta blues and hot-jazz studio sessions--he's never received his due accolades for being one of the great guitar pioneers. Playing with the Strings captures Johnson's earliest output, from the 1925 recordings with Charlton Creath's Jazz-O-Maniacs to the stunning 1932 solo 78 he recorded featuring "I'm Nuts About That Gal" and "Racketeers Blues." JSP's compilation shows how, in just seven years, Johnson went from playing in Louis Armstrong's Hot Five to working with Duke Ellington to performing in one of the first interracial studio sessions with Eddie Lang, King Oliver, and Hoagy Carmichael (all performing as Blind Willie Dunn's Gin Bottle Four). Throughout, Johnson is in top form on guitar, picking single-note lines in a fashion that would anticipate future jazz guitar sounds. We can hear Johnson playing other instruments, too--kazoo, violin, and banjo--but his guitar mastery steals the show. JSP's transfers of these old 78s are at times spotty, but it's still a great collection of classic tunes. --Jason Verlinde
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lonnie in a lesser Light,
By
This review is from: Playing With the Strings (Audio CD)
Not to be confused with the vastly superior 1999 CD with exactly the same title. Both have this title track imbedded among their playlist, but the selection on the '99 set is superior in selection and sound quality than this 2004 outing. It does qualify as representative of Johnson's innovative playing in a range of styles, nevertheless. The guy is a fabulously expressive guitarist and singer, and it is no surprise that the great Robert Johnson, early on, tried to pass himself off as his sibling.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Woo, jazz, all right.,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Playing With the Strings (Audio CD)
Has several great songs. Also has several noisy record transfers which start to sound similar after a few plays, but don't overdo it and this album will keep you entertained for those jazzy occasions, whatever those might be.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lonnie,
This review is from: Playing with the Strings (Audio CD)
A great compilation of one of the greatest
blues/jazz guitarists and blues singers. If you have even the remotest interest in these genres, this collection assuredly ranks in the top-10 of "must-haves!"
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