Sonet Blues Story

Juke Boy Bonner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0009I9XWY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #491,519 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars One-Man Band and Blues Poet, September 24, 2011

By 

R. Weinstock (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sonet Blues Story (Audio CD)

Weldon "Juke Boy" Bonner was a Houston based one-and band who was a notable blues poet as well as a performer but who never was able to get out of his hard life. His recordings for Arhoolie demonstrate his approach a one-man band with his effective harp and guitar playing as well as his songs which often dealt with topical themes. Recorded by Arhoolie's Chris Strachwitz, the performances on Bonner's Blues Story volume are fine ones opening with I'm a Bluesman, singing about his hard life ("My father passed when I was two.") with an easy groove followed by Problems All Around (I can't get ahead from being held down) taken at a slow tempo. Besides his strong lyrics, Bonner provides strong boogie-laced guitar playing and tough rack harp playing that made him a fascinating purveyor of the one-man blues band idiom. Like his other releases, this is a gem that one should be delighted is widely available now.
This review originally appeared in the June 2006 Jazz & Blues Report.